Veterinary Research Forum

Abstract Candida albicans is a commensal opportunistic yeast colonizing the skin and mucosal surfaces of humans and animals, which, under specific predisposing conditions, can proliferate excessively and lead to clinical manifestations of candidiasis. The widespread prophylactic and therapeutic use of antifungal agents has led to the emergence of drug-resistant strains, necessitating the exploration of novel therapeutic alternatives. Considering the clinical and conformational significance of equine skin health, the present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of ethanol extract of propolis in an experimental model of cutaneous candidiasis in horses. In 2022, two clinically healthy, six-year-old female horses (approximately 400 kg) were selected for the study. Immunosuppression was induced using dexamethasone and four intradermal inoculation sites were created on the shaved thoracic and flank regions of both lateral aspects using C. albicans (CPTC: 5027) suspension (5 × 10⁶ CFU mL-1). The experimental sites on the right thorax were treated with ethanol extract of propolis while those on the left thorax received topical nystatin. Lesions on the right flank were treated with glycerin as a vehicle control, and lesions on the left flank were left untreated. Cutaneous candidiasis was successfully induced within five days post-inoculation. Clinical resolution was observed following five days of treatment with ethanol extract of propolis, whereas, nystatin required eight days to achieve complete lesion resolution. The findings of this study suggested that topical ethanol extract of propolis demonstrated superior efficacy in accelerating the resolution of C. albicans-induced cutaneous lesions in horses compared to nystatin.

Abstract Pneumonia remains a significant economic burden on the small ruminant industry. Excessive inflammation, oxidative stress, and alterations in copper and zinc can accompany pneumonia. As these micro-nutrients play crucial roles in immune function and anti-oxidant defence, modulating their levels may influence the disease progression. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different therapeutic regimens on copper and zinc status in lambs with pneumonia. Twenty lambs with pneumonia were randomly assigned to four treatment groups: oxytetracycline and tylosin (OT), OT plus vitamin B1 (OTVB1), OT plus vitamin C (OTVC), and OT plus vitamin B1 and vitamin C (OTVB1C). A control group received only distilled water. Blood samples were collected on days 1, 3, 6, and 14 for subsequent assessment of plasma copper and zinc concentrations. While the control group maintained stable levels, the pneumonic groups exhibited varying degrees of changes. Plasma copper concentrations increased significantly in all pneumonic groups compared to the control group throughout the study. The OT and OTVB1C groups had the highest number of lambs with increased copper level. Plasma zinc concentrations decreased significantly in the OT and OTVB1 groups, with the lowest levels in the OTVB1 group on day 3. The OTVC group mirrored the control group with stable levels. The OTVB1C group, compared to the other groups, showed a more persistent reduction. These findings suggest that the effects of the various treatment regimens on plasma copper and zinc levels may be complex and time-dependent.

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare the sedative and cardiovascular effects of the combination of xylazine-acepromazine versus xylazine-pregabalin - in horses. Four healthy crossbred horses were included in the study and assigned to two treatments. In treatment I (T1), the animals received xylazine hydrochloride (1.00 mg kg^-1) in combination with acepromazine maleate (0.05 mg kg^-1) intravenously. In treatment II (T2), the animals received intragastric administration of pregabalin (4.00 mg kg^-1) followed by xylazine hydrochloride (1.00 mg kg^-1) intravenously after 60 min. Head height above ground (HHAG) and echocardiographic indices were evaluated. In T1, recordings were made 5 minubefore and 5, 15, 30, 60, and 90 minu after drug administration. In T2, recordings were made 5 min before pregabalin, 55 minu after pregabalin administration, and then 5, 15, 30, 60, and 90 min after xylazine hydrochloride acepromazine injection. Analyses of the data showed there were no significant differences regarding HHAG and echocardiographic indices between the two treatments. Intragastric administration of pregabalin prior to xylazine could be considered as an alternative premedication regimen when acepromazine administration is contraindicated or undesirable.

Abstract The over-use of anti-parasitic compounds as a method of control has led to insufficient effectiveness and widespread drug resistance worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of albendazole and levamisole as anti-parasitic agents in a lung worm control program in goat flocks. During 2021 and 2022, a total of 110 goats (age of four months and above) were randomly selected from 11 herds in the north-western region of Iran including Saanen breed (both sexes of the same age). The results indicated that 3.60, 50.80 and 41.90% were respectively infected with Dictyocaulus filaria, Muellerius capillaris and Proto-strongylus rufescens, and generally all the lung parasites in goats of this region were resistant to albendazole and levamisole. Due to clinical importance of D. filaria in goats, the molecular analysis of two samples was also done. Sequencing results showed that the identified parasites were 100% similar to the reference sequences registered in the GenBank^®. The results of this research showed low level of these anthelmintics efficacy against Dictyocaulus and Muellerius. Generally, the lung parasites in goats of this region are resistant to albendazole and levamisole. The P. rufescens showed high resistance to these drugs. Totally, it can be concluded that the level of drug resistance varies in different parts of the world; but, the frequencies of drug resistance in different parts of the world are not the same, requiring more studies.

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare the sedative and cardiovascular effects of the combination of acepromazine-clonidine versus acepromazine-xylazine in horses. Four healthy cross-bred horses were included in the study. They were assigned to two treatments. In treatment I (T1), the animals received xylazine hydrochloride (1.00 mg kg^-1) in combination with acepromazine maleate (0.05 mg kg^-1) intravenously (IV). In treatment II (T2), the animals received intra-gastric administration of clonidine (0.002 mg kg^-1) followed by acepromazine (0.05 mg kg^-1; IV) after 60 min. Head height above the ground (HHAG) and echocardiographic indices were evaluated. In T1, recordings were made 5 min before and 5, 15, 30, 60, and 90 min after drug administration. In T2, recordings were made 5 min before clonidine, 55 min after clonidine administration, and then 5, 15, 30, 60, and 90 min after acepromazine injection. Analyses of the data showed there were not significant differences regarding HHAG and echo-cardiographic indices between two treatments. For sedation of healthy horses, it was concluded that intra-gastric administration of clonidine and IV administration of acepromazine showed similar sedative and cardiovascular effects compared to IV acepromazine-xylazine administration.

Abstract The effects of garlic oil (GO) on serum fatty acids, lipid profiles and energy-related blood metabolites in feed-restricted fat-tailed ewes were investigated. For this purpose, twenty-eight dry, non-pregnant Makuei ewes (about three years of age; 45.00 ± 2.20 kg of body weight) were assigned randomly to four experimental groups including group 1 receiving basal diet as total mixed ration (TMR) without GO supplementation (control group), group 2 receiving 100% basal diet supplemented with GO (10.00 mg kg^-1 BW), group 3 receiving 70.00% basal diet without GO supplementation and group 4 receiving 70.00% basal diet supplemented with GO (10.00 mg kg^-1 BW). The main experimental period started eight weeks after performing adaptation and dietary allocations. Feed restriction reduced serum glucose levels along with higher serum levels of non-esterified fatty acids, triacylglycerols, β-hydroxybutyrate, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol and very low-density of lipoprotein. Following feed restriction, the serum palmitic and oleic acids concentrations were increased. Garlic oil supplementation had a desirable effect on feed-restricted animals through lowering serum BHB and palmitic and oleic acids concentration and increasing the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the serum. These findings demonstrated that GO had the potential to reduce body-fat mobilization, thereby lowering the risk factors for disorders associated with negative energy balance in underfed ewes in the periparturient period.

Abstract Bunium persicum (Boiss.) is an economically important medicinal plant growing wild in arid regions in Iran. The essential oil of B. persicum (EOBP) was extracted using hydrodistillation. A total of eighteen compounds, representing 96.14 % of the oil was identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS).The main compounds were cuminaldehyde (23.04 %), gamma-terpinene (14.48 %), trans-3-Caren-2-ol (12.51 %), acetic acid (10.90 %) and 1,3,8 -p- menthatriene (7.89 %). The effects of 0.1 to 1000 g mL-1 EOBP on ruminal and abomasal smooth muscle of twenty-four healthy sheep and ileum preparations of six rats were assessed in vitro. Ruminal preparations showed relaxation (P < 0.05) when exposed to 100 - 1000 g mL-1 concentrations of EOBP. In the isolated abomasal preparations, EOBP (0.1 - 1 g mL-1) represented a weak spasmogenic effect followed by relaxation. The spontaneous contraction of abomasal smooth muscles was completely abolished with a high dose (1000 g mL-1) of EOBP. Five-minute incubation with EOBP, significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited Ach-induced contraction in higher doses on both tissues. In contrast, rat ileum only showed dose-dependent relaxation effect, and pre-incubated tissues with EOBP, decreased the Ach-induced contraction. The data indicated that the plant contained spasmogenic and spasmolitic constituents. The results also showed that the EOBP profoundly alters gastrointestinal smooth muscle contraction in a dose-dependent and tissue-specific manner.