Veterinary Research Forum

Abstract Obese and overeating children are at risk of obesity and its complications in adulthood. Research on childhood obesity encounters numerous challenges in mammals. Broiler chicks are a suitable animal model for studying childhood obesity. Genetically, broiler chicks exhibit high growth rates. They are hyperphagic, hyperglycemic, and capable of accumulating abdominal fat, and their diet can be managed from birth. Soybean oil, which is rich in omega-6 (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acid linoleic acid and low in omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-6 : n-3 ratio = 7.50), is widely utilized in human nutrition. However, conflicting findings have been reported regarding the efficacy of this oil in humans and rodents. Effects of a soybean oil-enriched diet (4.00% total fat as a control vs. 11.00% total fat as a treatment) on metabolic disorders in broiler chicks were evaluated from hatching to 36 days of age. Results showed no changes in food intake, body weight, appetite-regulating neuro-peptide mRNA levels, blood triglycerides, or hematological parameters. In contrast, the relative abdominal fat, blood cholesterol, aortic wall thickness, intima layer, and area of fat cells increased significantly in treatment group compared to control group. Signs of liver fat infiltration (steatosis) and changes in the aortic intima layer, including increased distance between elastin fibers, were observed. In conclusion, in middle-term-fed broiler chicks, a model for childhood obesity using soybean oil high in omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids leads to early atherosclerosis, fatty liver, adipose dysfunction, and hypercholesterolemia, without impacting body weight or food intake.

Abstract Molar pregnancy is a rare condition in women, referring to the development of fetal membranes with or without an embryo. A 22-year-old mare referred to the veterinary faculty clinic due to the delayed parturition. In the ultrasound examination, the uterine membranes were seen suspended in fluids without any trace of the fetal organs. The mare underwent caesarean section, a mixture of brown fluid with fragments of fetal membranes was removed, but no fetus or any remnants of the fetus were found in the uterus. In the histopathological examinations, the fetal membranes showed severe degenerative changes. Also, the thickness of the endometrium had lost its normal structure and the layers of stratum spongiosum and stratum compactum could not be separated. The contents of the uterus were evacuated as much as possible and the mare regained her full health after the surgery. This is the first case of continued pregnancy without an embryo in a horse, which can be an unusual type of molar pregnancy.

Abstract The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of platelet growth factors and periosteal mesenchymal stem cells on bone healing process, radiographically. Forty male White New Zealand rabbits in five equal groups were used in this study. A 2 mm full thickness bone defect was made in left radial bone of each animal. In group A (control) the defect was left with no medical intervention. In group B the defect was covered by a fibrin membrane. In group C the defect was covered by a fibrin membrane plus platelet growth factors. In group D the defect was covered by a fibrin membrane plus periosteal mesenchymalstem cells, and in group E the defect was covered by a fibrin membrane enriched with platelet growth factors and periosteal mesenchymalstem cells. Radiological evaluation was done immediately after surgery (week 0) and then at the 1^st, 2^nd, 4^th, 6^th and 8^th weeks after operation. At the end of the eighth week, bone samples were taken to evaluate the histopathology. The radiological and histopathological observations showed a superior bone healing in the groups D and E, after eight weeks in comparison with the groups A, B and C. According to this study, it could be concluded that the platelet growth factors and periosteal mesenchymalstem cells could promote bone regeneration in long bone defects in a rabbit model.

Abstract This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of injection of essential oil of Eugenia caryophyllata in the kid horn buds, as a new chemical technique for disbudding. Five-day-old healthy goat kids from both sexes (n = 16) were divided randomly into 4 equal groups. In groups 1, 2 and 3, 0.2 mL of clove essence and in group 4 (control) 0.2 mL of normal saline was injected into the left horn bud of goat kids. Right horn bud in all kids was considered to ensure that they are horned. During the study, the rate of horn growth were evaluated in determined time intervals between groups 1 and 4. Tissue samples were taken from right and left horn bud in groups 2 and 3, at five and ten days after clove essence injection, for microscopic study. The results of the study showed that the clove essence stopped horn growth, whereas there was no significant difference in horn growth rate between left and right horns after injection of normal saline, in group 4. Histopathological study showed that injection of clove essence caused complete necrosis of epidermis and underlying dermis with collagenolysis in horn bud tissues, 5 days after injection and then progress in healing process was observed after 10 days. According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that the injection of clove essence is an effective method to stop horn growth without any undesirable effects on clinical parameters in goat kids.

Abstract A one-month-old male terrier dog was referred in shock status with a history of anorexia, tachypnea, abdominal distention and progressive weight loss. Auscultation of right side of the lungs found enhanced respiratory noises. The thorough auscultation of the opposite side of the chest revealed the presence of typical intestinal sounds. Cardiac auscultation revealed muffled heart sounds and a diminished palpable precordial cardiac impulse was evident. The radiograph showed the presence of gas within the bowel in abrupt contrast to the adjacent structures of soft tissue opacity. Conservative treatment was failed and the animal died. At necropsy, cranial displacement of abdominal viscera into the pericardial sac was seen. A definitive diagnosis of peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia was made. Although congenital pericardial diseases are rare in dogs, awareness of the clinical manifestation of these kinds of defects combined with early use of available imaging modalities can yield a preoperative diagnosis.