فهرست مطالب faramarz gharagozloo

 Infectious and non-infectious abortions are necessary to be evaluated in Saanen and Alpine breeds as they have been recently imported to Iran whith out enough information about their susceptibility to diseases in the country situation. The present study aimed to investigate the causes of abortion in Saanen and Alpine to compare their susceptibility to each identified abortion factor.

 A total of 600 Saanen and 600 Alpine breeds were studied. Abomasal contents of foeti and serum samples from aborted does were analyzed by PCR and conventional culture methods and beta-hydroxy butyrate was measured in the serum of aborted animals.

Among 1200 pregnant goats, 59 Saanens and 80 Alpines aborted their fetus. Escherichia coli was isolated from 4 Saanens and 3 Alpines. Trueperella pyogenes was isolated from 5 Saanens and 7 Alpines. Pregnancy toxemia was the cause of abortion in 12 Saanens and 30 Alpines which showed a significant difference between the two breeds. Six Saanens and 10 Alpines aborted their fetus following trauma.

  As abortion is an economically important issue, especially for the breeds which we have less information about, the susceptibility of animals and the frequency of each abortifacient should be evaluated.

The objective of this survey was to evaluate the infection of P. aeruginosa within the mare population including horse riding clubs, clinical cases and different centers which keep horses in both suburbs of Tehran and Alborz provinces of Iran. Totally, 276 specimens were taken randomly from clitoral fossa and vagina of 138 pregnant (no. 9, 6.52%) and non-pregnant (no. 129. 93.48%) mares using sterile swabs. The horses included: horse riding clubs (79, 57%), referral clinical cases (32, 23%) and biological research center mares (27, 20%) in suburb of Tehran and Alborz provinces, Iran. They were transported beside ice bags to the diagnostic l laboratory in Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Iran. The cultures were confirmed using differential biochemical tests. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 19. P. aeruginosa was isolated from 6 mares (4.35 %). P. aeruginosa was isolated from clitoral fossa (No. 2, 1.45%), vagina (No.2, 1.45%) and clitoral fossa + vagina (No. 2, 1.45%), respectively. Infected mares aged among 8-20 years old. All of the infected mares were non-pregnant. Four (2.9%) and 2 (1.45%) mares were Thoroughbred and Arab breed, respectively. P. aeruginosa was isolated only from mares in the horse riding clubs in both suburbs of Tehran and Alborz provinces of Iran. It is concluded that mares of horse riding clubs in suburb of Tehran and Alborz provinces, Iran are infected by P. aeruginosa. The control programs should be done using routine screening of swabs taken before mating by laboratories experienced in the isolation and identification of this specific organism in horse riding clubs and also other horse rearing centers in Tehran and Alborz provinces of Iran.

Early resumption of ovarian activity after parturition could positively influence the fertility of dairy cows. Ovulation of the first postpartum follicular wave and formation of corpus luteum that secretes progesterone can sub-stantially benefit the resumption of ovarian cyclicity in cows. In this regard, the presence of a dominant follicle in the ovary before day 10 postpartum could enhance ovulation rate in the first postpartum follicular wave. Pregnant mare serum gon-adotropin (PMSG) is one of the hormones with the potential to improve the growth of follicles.

Accordingly, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of PMSG injection six days after parturition on reproductive parameters in dairy cows.

The subjects were randomly assigned to the two groups of control (N=74) and treatment (N=79). Cows in the control group received no treatment, while animals in the treatment group received 500 IU PMSG on day six postpartum. In both experimental groups, cows were subjected to Presynch-Ovsynch protocol 30-35 days postpartum. The subjects that experienced estrus during the Presynch-Ovsynch protocol were inseminated. On the other hand, the cows that were not in estrus during this period were subjected to fixed-time insemination at the end of the Presynch-Ovsynch protocol. Pregnancy was diagnosed 45 days after artificial insemination using the rectal examination.

In the control group, 66.22% of cows were inseminated based on estrus detection and 33.78% of cows were inseminated at fixed times. In the intervention group, 68.35% of cows were inseminated based on estrus detection and 31.65% of cows were inseminated at fixed times. The first-service conception rate (FSCR) was 27.03% and 48.1% in the control and treatment groups, respectively (p =0.01).

The present study showed that the injection of 500 IU PMSG six days after parturition could enhance FSCR in dairy cows.

Infectious endometritis in mares due to Mycoplasma equigenitalium causes subfertility, infertility, abortion, foaling reduction, and economic losses in the horse breeding industry. This survey aims to investigate the prevalence of infected mares infected with Mycoplasma equigenitalium in some breeds and keeping rearing horse centers in the suburb of around Tehran-Iran. In this survey, 138 healthy mares were randomly divided into 2 groups of pregnant and non-pregnant mares in different breeds and ages in different horse-riding clubs, research center, and faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran in the suburb of Tehran-Iran. Samples were taken from vaginal (No. 138) and the clitoral fossa (No. 138) of the mares using sterile swabs. Samples in the transport medium carried to the microbiology laboratory of the faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran besides ice bags. They were cultured in PPLO Broth and Agar. They were examined microscopic morphology. Seven out of 276 samples from five (3/62%) mares had mycoplasma colonies and 23 mare’s samples were suspected. Mares with< 2 years old were not infected and the age of the infected mares was 2-20 years old. The entire infected mares were not pregnant and the pregnant mares were not infected. Only 2 (1.44%) mares were infected in clitoral and virginal regions. Four (2.89%) mares were inseminated while 3 (3.03%) mares inseminated naturally. Three (2.17%) mares were Thoroughbred. All of the infected horses used for riding. It is concluded that the non-pregnant mares with natural insemination were infected by Mycoplasma equigenitalium in the suburb of Tehran-Iran.

Estrus synchronization is a valuable tool in ewe reproductive management.

This study was performed to evaluate the efficiency and determine the best time of eCG injection in short-term synchronization program based on GnRH-PGF 2α in Shal ewes during the breeding season.

One hundred and sixty non-pregnant Shal ewes, aged 2-6 years old were selected and randomly stratified to four equal groups. 25µg Alarelin acetate (GnRH analogue) and 75µg D-cloprostenol (PGF 2α analogue) were injected to all ewes, on days 0 and 5, respectively. The first group (control) did not receive any other treatment. Groups 2 to 4 received 400 IU of eCG, 48 hours before, 24 hours before and concurrent with PGF2α, respectively. Ewes were exposed to fertile rams during 96 hours post PGF2α injection. Blood serum progesterone concentrations were measured just before PGF2α injection and 10 days later.

No difference was observed in the first serum progesterone evaluation among experimental groups (P>0.05). However, progesterone had significantly higher concentrations 10 days after PGF 2α injection in groups 2 and 3 in comparison with groups 1 and 4 (P<0.05). Simultaneous use of eCG with PGF2α led to a higher estrus response in comparison with other groups (P<0.05). During the first day after PGF2α, a higher percentage of ewes in group 2 and 3 exhibited estrus compared with groups 1 and 4 (P<0.05). Conversely, estrus expression was higher 24-48 hours after prostaglandin injection in groups 1 and 4 than the other two (P<0.05). Thus, the interval to estrus was earlier in group 2 and 3 than groups 1 and 4 (P<0.05). No significant differences were detected in terms of conception rate, lambing rate, prolificacy and fecundity among study groups (P>0.05).

Use of eCG in different times (48 and 24 hours before and concurrent with PGF2α) in short-term synchronization program based on GnRH-PGF2α during the breeding season can be effective on estrus indices. Regarding the diversity of sheep's masses in Iran, it seems that acceptable results may be achieved when eCG is used concurrently with PGF2α in short-term protocol.

Cystic ovarian disease (COD) is one of the common reproductive disorders which affecting the fertility of dairy cattle induces heavy financial burdens on herds owners. Various insecticides, fungicides and herbicides, collectively known as pesticides are frequently used in the agricultural systems of different countries. Given the fact that pesticides are known to have endocrine disrupting properties, exposure to these compounds may play a role in the development of COD. The plasma concentrations of a complete profile of common pesticides including organophosphorus, organochlorine, and carbamate and pyrethroid compounds in the plasma of cattle with COD compared to healthy controls was examined. Moreover, plasma concentrations of inflammatory cytokines as well as oxidative stress parameters were investigated. No significant amounts of any of the pesticides investigated were detectable in the plasma of neither the healthy nor cystic cows. The plasma indices of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), thiol, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) did not show any significant differences between the affected and the control groups. Tumor necrosis factors alpha (TNF-α), progesterone, lymphocyte, neutrophil, fibrinogen and MCHC had significantly higher amounts in the plasma of COD cows. Findings of the present study do not support the notion that exposure to the studied pesticides is a contributing factor in the development of follicular cysts in dairy cattle. In addition, TNF-α might be affected as a factor in the pathogenesis of COD by an independent pathway of pesticides effect.

In mare, different methods of earlier cyclicity induction and hastening first ovulation of the year have been reported.
The goal of present study was to investigate the effect of progesterone (Cue-mate®) on synchronization and acceleration the first ovulation of the year in winter anestrous mares under artificial lighting system.
After detection of anestrus mares, artificial lighting regimen of 16h light was conducted since early December for both treatment and control groups mares. After detecting of 25 mm follicle on the ovary, treatment group mares received Cue-Mate and examined through rectal ultrasound until follicle reached in size of 35mm, when Cue-mate was removed. Daily ultrasound examination and teasing were done until detection of ovulation.
Based on our results, no significant difference in rate of ovulation (66% vs 60%) and size of ovulatory follicle were existed between treatment and control group. In addition to, despite of decreasing time interval of follicular growth from 25 mm to 35 mm (8.33±0.88 vs 10.75±2.28 in treatment and control groups respectively) and from each of these sizes to ovulation size, no significant difference was existed between treatment and control groups.
This was the first preliminary report of investigating the effect of progesterone plus artificial lighting on hastening first ovulation of the year in early winter anestrous. It seems more studies with considering the greater number of mares in different ages are needed.

Microorganisms are responsible for development of many diseases, which directly or indirectly affect reproductive performance in mares, like various animal species. Fungi are present at mucous membranes of reproductive tract as mycoflora in warm blooded animals.
The aim of this study was isolation and identification of molds of external reproductive tract in mares.
Samples were collected from genital tract of 151 mares in different ages from horse breeding farms and clubs suburb of Tehran from April to December, 2014. Age, pregnancy, insemination and mating were recorded. Samples were taken by sterile cotton swabs from 3 different sites, (1) vestibule, (2) clitoral fossa and (3) vagina and transferred under cold condition to the laboratory of Mycology Research Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran,Iran. Samples were inoculated in Sabouraud glucose agar supplemented with antibiotic (chloramphenicol; 0.005) and kept at 30°C for 10-15 days before being considered negative. Fungal identification relied on morphologic and physiologic features. SPSS Version 20 was used for statistical analysis of the data.
Totally, 666 filamentous fungi colonies were isolated. Maximum colony (CFUs) were 20 and 37 colonies for each site and horse, respectively. In total, 81.5 percent of mares and 48.3 percent of different sites were positive. The most predominant isolates were Aspergillus spp 362(54.35%), Scopulariopsis 93(13.96%), Cladosporium 35(5.25%), Penicillium 31(4.65%), Alternaria 26(3.90%), Fusarium 20(3.03%). Aspergillus took high occurrence with 362 and A. fumigatus with 156 colonies followed by Scopulariopsis 93, Cladosporium 35 and Pencillium 31. A. fumigatus had significant difference among other fungi p Isolated filamentous fungi could be resident flora of external reproductive tract of mares. These saprophytic pathogen fungi in predisposing conditions could be causative agents of endometritis and infertility in mares.

The effect of short term usage of GnRH antagonist as pretreatment on superovulation in goats was evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test and showed that usage of GnRH antagonist as pretreatment can improve number of recovered embryos (p<0.05), but there were no statistically difference between treatment group versus control group in term of number of corpura lutea and cystic follicles(p>0.05). This study showed that usage of GnRH antagonist can improve superovulatory response in term of embryo recovery in goats. This study showed that usage of GnRH antagonist can improve superovulatory response in term of embryo recovery in goats.