BACKGROUND: An experimental study with randomized, double-blind crossover trial in excretory urography with Iodixanol (320 mgI/ml) and Na- Meglumine Diatrizoate (760 mgI/ml) in dogs. OBJECTIVES: To compare images quality between Iodixanol and Na- Meglumine Diatrizoate after ureteral anastomosis. METHODS: In this study six healthy mongrel dogs weighing between 15-30 kg were used. Before surgery, all dogs randomly received both drugs in 3 day intervals and control excretory radiography with Iodixanol (500 mgI/kg) and Na- Meglumine Diatrizoate (850 mgI/kg) were taken in all of them at  1, 5, 10, 15,30 and 45 minutes after contrast media injection. After midline celiotomy, left ureter near trigon area was incised and immediately end to end anastomosis was performed in simple interrupted pattern by using polydiaxanon 6/0. After operation at day 90 the same radiographs were taken in all animals. After completion of the study, the obtained radiographs were evaluated and compared independently by a radiologist who was unaware of the used contrast media. The urograms were scored in four categories from lack of opacity (grade zero) to excellent image quality (grade 3) for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Better nephrograms were obtained in right kidneys at 1, 5 and 15 minutes after injection of Iodixanol compared to Na- Meglumine Diatrizoate and in left kidneys the nephrograms were better with Iodixanol injection at  1 minute (P<0.05). With respect to pyelograms in right ureters, Iodixanol had better quality at 1, 10 and 15 minutes (P<0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences in pyelograms quality in left ureters. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these results about better images quality of iodixanol and with regard to the literature that have reported less nephrotoxicity in non-ionic and isotonic iodinated X-ray contrast medium, it can be concluded, Iodixanol is the better drug for excretory urography after ureteral anastomosis in dogs

BACKGROUND: Fish gill is one of the important organs of fish which in different fish perform a variety of functions including respiratory gas exchange and important physiological processes such as osmoregulation, ion regulation, nitrogen wastes excretion and acid-base balance maintenance. Objectives: The present study was performed to determine and recognize the histological and histometrical in Gills Silver Carp Immature and Mature. Methods: Samples of gills were harvested as 0.5cm in diameter and fixed in Formalin 10% solution, then the routine tissue processing steps were performed and samples were cut into 5 to 6 µm in diameter and finally were stained with hematoxylene &amp; eosin and acid Schiff solutions. Results: This study was conducted on 10 immature silver carps with mean body length and weight about 10.95± 0.36 cm and 12.02 ± 1.08 g and 10 mature silver carps with mean body length and weight about 41.4±1.07 cm and 1.5± 66.6 g, respectively to evaluate the morphology and morphometric measurements of gills in this species. Gills consist of four gill arches within operculum which is located on either side of the pharynx. Freshly this organ appears to be bright red in color. Micrometric studies on the thickness of epithelial tissue covering the primary lamellae and gill rakers at both right and left sides in both mature and immature fishes, does not show significant differences. In mature fishes, the epithelial covering of gill rakers was measured thicker in apical area comparing to other parts. The results also revealed that the number of orifices of gill raker gap decreased with fish’s weight but was larger in diameters in both mature and immature fishes. The number of mucous cells in club-shape of primary lamellae was much greater in number than in the other parts which reflects more mucous secretion in these areas. Conclusions: The covering epithelium of lamella in this specific species, does not show any difference with other fishes in the family. The only difference was in the shape and length of the gill rakers.

BACKGROUND: The nematodes which belong to Haemonchus genes have high ability to show genetic and morphological changes. They can live with convenient adaptation in different hosts. OBJECTIVES: A Morphologic and Morphometric comparative study on Haemonchus nematodes from domestic ruminants in the southeast of Iran and comparison of studied parameters with the results of other researches around the world. METHODS: During an annual period the 100 adult Haemonchus nematodes (50 male and 50 female) were  collected from each domestic ruminant (sheep, goat, cattle and camel) from Nehbandan (southern  Khorasan), Zabol and Zahedan (Sistan and Balouchestan) in the southeast of Iran. In present study the measured parameters are: Total body length of male and female adult nematodes, gubernaculum length, right and left spicule length, the distance between spicule spine and the spicule posterior end, the distance between anterior cervical spine and the anterior end of nematode, the egg diameters.  Also, the anterior sections were observed in order to study the longitudinal cuticular ridges (Synloph). The achieved data from nematodes of each host were compared with others using (One Way Anova and Tukey tests), also such comparison was done with the results of one of the standard sources (Soulsby 1982) using One Sample T Test. RESULTS: The results of present study showed that some of the parameters such as spicule length, distance between right spicule spine and the spicule posterior end, and Synloph pattern in nematodes from sheep and goat are mostly similar to Haemonchus placei. The significant statistical differences in present study results showed high polymorphism in Haemonchus nematodes in the area. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that such high polymorphism in present nematodes, especially from sheep and goat has been created due to mating of native nematodes and foreign species with the source of imported cattle.

BACKGROUND: Lactic acid bacteria are the most common class of bacteria used in aquaculture as probiotic. ObjectiveS: In this study the effects of various levels of Lactobacillus casei on the growth performance and digestive enzymes activity of juvenile Shirbot were evaluated. Methods: Four hundred-eighty juvenile Shirbot weighing 40 g were divided randomly in four treatments (in triplicate). Treatments of A, B and C were fed with 5×106 CFU g-1, 5×107 CFU g-1, 5×108 CFU g-1, respectively for 60 days. Control group was fed with free-probiotic diet. After the period, treatments were fed with free-probiotic diet for 15 days. Growth indices and digestive enzymes were examined on days 0, 30, 60 and 75. Results: In the Treatment B, Specific Growth  Ratio, Daily Weight Growth and Relative Growth Rate, after 30 days from the beginning of experiment improved considerably which, compared to control group had significant difference (p<0.05). Activity of chymotrypsin enzyme in treatment of group B after 30 days and similarly, trypsine in treatment of group C after 30 and 60 days, were increased significantly compared to control group (p<0.05). In the other points of sampling and enzymes, considerable difference was not seen (p>0.05). Conclusions: Results showed that 5×107 CFUg-1 of Lactobacillus casei for 30 days and 5×108 CFUg-1 for 60 days, are the best doses of probiotic.

BACKGROUND: Yeasts are microorganisms that have the ability to absorb aflatoxins. Objectives: The effect of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (PTCC 5177) on aflatoxin B1 detoxification and absorption of toxin in in vitro (the cow rumen) was investigated. METHODS: For this purpose, the yeast used in various treatments (live-treated, autoclave, heat-treated, treated with acid  100 °C) was prepared and added to the rumen of cattle. Aflatoxin B1 in different doses (0, 5, 10, 20) ppb in the rumen were added and were incubated at 37°C for one and two hours. The amount of toxin residues was measured by ELISA using Europroxima kits. RESULTS: The results showed that microorganisms that have been treated in an autoclave have the highest amount of toxin removal (90.5%) (p<0.05). Also, with increases in the incubation time, the amount of toxin absorbed significantly increased (78%) (p<0.05) and with increasing concentrations of toxin in vitro the yeast’s ability to absorb toxin increases. These results demonstrate  that the major toxin is absorbed by the yeast cell wall and therefore non-living microorganisms shown an ability to absorb higher. This is because the composition of the yeast cell wall mannoprotein that are effective at absorb in toxin. CONCLUSIONS: As a strategy for the animal feed industry the use of glycomannan yeast cell wall can be useful for reducing aflatoxin B1.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, infertility is one of the major problems of human societies. OBJECTIVES: To study oral administration of bulk milk and milk of late pregnant cows on spermatogenesis of male rats. METHODS: The first group of rats from day 1 of pregnancy until the end of lactation and then their male pups to maturity were treated with late pregnant cow’s milk. The second group from day 12 of pregnancy up to 15 days after delivery was treated with late pregnant cow’s milk. The third group of rats from day 1 of pregnancy until the end of lactation and then their male pups to maturity were treated with bulk milk. The fourth group from day 12 of pregnancy up to 15 days after delivery was treated with bulk milk. Rats in the control group during the study period were only fed with special food of rats and at the end viability, types of movement (progressive and in-place movement, immobility), number of sperms and also the serum testosterone level were elevated. RESULTS: Administration of both types of milk had no effect on in-place movement and also viability of sperms of experimental groups but they could cause a significant increase in sperm  immobility and a significant decrease in number of sperms of experimental groups. Also,the level of serum testosterone of experimental groups was significantly reduced in comparison with control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, it was determined consumption of late pregnant cow’s milk and bulk milk when it contains high estrogen can cause changes in some sperm species that are involved in male reproduction.

BACKGROUND: Coronaviruses have a wide range of host tropism causing respiratory, enteric and central nervous system diseases in pigs, cats, dogs, rodents, cattle, avian species and human. Coronaviruses undergo genetic mutations and recombination at high rates which make them able to infect a wide range of host species from different geographical locations. According to the possible existence of gammacoronavirus in Iranian bird population including pigeons and lack of information about virus prevalence, isolation and molecular characterization of pigeon coronaviruses are needed. OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to detect avian coronavirus in flocks of Tehran province.               METHODS: samples were randomly collected from 25 pigeon flocks of Tehran province (250 tracheal swabs and 250 cloacal swabs, 20 specimens from each flock) between 2014-2015. The viral RNA was extracted from swab samples and RT-PCR reaction was run using the QIAGEN one-step RT-PCR Kit with primers targeting nucleocapsid (N) gene and 3’ untranslated region (3’-UTR) of gammacoronavirus. RESULTS: Gammacoronavirus was detected in one out of 25 (4%) flocks. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study approve the presence of  gammacoronaviruses  in pigeon population and help to complete the map of  epidemiology of the virus in Iran. According to the low prevalence rate of coronavirus in pigeons, samples should be collected from pigeons showing respiratory or enteric signs of disease or from pigeons having contact with other birds or those which are housed near poultry farms.

BACKGROUND: Pigeons can be carriers for some human and animal pathogens, one of the most important of which is Escherichia coli. OBJECTIVES: This bacterium is responsible for outbreaks of many human diseases. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of Escherichia coli in cloacal area of pigeons in Tehran city (Iran), and determine  the prevalence of some virulence genes and also antibiotics resistance pattern of isolates. METHODS: Altogether 117 samples of pigeon feces were collected from cloacal swab. The identification of bacteria was done by culture on differential culture media. Then antibiotic susceptibility test was performed by disk diffusion method. Isolates were tested for the presence of virulence genes stx1, stx2, eae and hlyA using multiplex polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Escherichia coli were detected in 82.9% of 277 samples from pigeons. Sulfamethoxazole was the least effective drug (85.6% resistance), followed by tetracycline (83.5%). No resistance was detected to co-amoxiclav. The prevalence of stx1, stx2 and eaeA is 3.09%, 6.18% and 2.06% respectively and hlyA was not found in any of isolates. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of stx1 and stx2 distribution in animals and birds is not well understood as yet. Due to the close relationship of humans with birds like pigeons and presence of STEC strains in apparently healthy birds, necessitates  considering  precise regulations to restrict and prevent the prevalence of this life- threatening virus in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Benni of cyprinidae family is important for nutrition and economic and commercial species in the south of Iran and the Persian Gulf region. OBJECTVES: To investigate the importance of compatibility of fishes with different salinity in different areas and ability of osmoregulation  along with maintenance of homeostasis. METHODS: For this study, 144 healthy Barbus sharpeyi with an average weight of 350±2.36 grams and length 25±1.25 cm in five groups were studied. The first group as control was located in municipal dechlorinated water and the next four groups respectively were kept in salinity 4ppt, 8ppt, 12 ppt and 16ppt in the same condition. On days 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 the second gill arch with maximum thickness of 0.5 cm from the left were prepared and  placed in  Bouin’s solution.Then the standard method of paraffin sections was done and tissue sections, 5-6 micrometer thick were prepared and stained with H&amp;E methods. RESULT: Results showed the gradual transfer of fish to water with high salinity caused obvious changes in the number and distribution of chloride cells on different days. In particular, the changes in the size of these cells in two positions, filament and Lamella were evident. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the decrease of freshwater resources, from this research it can be concluded that the Barbus sharpeyi can resist  the salinity without tissue changing. These findings suggest that  Barbus sharpeyi is compatible with salinity and the concentration of 4ppt was optimum and concentrations of 8ppt and 12 ppt were tolerable.

BACGROUNDS: Heat stress causes the lower performance in broiler chickens. OBJECTIVE: This research was conducted to investigate the effect of betaine supplementation in broiler chickens under heat stress condition. METHODS: Two hundred one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were used in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 5 replicates per treatment and 10 birds per each replicate. The experimental treatments were the heat stressed birds fed the different levels of 0.0 (without any dietary supplement), 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2% betaine. The experimental diets were added to the diets during the finisher period (day 25 to 42 of age) and under heat stress condition (32±1º C from 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM). RESULTS: The results showed that feed consumption was not affected by betaine supplementation. Consumption of 0.2% betaine resulted in a higher weight gain during the whole period as compared to 0.05 betaine and control diet (P<0.05). The consumption of all betaine levels caused the decreased feed conversion ratio during the finisher period (P<0.05) and 0.2% betaine resulted in lowest feed conversion ratio between the experimental treatments. Dietary betaine supplementation had no effect on internal organ weights of heart, liver, abdominal fat, spleen and bursa at day 42 of age (P>0.05). Furthermore, consumption of different betaine levels had no effects on blood indices, the amounts of blood enzymes and antioxidant status at day 42 of age (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Totally, the consumption of 0.2% betaine improves the performance without any effects on blood indices and internal organs under heat stress condition.