Microbiology
Heidar Rahimi; Amir Tukmechi; Ehsan Rashidian
Articles in Press, Corrected Proof, Available Online from 08 August 2023
Abstract
The genetic diversity of Brucella strains has not been fully understood. To investigate this, the genetic characteristics of 64 isolates of Brucella melitensis from sheep and goats’ milk were studied using random fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and multiple locus variable-number tandem repeat ...
Read More
The genetic diversity of Brucella strains has not been fully understood. To investigate this, the genetic characteristics of 64 isolates of Brucella melitensis from sheep and goats’ milk were studied using random fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and multiple locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA-16) methods developed in Orsay, France (MLVA-16Orsay). The RFLP analysis revealed that all 64 isolates were of biovar one. The MLVA-typing showed that one sample was simultaneously infected with two strains of B. melitensis and the genotype of 65 isolate was analyzed. Four genotypes (47, 42, 43, and 63) were identified using MLVA-8 (panel 1), whereas six genotypes (138, 125, 116, 108, and two unknown genotypes) were identified using MLVA11 (panels 1 and 2A). From the review of MLVA-16 (panels 1, 2A, and 2B), panel 2B showed a very high discriminatory power. Two loci of Bruc04 and Bruc30 from this panel had diversity index values higher than 0.71 and the average diversity index was 0.619. So MLVA-16Orsay 34 showed the genotype indicating a low genetic homogeneity among the isolates. The findings of MLVA genotyping of the isolates suggest that strains of B. melitensis isolated from the milk of small ruminants in Iran are most closely related to the isolates from neighboring countries of the Eastern Mediterranean group. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to indicate the potential use of MLVA genotyping for simultaneous detection of specimen contamination using two different B. melitensis biovars.
Parasitology
Shivan Nawzad Hussein; Assel Anwer Ibrahim; Mohammed Shukri Shukur
Volume 14, Issue 8 , August 2023, , Pages 415-422
Abstract
This study aimed to identify Sarcocystis species isolated from macroscopic sarcocysts of naturally infected sheep and goats using histopathological and molecular studies. A total of 260 macrosarcocyst samples were randomly collected from 1,337 infected sheep and goats slaughtered at different abattoirs ...
Read More
This study aimed to identify Sarcocystis species isolated from macroscopic sarcocysts of naturally infected sheep and goats using histopathological and molecular studies. A total of 260 macrosarcocyst samples were randomly collected from 1,337 infected sheep and goats slaughtered at different abattoirs in Duhok province, Iraq, from May 2021 to June 2022. The macroscopic cysts, which were found in the esophagus, diaphragm, and abdominal muscles, were classified into fat and thin cysts. Histopathological examination of the observed fat and thin cysts showed a thick eosinophilic wall, several internal septa-forming compartments enclosing numerous bradyzoites, and mild mononuclear inflammatory cells infiltrating around the cysts. The 18 Subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) and 28 Subunit ribosomal RNA (28S rRNA) genes of Sarcocystis spp. were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from 200 macrosarcocysts samples. Molecularly, the DNA sequencing results obtained from fat macrocysts of sheep and goats were found to be identical to Sarcocystis gigantea, and from thin cysts of sheep proved to be similar to Sarcocystis medusiformis, while from thin macrocysts of goats were found to be identical to Sarcocystis moulei. Alignment and phylogenetic analysis observed a very close relationship between identified species of Sarcocystis and other Sarcocystis DNA sequences of sheep and goats across the world. To our knowledge, this is the first histopathological and molecular study for identification of Sarcocystis spp. isolated from different macroscopic forms of sarcocysts of sheep and goats in Iraq.
Gizem Eser; Yavuz Selim Sağlam; Serkan Yıldırım
Volume 14, Issue 8 , August 2023, , Pages 461-464
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of parainfluenza 3 (PI3) virus antigen through histopathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) methods in sheep lung samples collected from Erzurum province, Türkiye. Between August and November 2017, 1462 sheep were dissected in the slaughterhouse ...
Read More
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of parainfluenza 3 (PI3) virus antigen through histopathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) methods in sheep lung samples collected from Erzurum province, Türkiye. Between August and November 2017, 1462 sheep were dissected in the slaughterhouse and their lungs were examined macroscopically. In total, 100 of the lung samples with pneumonia were selected. Routine histopathological and IHC analyses of the collected lung tissues with pneumonia were performed. Pneumonia observed through macroscopical and histopathological examinations of the lung samples was classified as purulent-catarrhal bronchopneumonia (14.00%), fibrinous bronchopneumonia (23.00%), interstitial pneumonia (69.00%), granulomatous pneumonia (7.00%), verminous pneumonia (19.00%) and pulmonary adenomatosis (6.00%). Two or three types of pneumonia were observed in many of the same cases. The PI3 virus antigen positivity rate in the IHC analysis of sheep lung samples was 19.00%. In the IHC tracing, positivities were found mostly in the alveolar macrophages and cytoplasm of bronchial, bronchiolar and alveolar epithelial cells. As a result, the prevalence of PI3 virus in sheep in Erzurum province, Türkiye, was determined to be 19.00% using KLN BVB IHC method.
Hulya Balkaya; Zekeriya Ozudogru; Dervis Ozdemir; Bumin Emre Teke; Hulya Kara
Volume 14, Issue 2 , February 2023, , Pages 65-69
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine and compare the macro-anatomical structures and configurations of plexus sacralis in Hasmer and Hasak sheep breeds. For this purpose, 18 sheep (eight female Hasmer sheep, three male Hasak sheep and seven female Hasak sheep) were assessed. After induction of anesthesia, ...
Read More
The aim of this study was to examine and compare the macro-anatomical structures and configurations of plexus sacralis in Hasmer and Hasak sheep breeds. For this purpose, 18 sheep (eight female Hasmer sheep, three male Hasak sheep and seven female Hasak sheep) were assessed. After induction of anesthesia, the body cavities were opened. The sheep were fixed with formaldehyde after draining of the blood. The nerves of the plexus sacralis were dissected separately and photographed. Both in Hasmer and Hasak sheep breeds, the plexus sacralis was a large anastomotic complex of nerves which gave rise to nerves distributed to pelvic cavity and pelvic limb. It was derived from the ventral branches of the six spinal segments. It was observed that this plexus was formed by the ventral rami of four (first to fourth) sacral spinal nerves as well as ventral ramus of the sixth and fifth lumbar nerves. The results of this study are believed to be improved further with the future morphometric studies and to make a contribution to future anatomical and surgical studies in this area.
Emin Karakurt; Nüvit Coşkun; Enver Beytut; Ömer Faruk Keleş; Serpil Dağ; Volkan Yilmaz; Hilmi Nuhoğlu; Ayfer Yıldız; Emre Kurtbaş
Volume 14, Issue 1 , January 2023, , Pages 1-6
Abstract
In this study, it was aimed to investigate the association between inflammatory reaction of tumoral microenvironments with interleukin responses in ovine pulmonary adenocarcinomas (OPAs). Material of the study consisted of 26 sheep lung tissue samples being brought to the Pathology Department for routine ...
Read More
In this study, it was aimed to investigate the association between inflammatory reaction of tumoral microenvironments with interleukin responses in ovine pulmonary adenocarcinomas (OPAs). Material of the study consisted of 26 sheep lung tissue samples being brought to the Pathology Department for routine diagnosis. Cases were collected between years 2009 - 2021; pre-diagnosis was based on clinical symptoms, anamnesis and gross lesion of the lungs. These tissues were designated in two groups as control (n = 6) and OPA (n = 20) groups. Choice of immunohistochemical staining was avidin-biotin peroxidase method. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to confirm Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus from paraffin-embedded tissues. On gross examination of OPAs, lesions seen were mostly in the caudal lobes of the lung, 1.00 – 2.00 cm in diameter as gray-white consolidated foci and in microscopic observation, tumor cells showed acinar, papillary or mixed growths. No expressions of interleukin (2 and 8) were observed in the control group. All OPAs cases were positive for interleukins (2 and 8) expressions. A total of eight tissue samples were detected as positives through RT-PCR. In conclusion, in this study, it was determined that interleukin-2 and interleukin-8 were produced from tumor microenvironment elements, especially tumor-associated macrophages, and these interleukins showed pro-inflammatory effects. Interleukins and the inflammatory reaction may promote the development of OPA.
Panagiotis Dimitrios Katsoulos; Labrini Vasileiou Athanasiou; Anna Dedousi; Zoe Polizopoulou
Volume 13, Issue 4 , December 2022, , Pages 475-480
Abstract
Despite being important, there are no equations for prediction of ionized calcium (iCa) in sheep and cattle. The objectives of this study were i) to create equations for the calculation of serum iCa concentration based on the serum concentrations of total calcium (tCa), albumin (Alb) and total proteins ...
Read More
Despite being important, there are no equations for prediction of ionized calcium (iCa) in sheep and cattle. The objectives of this study were i) to create equations for the calculation of serum iCa concentration based on the serum concentrations of total calcium (tCa), albumin (Alb) and total proteins (TP) and ii) to investigate whether predicted serum iCa values are beneficial in clinical practice. Serum samples from 30 sheep and 30 dairy cattle were used. Serum tCa was determined colorimetrically, while serum iCa was determined with an ion selective electrode method. Serum Alb and TP concentration were determined using bromo-cresol green and biuret methods, respectively. Ionized calcium was also calculated based on serum tCa, using regression analysis, and with two equations based on Alb and TP concentration. Bland–Altman plots were plotted to evaluate the agreement between measured and predicted iCa; Passing and Bablok (P - B) regression analysis was used to assess their agreement. The initial equations were corrected using the P - B generated equation and Bland – Altman plots were run to evaluate the level of agreement between measured and predicted iCa using the final equations. Six equations were finally created for cattle and 6 for sheep. The total bias exceeded 10.00% in all of them indicating that they are clinically unacceptable for iCa prediction especially when the predicted result is very close to the cut-off point of < 1.00 mmol L-1. So, it could be suggested that, when necessary, iCa concentration should be directly determined.
Saeed Khatemeh; Abbas Imani Baran
Volume 13, Issue 4 , December 2022, , Pages 611-614
Abstract
Different living organisms are used as applicable bioindicators to determine heavy metal pollutions. Recent studies have shown that helminths parasites can be used as efficient environmental sentinels. This study aimed to evaluate Fasciola hepatica and Dicrocoelium dendriticum as bioaccumulators of lead ...
Read More
Different living organisms are used as applicable bioindicators to determine heavy metal pollutions. Recent studies have shown that helminths parasites can be used as efficient environmental sentinels. This study aimed to evaluate Fasciola hepatica and Dicrocoelium dendriticum as bioaccumulators of lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu). For this work. A total of 50 samples (F. hepatica, D. dendriticum, and livers from the infected and uninfected sheep, each of 10 samples) were collected from sheep slaughtered in Tabriz abattoir. One gram of each sample was incinerated and analyzed by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The analysis of samples showed that Pb, Cr and Cu values in F. hepatica were higher than those in D. dendriticum, but only the differences of Pb and Cu were significant. The values of heavy metals in F. hepatica were significantly higher than those in the infected livers (except for Cd), while in D. dendriticum, Cr and Cd were only higher. Based on metal levels in livers, it was found that bioconcentration factors (BCFs) of Cr, Pb and Cu for F. hepatica were much more than one, and BCFs of these three metals between two flukes were statistically significant. This study indicated that F. hepatica had a higher bioindicator potential than D. dendriticum to evaluate environmental pollutants by some metals.
Tahmineh Gorgani-Firouzjaee; Narges Kalantari; Salman Ghaffari
Volume 13, Issue 3 , September 2022, , Pages 371-378
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, a foodborn disease, in human occurs commenly after the ingestion of tissue cysts via the raw and/or undercooked meat of different infected intermediate hosts such as sheep and cattle.The current study aimed to detect the genetic structure of Toxoplasma gondii isolated from various organs ...
Read More
Toxoplasmosis, a foodborn disease, in human occurs commenly after the ingestion of tissue cysts via the raw and/or undercooked meat of different infected intermediate hosts such as sheep and cattle.The current study aimed to detect the genetic structure of Toxoplasma gondii isolated from various organs of sheep and cattle in the north of Iran. Convetional PCR was carried out by B1 and REP-529 genes of T. gondii. Nested and RFLP-PCR were performed for all positive samples using SAG2 and GRA6 genetic markers. Amplicons from second round of nested-PCR were sequenced and analyzed with NCBI database. Among of 179 examined samples, 38(21.20%) were positive. The highest of positive cases were found in kidney (28.60%). PCR-RFLP of SAG2 and GRA6 genes demonstrated the alleles of clonal type III in the all of isolates. Sequence analysis of the amplicons revealed the alleles of clonal type III and atypical isolates (Tg-67, Tg-100 and Tg-106). Phylogenetic analyses showed separate clade for the atypical isolates from others in the present study and the reference strains clades. In conclusion, the genetic characterization of T. gondii isolates from sheep and cattle showed high genetic diversity compared with standard type I, II and III genotypes. These results support the hypothesis of the existence of polymorphic and overlapping strains within livestock in Iran. It also suggested the necessity of increased genotyping and sampling efforts to accurately estimate T. gondii intra specific genetic diversity
Farshid Davoodi; Masoud Selk Ghaffari; Abbas Raisi; Omid Dezfoulian
Volume 12, Issue 3 , September 2021, , Pages 391-393
Abstract
Ocular tumors are rarely seen in farm animals. Iridociliary epithelial tumors are the second most common tumor of the eye in dogs and cats, but there is just one report of this tumor in sheep. This case report described the history, clinical signs, histopathological and immunohistochemical findings, ...
Read More
Ocular tumors are rarely seen in farm animals. Iridociliary epithelial tumors are the second most common tumor of the eye in dogs and cats, but there is just one report of this tumor in sheep. This case report described the history, clinical signs, histopathological and immunohistochemical findings, and surgical management of an iridociliary adenoma tumor in a 3-year-old Iranian Shaal sheep with signs of anorexia, depression, loss of vision, and a mass covering the left eye. The mass had protruded from the left eye globe but had not penetrated the periocular tissues. Enucleation was performed to excise the tumor. Periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) and Alcian blue staining methods were done for the mass, but the result for both of them was negative. Slides were also immunostained for antibodies against cytokeratin AE1/AE3, vimentin, and S-100 protein. The results were positive for vimentin but negative for cytokeratin and S-100. According to the results of histopathology and immunohistochemistry, the type of tumor was diagnosed as iridociliary adenoma. To our knowledge, it was the second report of the iridociliary tumor in the sheep and the first report of this tumor in the Iranian Shaal breed.
Maryam Nazarbeigy; Mohammad Yakhchali; Fazel Pourahmad
Volume 12, Issue 2 , June 2021, , Pages 229-233
Abstract
Parasitic nematodes of ovine abomasum are of economic and hygienic importance throughout the world and Iran. This study was aimed to evaluate molecular identity and species diversity of parasitic nematodes in the abomasum of slaughtered sheep in Ilam, Iran. In this study, a total number of 240 of abomasa ...
Read More
Parasitic nematodes of ovine abomasum are of economic and hygienic importance throughout the world and Iran. This study was aimed to evaluate molecular identity and species diversity of parasitic nematodes in the abomasum of slaughtered sheep in Ilam, Iran. In this study, a total number of 240 of abomasa were randomly collected from the slaughtered sheep at industrial slaughterhouses in Ilam in all seasons between 2017 and 2018. The abomasum content and abomasal mucosa were removed and washed. The collected nematodes were morphologically identified. The genomic DNA was extracted and a 300 bp-fragment-length from internal transcribed spacer 2 ribosomal ribonucleic acid (ITS2-rRNA) gene was amplified. Overall prevalence was 66.70% (160/240). Five species of four genera of nematodes including Marshallagia marshalli (43.70%), Ostertagia circumcincta (15.50%), Parabronema skrjabini (5.00%), M. occidentalis (2.50%), and Haemonchus contortus (0.04%) were identified. Ostertagia circumcincta and H. contortus were found to be different in two nucleotides. There was no nucleotide difference between M. marshalli and M. occidentalis. This study revealed a significant prevalence of parasitic nematodes in sheep abomasum and species diversity of Trichostrongylid nematodes in the region.
Rafael Suazo Cortez; David Itzcoatl Martinez Herrera; Violeta Trinidad Pardío-Sedas; Carlos Ricardo Cruz-Vázquez; José Francisco Morales Alvarez; Gabriela Sánchez-Viveros; María Elena Galindo-Tovar
Volume 11, Issue 1 , March 2020, , Pages 77-81
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is widely prevalent in sheep and their products pose a risk to public health. The aim of this study was to identify the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with T. gondii infection in sheep in Veracruz State, Mexico. The study was cross-sectional and it was carried out in thirteen ...
Read More
Toxoplasma gondii is widely prevalent in sheep and their products pose a risk to public health. The aim of this study was to identify the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with T. gondii infection in sheep in Veracruz State, Mexico. The study was cross-sectional and it was carried out in thirteen municipalities distributed in three regions of Veracruz State. A total of 414 blood samples were collected from four districts of Veracruz State and analyzed for T. gondii antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Total seroprevalence was 35.90% (149/414; 95.00% CI = 31.40-40.80). Seroprevalence by the municipality was 10.50% to 85.70% and for the district was 28.80% to 47.80%, respectively. Age, breed and productive status were identified as risk factors associated with T. gondii infection significantly. The infection by T. gondii is widely present in the districts of the Veracruz State with a high seroprevalence and risk factors associated with infection.
Belalmi Nor El Houda; Sid Nassim; Omar Bennoune; Ouhida Soraya; Marcelo De Las Heras; Caroline Leroux
Volume 11, Issue 1 , March 2020, , Pages 93-95
Abstract
We report the occurrence of lung cancer in a six months old lamb of Ouled Djellal breed from Algeria. The main clinical sign was a considerable amount of whitish foamy fluid discharge from the nostrils when the animal head was lowered and the rear end was lifted. The post-mortem examination revealed ...
Read More
We report the occurrence of lung cancer in a six months old lamb of Ouled Djellal breed from Algeria. The main clinical sign was a considerable amount of whitish foamy fluid discharge from the nostrils when the animal head was lowered and the rear end was lifted. The post-mortem examination revealed the presence of enlarged, heavy and edematous lungs with diffuse or foci areas, reddish or white-gray in color. The gross and histological lesions of the lungs were compatible with pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Lung adenocarcinoma in sheep is caused by jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) and originated from differentiated alveolar type II cells and non-ciliated bronchiolar epithelial Clara cells. We evidenced the expression of the oncogenic JSRV by immunostaining of lung slides with specific antibodies against the JSRV envelope. The viral proteins were expressed only in the tumor cells from the affected areas. As already described in other countries, JSRV-induced lung adenocarcinoma is present in the sheep population in Algeria.
Large Animal Internal Medicine
Mohammad Darvish Khadem; Aria Rasooli; Alireza Ghadrdan Mashhadi; Ali Shahriari; Babak Mohammadian; Farid Barati
Volume 10, Issue 2 , June 2019, , Pages 165-168
Abstract
Scorpion envenomation is a main general health problem in developing countries, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Hemiscorpius lepturus as a member of the Hemiscorpiidae family is cause of the most scorpion sting lethality in Iran. In the present study, the oxidative stress and antioxidant ...
Read More
Scorpion envenomation is a main general health problem in developing countries, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Hemiscorpius lepturus as a member of the Hemiscorpiidae family is cause of the most scorpion sting lethality in Iran. In the present study, the oxidative stress and antioxidant defense in serum of envenomated sheep with the venom of Hemiscorpius lepturus were investigated. Nine sheep were randomly divided into three groups (three in each). Groups A, B and C received 0.10, 0.05 and 0.01 mg kg-1 of H. lepturus venom subcutaneously, respectively. Blood sampling were performed 30 min before envenomation (control) and 30 min, 1, 2, 3 and 6 hr after envenomation and serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malonedialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PCO) were determined. The TAC was significantly increased at the doses of 0.10 mg kg-1 (at 3 hr) and 0.05 mg kg-1 (at 6 hr) compared to pre-injection time. However, no significant differences were observed in serum levels of MDA and PCO in different groups. It can be concluded that the dose of 0.01 mg kg-1 of venom had no effect on stress factors of serum, but according to increased level of TAC at the doses of 0.05 and 0.10 and no significant changes in serum levels of MDA and PCO, the oxidative damage has been prevented by the antioxidant defense system response.
Embryology
Mahmood Khaksary-Mahabady; Kaveh Khazaeel; Mahdi Pourmahdi Borujeni; Behnam Yazdanjoo
Volume 9, Issue 2 , June 2018, , Pages 121-128
Abstract
Immune system plays crucial role in body and lymph nodes are essential parts of this system for combating pathogens. However, no study has ever been conducted on morphometric development of sheep lymph nodes in fetal period. Thus, this study attempted to examine the morphometric characteristics of a ...
Read More
Immune system plays crucial role in body and lymph nodes are essential parts of this system for combating pathogens. However, no study has ever been conducted on morphometric development of sheep lymph nodes in fetal period. Thus, this study attempted to examine the morphometric characteristics of a number of important lymph nodes of some lymphocenters of sheep during fetal period. To this end, 60 pieces of sheep fetuses collected from Ahvaz slaughterhouse were fixated in 10% formalin and then divided into four categories based on crown-rump length (CRL) following gender and weight determinations. Mandibular, caudal superficial cervical (prescapular), caudal mediastinum, jejunal mesenteric and popliteal lymph nodes were evaluated in five lymphocenters of head, neck, thoracic cavity, abdominal viscera and pelvic limbs, respectively. In each sample, nodes formation was visually checked and in cases of nodes formation, they were measured in terms of weight, length, width and thickness and collected data were statistically analyzed. The longest and shortest fetal CRLs were found to be 48.50 cm and 3.50 cm, respectively. Gender had no effect on study parameters in 32 male and 28 female fetuses. Study of sheep fetuses’ lymph nodes revealed no macroscopic lymph node development by day 45, while all nodes were observable after the day 59. The shortest lymph node was mandibular node and the longest one was caudal mediastinum. Based on the results, it seemed that although the size of lymph nodes grows by age, this increase is not the same for all nodes and groups.
Anatomy
Naeimeh Simaei; Farhad Soltanalinejad; Gholamreza Najafi; Ali Shalizar Jalali
Volume 8, Issue 3 , September 2017, , Pages 237-241
Abstract
The middle ear ossicles are important due to transmission of sound to the inner ear leading to sound understanding. The aim of present study was to determine the anatomical and morphometrical aspects of middle ear ossicles in Makouei sheep fetuses. For this experimental study, eight sheep fetuses at ...
Read More
The middle ear ossicles are important due to transmission of sound to the inner ear leading to sound understanding. The aim of present study was to determine the anatomical and morphometrical aspects of middle ear ossicles in Makouei sheep fetuses. For this experimental study, eight sheep fetuses at the age of 2 to 3 months were provided from public slaughterhouse; their middle ear ossicles were removed from tympanic cavity subsequently and assessed anatomically using stereomicroscope. For statistical analysis, one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc test were used. The results showed that rostral process of malleus doesn’t exist, but an osseous lamina extending to the tympanic bulla and tympanic ring is located in this place. Moreover, lenticular bone and muscular process of stapes weren’t found. These findings were similar to the other animal’s ossicles anatomical features, but there were also some differences that can be useful for study of these ossicles developmental evolution.
Theriogenology
Hossein Hassanpour; Valiallah Khalaji-Pirbalouty; Manoochehr Adibi; Hassan Nazari
Volume 8, Issue 3 , September 2017, , Pages 251-257
Abstract
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptors of transcription factors composed of three family members: PPARα, PPARβ/δ and PPARγ. This study was aimed to evaluate the role of PPARs in the estradiol production via follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in ...
Read More
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptors of transcription factors composed of three family members: PPARα, PPARβ/δ and PPARγ. This study was aimed to evaluate the role of PPARs in the estradiol production via follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in the ovine Sertoli cells. At the first step, transcripts of PPARα, PPARβ /δ and PPARγ were evaluated by quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) in the ovine Sertoli cells in vitro after FSH treatment. PPARγ transcript was increased in FSH-treated cells while PPARα and PPAR β /δ transcripts were unchanged. At the second step, Pioglitazone as PPARγ agonist and 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzanilide (GW9662) as PPARγ antagonist were used in the FSH-treated Sertoli cells and then, the estradiol production and aromatase transcript were evaluated. Aromatase transcript was increased by pioglitazone in the FSH-treated Sertoli cells while GW9662 did not change its transcript. The estradiol production was increased by low concentrations of pioglitazone in FSH-treated Sertoli cells while the production of this hormone was decreased by the high concentration of Pioglitazone. The GW9662 did not change the production of estradiol in FSH-treated Sertoli cells. It is concluded that FSH regulates the estradiol production and aromatase expression in a way independently of PPARβ/δ and PPARα activation, although FSH increases the transcript of PPARγ and in this way, it could affect (mostly increase) aromatase transcript and estradiol production. Probably, this effect of FSH in the estradiol production via PPARγ is only a servo-assist mechanism which if it was inhibited, the estradiol production was not considerably affected.
Pathology
Ghasem Farjanikish; Azizollah Khodakaram-Tafti; Omid Dezfoulian
Volume 8, Issue 3 , September 2017, , Pages 269-273
Abstract
Astrocytoma as one of the most common central nervous system (CNS) tumors is rarely reported in veterinary literature. A 7-year-old Persian Lori-Bakhtiari ewe was presented to the clinic with a two months history of progressive blindness, nystagmus to the right, bilaterally decreased pupillary reflexes, ...
Read More
Astrocytoma as one of the most common central nervous system (CNS) tumors is rarely reported in veterinary literature. A 7-year-old Persian Lori-Bakhtiari ewe was presented to the clinic with a two months history of progressive blindness, nystagmus to the right, bilaterally decreased pupillary reflexes, head pressing and paddling. At necropsy, a whitish well-circumscribed mass with dimensions of 3.50×2.50×1.50 cm was observed in the dorsal parietal lobe of the left cerebral hemisphere. Microscopically, the mass was well-circumscribed and highly cellular, consisted of round to elongated cells with scant and vacuolated cytoplasm with few, flaccid processes. The nuclei were round to oval with densely stippled chromatin and indistinct nucleoli. Immunohistochemical analyses showed positive staining for vimentin, S100 and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Definitive diagnosis of cerebral protoplasmic astrocytoma was made on the basis of the histopathological and immunohistochemical findings. This type of neoplasm should be included in the differential diagnosis of CNS lesions in the sheep.
Microbiology
Rahem Khoshbakht; Mohammad Tabatabaei; Saeid Hoseinzadeh; Mojtaba Raeisi; Hesamaddin Shirzad Aski; Enayat Berizi
Volume 7, Issue 3 , September 2016, , Pages 241-246
Abstract
Althoughpoultry meat is considered as the main source for human Campylobacter infections,there is limited information about non-poultry sources. The present study was aimed to investigate the prevalence and the antibiotic resistance of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. in fecal samples of the cattle and ...
Read More
Althoughpoultry meat is considered as the main source for human Campylobacter infections,there is limited information about non-poultry sources. The present study was aimed to investigate the prevalence and the antibiotic resistance of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. in fecal samples of the cattle and sheep in Shiraz, Iran. A total of 302fecal samples were obtained from clinically healthy, slaughtered cattle and sheep from Shiraz slaughterhouse. The animals were clinically healthy before being slaughtered. The samples were cultured according to the specific cultivation method under thermophilic conditions. The susceptibility of Campylobacter isolates were determined for 13 antimicrobial agents. All enriched samples and cultured isolates were targeted for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of 16S rRNA and multiplex PCR for determining their species. Among 302 fecal samples, 65 (21.5%) and 205 (67.8%) samples were positive for the presence of Campylobacter species with the cultivation and PCR techniques, respectively. All 65 distinct isolates were susceptible to neomycin and colistin and the isolates showed high resistance to cephalotin (83.0%) and ciprofloxacin (67.7%). After the multiplex PCR, 78.5% of total positive samples showed the simultaneous presence of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. In conclusion, the results emphasized that non-poultry farms are important as a possible source of Campylobacter infections.
Parasitology
Vahid Noaman; Davood Bastani
Volume 7, Issue 2 , June 2016, , Pages 163-167
Abstract
This study was carried out to determine the presence and frequency of Anaplasma ovis and Anaplasma marginale in sheep and dairy cattle in West-Azerbaijan province, Iran. A total number of 200 blood samples were randomly collected via the jugular vein from apparently healthy cattle (100) and sheep (100). ...
Read More
This study was carried out to determine the presence and frequency of Anaplasma ovis and Anaplasma marginale in sheep and dairy cattle in West-Azerbaijan province, Iran. A total number of 200 blood samples were randomly collected via the jugular vein from apparently healthy cattle (100) and sheep (100). The extracted DNA from blood cells was screened using genus-specific (Anaplasma spp.) nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on 16S rRNA gene primer sets. Species-specific PCR was set up using major surface protein 4 (MSP4) gene primer set. None of cattle blood samples were positive for Anaplasma spp. by the first nested PCR. Five samples among the 100 sheep blood samples were both positive in the first nested PCR and A. ovis -specific PCR, based on MSP4 gene. In total, 5.00% of animals were A. ovis positive. This study identified a low prevalence of A. ovis in the blood of apparently healthy sheep in West Azerbaijan province.
Alireza Alborzi; Abbas Jolodar; Masoudreza Seyfi Abad Shapouri; Esmaeil Bagherian pour
Volume 5, Issue 4 , December 2014, , Pages 307-311
Abstract
Oestrus ovis is an economically important parasite of small ruminants and a zoonotic parasite with many reports of ophthalmomyiasis in human from Iran and other countries. The aim of the peresent studywas the isolation and identification of excretory-secretory (ES) and somatic (S) antigens of O. ovis ...
Read More
Oestrus ovis is an economically important parasite of small ruminants and a zoonotic parasite with many reports of ophthalmomyiasis in human from Iran and other countries. The aim of the peresent studywas the isolation and identification of excretory-secretory (ES) and somatic (S) antigens of O. ovis second and third stage larvae (L2, L3) collected from Arabi sheep breeds located in southwest of Iran. Positive sera were prepared by marking the sheep, taking blood sample and direct observation of the parasite in the head. Somatic antigens of the larvae (SL2, SL3) were prepared by sonication. Larval excretory-secretory antigens (ESL2, ESL3) were prepared by incubation the larvae in RPMI-1640 RPMI medium. Electrophoretic protein profiles of ESL2 two, ESL3 seven, SL2 eight,SL3 fifteen bands (from 79.0 to below 14.4 KDa) were shown. In immunoblotting with positive sera, four common bands in SL2 and SL3 at 58, 42.0, 29.0 and 28.0 kDa, one specific band in SL3 at 47.0 kDa and one band in ESL2, at 28.0 kDa, and three bands in ESL3 at 58.0, 42.0, 29.0 and 28.0 kDa were recognized. Among the profiles, the 28 kDa protein was the most common antigenic component. Nevertheless, the antigenic proteins 29, 58 kDa were a common protein in electrophoretic patterns of both S and ES proteins of L2 and L3 but, 42.0 kDa antigen the only one detected in immunoblot but not in S and ES protein profiles of the larvae. Therefore, the antigens 29.0, 42.0 and 58.0 kDa can be used for further studies of protective effects and serological diagnostic methods.
Mohammad Sabaghan; Mahdi Pourmahdi Borujeni; Masoud Reza Seifi Abad Shapouri; Aria Rasooli; Milad Norouzi; Sayeh Samimi; Siavash Mansouri
Volume 5, Issue 4 , December 2014, , Pages 325-328
Abstract
Bluetongue (BT) is a viral disease of ruminants transmitted by Culicoides biting midges and has the ability to spread rapidly over large distances. The disease occurs almost worldwide between latitudes approximately 35˚ S and 50˚ N. Among the numerous diseases of ruminants, BT has gained considerable ...
Read More
Bluetongue (BT) is a viral disease of ruminants transmitted by Culicoides biting midges and has the ability to spread rapidly over large distances. The disease occurs almost worldwide between latitudes approximately 35˚ S and 50˚ N. Among the numerous diseases of ruminants, BT has gained considerable importance in recent years as one of the best examples of the effects of climate change on disease spread. Sheep are major livestock species in Iran, but studies of BT have not gained the priority compared to other diseases. Thus, the objective of this study was to describe the distribution and seroprevalence of bluetongue virus (BTV) infections in sheep in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province of Iran, and to identify factors associated with the exposure of these sheep to BTV infection. Sera from 262 apparently healthy sheep were collected during the year 2011. The collected sera of the animals were screened with competitive enzyme like immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA). Two hundred and three (77.48%) out of 262 sera tested were positive to BTV antibodies. Statistically significant differences were found in the seroprevalence BT, between sex and age of sheep (p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed in BTV seroprevalence among different seasons, nor among recently aborted and normally delivered.
Farhad Farhang-Pajuh; Mohammad Yakhchali; Karim Mardani
Volume 5, Issue 3 , July 2014, , Pages 181-186
Abstract
Sarcocystis is one of the most prevalent parasites of domestic ruminants worldwide. This study was aimed to determine prevalence of Sarcocystis infection and molecular discrimination of Sarcocystis gigantea and Sarcocystis medusiformis infecting domestic sheep. Tissue samples from 638 sheep slaughtered ...
Read More
Sarcocystis is one of the most prevalent parasites of domestic ruminants worldwide. This study was aimed to determine prevalence of Sarcocystis infection and molecular discrimination of Sarcocystis gigantea and Sarcocystis medusiformis infecting domestic sheep. Tissue samples from 638 sheep slaughtered at Urmia abattoir were randomly collected from February 2011 to January 2012. Genomic DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify a 964 bp fragment of nuclear 18S rRNA gene. The PCR products were subjected to digestion with endonuclease MboII and/or MvaI for discriminating S. medusiformis and S. gigantea. Results indicated that the overall prevalence of Sarcocystis unspecified species was 36.83% (235/638) in which male (7.63%, 38/498) and female (35.00%, 49/140) sheep over 4 years-old had the highest prevalence. There was no significant difference between prevalence of macrosarcocysts and sex. Two macrosarcocysts forms were found as fat (27.90%, 178/638) and thin (8.93%, 57/638) in striated muscles. There was significant difference between frequency of macrosarcocysts and body distribution. Mixed infection with both fat and thin macrosarcocysts was also found in 11.13% (71/638) of infected sheep. There was no significant difference regarding the prevalence of mixed infection in both age classes. The PCR-RFLP patterns showed that fat sarcocysts were S. gigantea (29.31%, 187/638) and thin sarcocysts were S. medusiformis (7.52%, 48/638). It was concluded that ovine Sarcocystis infection was prevalent in Urmia and a combination of conventional methods and molecular study for sheep sarcocysts could be informative.
Large Animal Internal Medicine
Hamid Akbari; Bahram Dalir-Naghadeh
Volume 5, Issue 1 , March 2014, , Pages 35-41
Abstract
To evaluate the effect of intravenous infusion of a soybean based lipid emulsion (Lipovenoes 10%) on some blood constituents in sheep, a replicated 2 × 2 Latin square design experiment was conducted in four clinically healthy ewes. Lipid emulsion (LE group) or normal saline (NS group) was infused ...
Read More
To evaluate the effect of intravenous infusion of a soybean based lipid emulsion (Lipovenoes 10%) on some blood constituents in sheep, a replicated 2 × 2 Latin square design experiment was conducted in four clinically healthy ewes. Lipid emulsion (LE group) or normal saline (NS group) was infused intravenously at a rate of 0.025 mL kg-1 per min for 6 hr and the concentrations of blood triglyceride, glucose, insulin, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, sodium and potassium were measured before (baseline) and then at timepoints 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 hr after infusion. Compared to the baseline values and/or NS infusion, LE infusion resulted in a significant increase in the concentrations of triglyceride (p < 0.001), glucose (p < 0.01), calcium (p < 0.05), phosphorous (p < 0.01) and a significant decrease in insulin (p < 0.001) and magnesium (p < 0.05) concentrations. Compared to the baseline value, the homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index increased (p < 0.001) at timepoints 2 and 4 hr and abruptly decreased at timepoint six hr (p < 0.01) following LE infusion. In LE group, HOMA-IR values were significantly (p < 0.001) higher than those for NS group at timepoints 2 and 4 hr after infusion. Neither treatment nor time influenced serum sodium and potassium concentrations (p > 0.05). In conclusion, intravenous infusion of Lipovenoes temporarily influenced some blood constituents. Increased triglyceride concentrations were associated with an increase in HOMA-IR values indicating a state of insulin resistance. No remarkable adverse effect was observed following LE infusion and lipid based emulsions can be safely used in ruminants not suffering from extensive lipid mobilization.
Yazdan Mazaheri; Jamal Nourinezhad; Reza Ranjbar; Mahmood Khaksary Mahabady; Ali Reza Ghadiri; Hamid Lombeshkon
Volume 5, Issue 1 , March 2014, , Pages 73-76
Abstract
Sheep conjoined twins have been reported less than cow. An apparently female conjoined twin lambs was examined based on external and internal features. In radiology, two vertebral columns and two pairs of the ribs were seen. Only two heads and two necks were separated (thoraco-omphalopygopagus). There ...
Read More
Sheep conjoined twins have been reported less than cow. An apparently female conjoined twin lambs was examined based on external and internal features. In radiology, two vertebral columns and two pairs of the ribs were seen. Only two heads and two necks were separated (thoraco-omphalopygopagus). There were three forelimbs (tribrachius), one of which grew on dorsal region as a notomelus. Teat buds of the monsters differed in number. Only one lamb had umbilicus, including one umbilical vein, and two umbilical arteries locating besides one urinary bladder. This lamb had also one uterus. Two-separated alimentary tracts were observed in a common abdomen. Common thorax and abdominal cavities were separated by a diaphragm. There were two esophageal hiatuses, and two caval foramina but only one aortic hiatus. Two pairs of lungs and two unequal and connected hearts in a common pericardium were observed. Abnormality of the circulatory system might have caused the death of the twins.
Siamak Kazemi-Darabadi; Farshid Sarrafzadeh-Rezaei; Amir-Abbas Farshid; Reza Baradar-Jalili
Volume 4, Issue 3 , September 2013, , Pages 149-155
Abstract
Healing of skin wound is a multi-factorial and complex process. Proper treatment of diabetic wounds is still a major clinical challenge. Although diabetes mellitus can occur in ruminants, healing of wounds in diabetic ruminants has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate healing ...
Read More
Healing of skin wound is a multi-factorial and complex process. Proper treatment of diabetic wounds is still a major clinical challenge. Although diabetes mellitus can occur in ruminants, healing of wounds in diabetic ruminants has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate healing of ovine excisional diabetic wound model. Eight 4-month-old Iranian Makoui wethers were equally divided to diabetic and nondiabetic groups. Alloxan monohydrate (60 mg kg-1, IV) was used for diabetes induction. In each wether, an excisional wound was created on the dorsum of the animal. Photographs were taken in distinct times for planimetric evaluation. Wound samples were taken on day 21 post-wounding for histopathologic evaluations of epidermal thickness, number of fibroblasts and number of new blood vessels. The planimetric study showed slightly delay in wound closure of diabetic animals, however, it was not significantly different from nondiabetic wounds (p ≥ 0.05). Furthermore, epidermal thickness, number of fibroblasts and number of blood vessels were significantly lower in diabetic group (p < 0.05). We concluded that healing of excisional diabetic wounds in sheep may be compromised, as seen in other species. However, contraction rate of these wounds may not be delayed due to metabolic features of ruminants and these animals might go under surgeries without any serious concern. However, healing quality of these wounds may be lower than normal wounds.
