Veterinary Research Forum

Abstract Fowl adenovirus (FAdV) is a DNA virus causing significant diseases, like inclusion body hepatitis, hydropericardium-hepatitis syndrome (HHS), and gizzard erosion. These diseases lead to severe economic losses in the poultry industry. Recent increases in HHS outbreaks in Iran, particularly among broilers, prompted this study to analyze FAdV isolates in Kashan, Iran. In December 2021, a high-mortality HHS outbreak in a Kashan broiler flock led to liver and heart samples being sent for analysis. Histopathological investigations revealed mononuclear hepatitis and intra-nuclear viral inclusion bodies in hepatocytes. Polymerase chain reaction and phylogenetic analyses confirmed the presence of FAdV-4 (accession number: PP856395), showing 99.99% identity with strains from Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, and the United States. These findings highlight the genetic similarity and potential common origin of FAdV-4 strains. This study emphasizes the need for heightened biosecurity measures and effective vaccination strategies to mitigate the spread of FAdV-4. The confirmed presence of FAdV-4 in central Iran poses a significant threat to the poultry industry, necessitating prompt action to prevent substantial economic losses.

Abstract Trichoderma species are considered as biological control agents against numerous phytopathogenic fungi. They are also helpful for plants as plant symbiont. This study aimed to identify harmful effects of Trichoderma in laboratory animals. In the first step, inhalation toxicity was studied. Six rats as control received a spray of bio-formulation without spores. Ten rats as treatment A received    1.00 × 10⁶ colony-forming unit (CFU) of Trichoderma spores and ten rats as treatment B received 1.00 × 10⁷ CFU per test of Trichoderma spores. The harmful effects of Trichoderma were obvious especially in the lungs, liver and kidney, and some blood parameters were abnormal. In the second step, we studied acute oral toxicity by gavage. Four rats as control received bio-formulation without spores. Six rats as treatment A received 1.00 × 10⁶ CFU per test of Trichoderma spores. Six rats as treatment B received 1.00 × 10⁷ CFU per test of Trichoderma spores. The harmful effects of Trichoderma were noticeable more in the liver and kidney tissues. For dermal toxicity study, two rabbits as control received bio-formulation without spores by rubbing on the surface of the skin. Treatment groups A and B received 1.00 × 10⁶ and 1.00 × 10⁷ CFU per test of Trichoderma spores, respectively (four rabbits for each group). The liver and kidney and some blood parameters were abnormal. Trichoderma has some harmful effects on tissues and organs and although it is a natural product, it should be used under cautions.

Abstract Arsenic (As) contamination in natural water resources has become a great disaster throughout the world posing serious health problems. The current study was performed to evaluate the protective effects of Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917 (EcN) against As exposure in goldfish (Carassius auratus). Fish were fed three times a day with 4.00% of body weight of diet with different doses (0.00, 1.00 × 10⁶, 1.00 × 10⁷ and 1.00 × 10⁸ CFU g^-1) of EcN for 80 days and then, challenged with 20.00 mg L^-1 As for 96 hr under stagnant flow. Physicochemical characteristics of the inlet water were temperature of 25.10 ± 0.70 ˚C, pH of 7.30 ± 0.20 and dissolved oxygen of 7.30 ± 0.30 mg L^-1 and 50.00% of water was exchanged once a week. Afterwards, fish were euthanized with a clove oil solution (50.00 μL L^-1) and tissues were dissected from each fish and immediately fixed in 10.00% buffered formalin. The histopathological results indicated that the supplemented EcN did not have any side effects on various organs. It was also observed that the damages to kidney, liver, gill and skin were pronounced in fish exposed to As. However, the histopathological damages induced by As in fish tissues were less pronounced in the EcN-treated groups compared to the fish fed with the basal diet. Lamellar blood congestion in gills and epidermal cells detachment from the skin surface as well as hepatocytes, enterocytes and tubular necrosis were reduced in treated groups. These findings indicate that EcN has the potential to ameliorate the As-induced organ toxicity.

Abstract The potential of commercial astaxanthin on growth, biochemical factors, and antioxidant-related gene expression following a challenge with diazinon were studied in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Fish (~ 20.70 g) were fed diets containing commercial astaxanthin (ASX) at 0.00 (CTR and ASX0), 0.50 (ASX1), 2.00 (ASX2), and 5.00 (ASX3) g kg^-1 for 60 days. Afterwards, the treated fish (ASX1, ASX2, ASX3) as well as the fish in ASX0 group were challenged with diazinon (0.11 mg L^-1) for 96 hr whereas fish in the CTR group was not challenged with diazinon. Results showed that growth pattern improved significantly with all enriched diets compared to the ASX0 group. Metabolic enzyme activities, including alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase decreased in ASX2 and ASX3 groups with respect to the ASX0 group. Serum antioxidant status also showed the same pattern with enhancement in the fish fed with the ASX2 and ASX3 supplemented diets. Feeding the fish with astaxanthin, particularly in the ASX3 group, up-regulated the expression of some antioxidant-relevant genes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) in the kidney and liver. Besides, the histopathological damages in kidneys and liver induced by diazinon were less pronounced in the ASX2 and ASX3 groups compared to the ASX0 group. In conclusion, commercial astaxanthin, especially at 5.00 g kg^-1, enhanced the growth performance and ameliorated the oxidative stress induced by diazinon in rainbow trout.

Abstract Testicular torsion is a consequence of spermatic cord twisting which causes progressive damage to the structure of the testis and reduces sperm quality and usually results in infertility. In the present study, with the assumption of the protective effects of L-carnitine and betamethasone against ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injuries, their effects on twisted testicles were evaluated and compared. Twenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups and used in this study. Except for the Sham (S) group, testicular IR was induced surgically in three other groups, including Control (C), Betamethasone (BM), and L-carnitine (LC) groups. Betamethasone and L-carnitine were injected before detorsion in the BM and LC groups, respectively. After twelve hours of reperfusion, the testicles were detached, and prepared for sperm parameters evaluation such as sperm count, motility, viability, morphology, and chromatin quality, and histopathologic evaluations, including mean seminiferous tubular diameter (MSTD), germinal epithelial cell thickness (GECT), and Johnsen’s mean testicular biopsy scoring (MTBS). The MSTD, GECT, and healthy sperms in the C group were significantly lower than the other groups, while the BM and LC groups were significantly different from others in MTBS. The number of sperms and sperm motility in the BM group was significantly higher than the C group. Sperm viability in the BM and LC groups were significantly higher than the C group. The results of this study showed that both L-carnitine and betamethasone similarly can be effective in treating testicular IR injuries.