Abortion causes substantial economic losses in sheep flocks. In addition to financial compensation, abortion is a sharp aspect of public health. Brucella, Campylobacter, Salmonella and Chlamydia are the most examples of diseases associated with the abortion of ewes. Brucellosis is a zoonotic bacterial infection produced by a variety of species of Brucella. It has a significant economic impact on domestic animals, primarily ewes. The current study investigated Brucella ovis from aborted fetuses and vaginal swab samples collected from sheep flocks in the Sulaimani governorate by the polymerase chain reaction. Thirty-eight aborted fetuses and 70 vaginal swabs were collected from sheep flocks in three districts of Sulaimani governorate (Kalar, Chamchamal and Said Sadiq) from March 2018 to June 2019. The pathogen was identified in clinical specimens using conventional PCR. Brucella ovis was isolated from 26 of 38 aborted fetuses (68.4%) and 21 of 70 vaginal swabs (30 %) of aborted ewes. The Brucella ovis gene ompA was sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis of the ompA gene sequences revealed that Brucella ovis isolated established a distinct branch and a lower relationship of Brucella ovis to the Brucella melitensis species. It has been concluded that Brucella ovis is the most pathogenic Brucella species and a major cause of ewe's abortion in the Sulaimani governorate.

  This study was conducted to detect the blaCMY-2 gene and qnr genes (qnrA, qnrB and qnrS)in Salmonella isolates from 278 different samples (50 direct milk samples, 50 indirect milksamples, 50 feces samples, 50 teat swab samples, 28 manual milk swabs and 50 stoolsamples) in Basrah province. The results showed that the percentage of Salmonella isolatesin the samples was 6.1% by using API system and by PCR technique for identification. Thehighest resistance to Salmonella isolates were found against chloramphenicol and rifampin(100%). While all isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin . The use of plasmid treatment(Plasmid curing) by temperature method showed that 41.1% of total Salmonella isolateswere associated with antimicrobial resistance of the plasmid. Plasmid analysis by moleculardetection revealed that 11 isolates (64.7%) was positivity for blaCMY-2 while the qnrquinolone gene (A, B and S) was not detected in the isolates

The study's objective is to evaluate the enhanced effect of the ghrelin on the body weight and thyroid hormones in male rats after inducing hyperthyroidism by L–thyroxin. The rats (95 males) were split into two groups. The first group consisted of 25 male rats that were given normal saline for 30 days S.C and set as a control group. While the remainder of the animals were given levothyroxine 500g/kg subcutaneously for 30 days to induce hyperthyroidism. after induction the divided into 4 groups as followe ,the first one was the control group that mentioned previously, the second group was male rats were given normal saline for 30 days S.C, the third group was male rats were given ghrelin at a dose of (0.5nmol/100μl saline) for 30 days S.C, and the fourth group was male rats (1nmol/100μl saline) for 30 days S.C.   The fifth group consisted of hyperthyroidism male rats that was given ghrelin at a dosage of (2nmol/100μl saline) for 30 days S.C. The results of final weight and weight gain are presented showed no significant difference in initial weight within all groups that were observed, while a significant decrease in final body weight in hyperthyroidism group compared with control group. On the other hand, the results revealed a significant decrease in body weight gain in male rats have hyperthyroidism compared with the control group. While the results observed a significant increase final body weight and body weight gain in all treated rats with ghrelin as compared with hyperthyroidism group. On other hand, the effect of hyperthyroidism on serum TSH, T3, and T4 concentrations revealed that the hyperthyroidism group had a significant rise in serum T3 and T4 concentrations when compared to the control group. While no significant drop in serum TSH concentration was observed in all hyperthyroidism groups handled with ghrelin (0.5, 1 and 2 nmol) as compared to the hyperthyroidism group, a significant decrease in serum T3 and T4 level was observed in all hyperthyroidism groups treated with ghrelin in comparison to the group of hyperthyroidism. Ghrelin peptide hormone and it has been shown to have potential effects on the body weight and thyroid hormone.

No abstract available

OBJECTIVE To compare intraoperative and short-term postoperative variables pertaining to laparoscopic ovariectomy (LapOVE) and open ovariectomy (OVE) in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). ANIMALS Twelve 4− to 5-month-old female New Zealand White rabbits. PROCEDURES Rabbits were randomly assigned to undergo LapOVE (n = 6) or OVE (6), with a vessel-sealing device used to seal and transect the ovarian pedicles. Laparoscopic ovariectomy was performed with a 3-port approach. Variables were measured during surgery (surgery and anesthesia times and incision lengths) and for up to 7 days after surgery (food consumption, feces production, body weight, vital parameters, blood glucose and cortisol concentrations, abdominal palpation findings, facial grimace scale scores, and ethograms). RESULTS Mean surgery (43.2 vs 21.7 minutes) and anesthesia (76.2 vs 48.8 minutes) times were longer and mean incision length was shorter (24.0 vs 41.5 mm) for LapOVE versus OVE. No significant differences in postoperative variables were identified between groups. During LapOVE, small intestinal perforation occurred in 1 rabbit, which was then euthanized. Postoperative complications for the remaining rabbits included superficial incisional dehiscence (LapOVE, 1/5; OVE, 2/6), subcutaneous emphysema (LapOVE, 1/5; OVE, 0/6), and seroma formation (LapOVE, 1/5; OVE, 0/6). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Surgery time for LapOVE was twice that of OVE, and LapOVE resulted in unique complications in rabbits. No evidence of a reduction in pain or faster return to baseline physiologic status was found for LapOVE. Further evaluation of LapOVE in rabbits is warranted, with modification to techniques used in this study or a larger sample size.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a new Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterin against a Korean M. hyopneumoniae challenge under experimental conditions. Fifteen pigs were allocated randomly into 3 groups (5 pigs per group) that were designated in 1 of 3 ways: vaccinated-challenged, unvaccinated-challenged, or unvaccinated-unchallenged. The pigs in the vaccinated-challenged group were immunized with an M. hyopneumoniae whole-cell bacterin at a 1.0 mL dose-level at 21 d old. At 42 d old (0 d post-challenge), the pigs in the vaccinated-challenged and unvaccinated-challenged groups were inoculated intranasally with a strain of Korean M. hyopneumoniae. Vaccinated-challenged pigs elicited a strong cell-mediated immunity as measured by M. hyopneumoniae-specific interferon-γ secreting cells when compared with unvaccinated-challenged pigs. Vaccination of pigs with this new M. hyopneumoniae bacterin reduced nasal shedding and lung lesions. The evaluated vaccine was therefore considered effective in controlling M. hyopneumoniae infection.

OBJECTIVE To develop a technique for isolation and culture of canine insulinoma cells and assess expression of cellular hexokinases (glucokinase and hexokinase I) and expression and secretion of insulin from these cells in vitro. SAMPLE Pancreatic insulinomas and normal pancreatic tissue from 4 and 3 dogs, respectively. PROCEDURES Tissues were collected by surgical excision or at necropsy. Insulinoma cells from 2 dogs were cultured for up to 10 weeks with standard techniques; insulin synthesis in vitro was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis of freshly prepared slides of cultured cells, and insulin secretion was assessed by measurement of insulin concentrations in culture medium with an ultrasensitive mouse insulin ELISA. Expression of cellular hexokinases in insulinomas and adjacent normal (nontumor) pancreatic tissue from the same dog (n = 3) was examined by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR assay. RESULTS Insulinoma cells survived for up to 10 weeks but did not proliferate in culture. Insulin was detected in isolated cells and secreted into culture medium for up to 10 weeks. Both cellular hexokinases were expressed; glucokinase appeared to be overexpressed in insulinomas, compared with normal pancreatic tissue from the same dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Canine insulinomas expressed hexokinases responsible for glucose responsiveness. Insulinoma cells were successfully maintained in short-term culture; cultured cells remained functional for 10 weeks as evidenced by cellular insulin content and had detectable secretion of insulin into the culture medium for ≥ 5 weeks. Apparent glucokinase overexpression by insulinomas suggested a possible mechanism underlying excessive insulin release by these tumors.

The aim of the present study was to characterize the bacterial microbiota of anal sacs in healthy dogs using NGS. Swabs were used to sample the rectum and secretions from each anal sac in 15 healthy dogs. DNA was extracted from swabs and the V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced with Illumina MiSeq. Overall, 14 different bacterial phyla were identified in the rectum and in both anal sacs, the 5 main ones being Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Fusobacteria. The rectum had higher microbial diversity and richness than the left and right anal sacs. Community membership and structure significantly differed between the rectum and both anal sacs, but not between the right and the left anal sacs. This study showed that the diversity and richness of the bacterial microbiota of the anal sacs in dogs is greater than what has been reported in previous studies with culture-based methods. In conclusion, the bacterial microbiota of the anal sacs in dogs varies between individuals and differs from the rectal bacterial microbiota.

Chronic cholangiohepatitis (CCH) is a common pathological condition in cats with a guarded prognosis and unknown etiology. Recently, in human medicine, there has been increased interest in enhancing liver defense mechanisms as an effective treatment strategy to control liver diseases that have a poor prognosis. Metallothionein (MT) is a ubiquitous protein, which has been widely researched for its role in liver defense through heavy metal detoxification, neutralization of reactive oxygen species, and liver regeneration. In this study, immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the role of MT in CCH and hepatocellular regeneration in 34 cats histologically diagnosed with this condition by assessing the correlation between hepatocellular MT and Ki-67 (marker for cellular proliferation) expression with histological parameters of CCH, such as inflammation, fibrosis, and bile duct proliferation. Statistical analysis was performed using the Spearman-rank correlation test. A significant positive correlation was observed between inflammation and the number of MT-positive hepatocytes (r = 0.36, P = 0.03) and MT labelling intensity (r = 0.37, P = 0.03). In 16 of 34 cases (47%) MT labelling intensity was noted to be pronounced towards the centrilobular zone and very weak or absent towards the portal zone. The results suggest that MT is induced in the liver during chronic inflammatory conditions, which could be speculated as a host defensive mechanism to protect the liver from inflammation-mediated liver injury. Therapeutic interventions utilizing MT, therefore, may have a positive effect on cats with chronic cholangiohepatitis.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the in vitro effects of clinically relevant concentrations of the local anesthetics (LAs) bupivacaine, lidocaine, lidocaine with preservative (LP), mepivacaine, and ropivacaine on equine chondrocyte and fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS) viability. SAMPLES Chondrocytes and FLSs of the metacarpophalangeal joints of 4 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURES Viability of chondrocytes and FLSs was determined with 3 assays: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and trypan blue (TB) exclusion (only FLS). Viability was assessed after 30- and 60-minute exposures to 0.0625%, 0.125%, and 0.25% bupivacaine; 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1% lidocaine; 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1% LP; 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1% mepivacaine; and 0.125%, 0.25%, and 0.5% ropivacaine. RESULTS Viability of chondrocytes was significantly decreased with exposure to 0.25% bupivacaine, 1% lidocaine, 1% LP, 1% mepivacaine, and 0.25% ropivacaine. Viability of FLSs was significantly decreased with exposure to 0.25% bupivacaine, 1% mepivacaine, 1% LP, and 0.5% ropivacaine. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Clinically relevant concentrations of LAs had in vitro time- and concentration-dependent cytotoxicity for chondrocytes and FLSs isolated from the metacarpophalangeal joints of healthy horses. Bupivacaine was more toxic to chondrocytes than lidocaine, mepivacaine, and ropivacaine, whereas bupivacaine, LP, mepivacaine, and ropivacaine were more toxic to FLSs than preservative-free lidocaine. Several LAs may negatively affect chondrocyte and FLS viability.