mehdi rasekh

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of three anesthetic agents, with premedication of medetomidine and midazolam, on electrocardiographic variables in dogs. Ten adult mixed breed dogs were used in a crossover design study, where they received ketamine, propofol and isoflurane treatments with a one-week washout period between them. In all three groups, medetomidine was administered first followed by midazolam after 15 min. Then, after 20 min, group 1 received ketamine intravenously (IV), group 2 received propofol (IV), and group 3 received isoflurane (inhalation). In all dogs, electrocardiographs were taken before and after premedication’s, as well as every 15 min during anesthesia. Medetomidine significantly decreased heart rate and P wave amplitude and increased PR interval, R wave amplitude, QT interval, and T wave amplitude. Midazolam increased the amplitude of the R and T waves. Ketamine increased the heart rate and PR interval. Propofol increased the heart rate for up to 15 min, decreased the PR interval for up to 30 min, and the QT interval for up to 45 min. Isoflurane increased the heart rate and decreased the amplitude of R and T waves. The results showed that the drugs used in this study did not have many side effects on electrocardiographic variables and could be used without serious concern. The most important side effects observed were a severe reduction in heart rate and 1st degree atrioventricular (AV) block and, to a lesser extent, 2nd degree AV block caused by medetomidine and midazolam which were masked by the anesthetics.

Coxiella burnetii (causative agent of Q fever) is an important zoonotic diseasewith a universal occurrence. Ticks are natural and potential reservoirs of this bacterium and play aneffective role in the transmission of Q fever. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Coxiellaburnetii in hard ticks isolated from livestock in Sistan.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in five counties of the Sistan region. Thegenus and species of hard ticks were identified after collection from some domestic animals. The nested-PCR technique was used to identify the bacterial genome.

Results:

 Of all examined ticks, two genera, including 354 Hyalomma (59.399%) and 242 Rhipicephalus(40.6%) were identified. The hard ticks are in three types of species as follows: Rhipicephalus sanguineus(40.1%), Rhipicephalus nymph (0.5%), Hyalomma anatolicum (47.5%), Hyalomma sp. (1.5%), Hyalommanymph (10.4%), and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus (0.16%). No infected specimen with Coxiellaburnetii was observed in the Sistan region.

According to the results of previous studies in Sistan and Baluchestan province and neighboringprovinces that reported a high prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in collected ticks, it seems that moreextensive research, with a larger sample size and host range, is necessary to clarify the situation of thispathogen.

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is an emerging single-stranded RNA virus being classified under Simbu serogroup of Bunyaviridae family. This study aimed to detect antibodies against SBV in cattle for the first time in three eastern provinces of Iran. Blood samples were randomly collected from jugular veins of 270 cattle, from 19 farms in Razavi Khorasan, South Khorasan and Sistan and Baluchistan provinces. Separated sera were analyzed to find SBV antibody using ID vet® SBV indirect multi-species enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test kit. From a total of 273 serum samples analyzed for SBV presence, 12.45% (n = 34) were positive for SBV antibody. Risk factors including breed, age and geographic area showed a statistically significant relationship with the virus prevalence. In conclusion, the seroprevalence of SBV is not high; but it is considerable in the studied parts of Iran. This is the first study regarding SBV seroprevalence in cattle population of eastern Iran and further studies about the virus epidemiology are recommended.

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a zoonotic viral infection transmitted mainly via CCHF virus-infected ticks between vertebrate hosts. The disease occurs in almost all provinces of Iran. This study investigated the CCHFV infection in hard ticks collected from livestock in the Sistan region of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, southeast of Iran.

In this study, ticks were collected from 220 livestock, including 150 sheep, 50 goats, 20 cows in five counties of Sistan Province (Zabol, Zehak, Hirmand, Nimruz, and Hamun). The ticks were identified under a stereomicroscope according to valid morphological keys. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method was used to detect the CCHFV genome via amplifying the S segment.

Among 100 selected ticks, RT-PCR revealed no CCHFV infection.

Although no ticks were positive for CCHFV, it should be recalled that Sistan and Baluchestan province is among the highly endemic CCHF foci. As a result, further investigation and larger sample sizes are required to confirm our outcome. According to the hypothesis that direct contact with viremic livestock is more significant than tick bites in the viral transmission, more serological and molecular screening should be performed on high-risk individuals, e.g., slaughterhouse staff, ranchers, farmers, and veterinarians in the Sistan region.

Ticks are vectors for several important zoonoses including different species of Anaplasma. The present study aims to determine the presence of Anaplasma spp. in hard ticks collected from livestock of South-Khorasan province, Iran. A total of 684 livestock were sampled and 269 ticks were collected. Two genera and 6 species of ticks were identified including Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Hyalomma detritium, Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma asiaticum, Hyalomma dromedarii and Hyalomma spp. Eleven Hyalomma nymphs and 3 Rhipicephalus nymphs were also identified. 100 Out of 269 ticks were chosen for molecular detection. DNA was extracted followed by PCR technique to detect Anaplasma spp. The presence of Anaplasma spp. was confirmed in 20 out of 100 tested samples (20%). All positive samples collected from Birjand county were Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Results of the present study showed a relatively high infection rate of Anaplasma in hard ticks in South-Khorasan Province.

Coxiella burnetii infection (causative agent of Q fever) is a public health problem and a zoonotic disease with a global prevalence. The importance of zoonotic diseases and their impact on the health of people in a community is undeniable. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in hard ticks isolated from livestock in different parts of South Khorasan, Iran.

In summer 2019, ticks were collected from cattle, sheep, camels, and goats in five counties of South Khorasan province. The genus and species of hard ticks were identified after isolation from livestock. Nested-PCR was used to identify the bacterial genome.

We identified two genera and six species, including Rhipicephalus sanguineus (41. 3%), Hyalomma detritum (8.9%), Hyalomma marginatum (2.2%), Hyalomma anatolicum (3.3%), Hyalomma asiaticum (0.9%), Hyalomma dromedarii (33.5%), and Hyalomma spp. (3.7%). Hyalomma nymphs (n=11, 4.1%) and Rhipicephalus nymphs (n= 3, 1.1%) were also identified. In the present study, none of the samples were infected with Coxiella burnetii.

The present study revealed that South Khorasan province is free from epidemic and endemic foci of Coxiella burnetii.

Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a deadly viral infection (mortality rate between 3 and 30%) reported from more than 30 countries. The disease is common between humans and animals and can be transmitted through tick bites, contact with blood and secretions or carcasses of infected animals and humans. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of CCHF virus in ticks isolated from domestic livestock in rural areas of Birjand city in South Khorasan province. In this study, 390 livestock including 167 sheep, 205 goats, 9 cows and 9 camels were sampled in four villages (Nofarest, Hassanabad, Amirabad and Shaukatabad) of Birjand county. Eight species of hard ticks were identified, including Rhipicephalus sanguineus (21.9%), Hyalomma detritium (25%), Hyalomma marginatum (2.4%), Hyalomma anatolicum (0.8%), Hyalomma asiaticum (1.6%), Hyalomma dromedarii (43). %) And other Hyalomma (4.7%). The presence of virus was confirmed in 15.9% of the samples sent to the laboratory by reverse polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). the virus was observed in: Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Hyalomma detritium and Hyalomma asiaticum. The most infected hosts were sheep and goats, and the ticks caught were all from lowland areas. The villages of this region can be considered endemic for CCHF. Therefore, it is recommended to follow controlling and monitoring policies in the region more carefully.

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is a single-stranded RNA virus classified in the Prebunyaviridae family and Orthobunyavirus genus. SBV is a teratogenic arbovirus, infecting pregnant ruminants, and results in offspring with congenital defects such as scoliosis, hydrocephalus, arthrogryposis, cerebellar hypoplasia and enlarged thymus. The purpose of this review was to conduct a systematic review to show the spread of SBV in Iran and neighboring countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, Iraq, Russia, Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar. In this study, 9 English and Persian databases including Magiran, Irandoc, SID, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar and PubMed were reviewed. Of the 55 studies found, 12 studies met the criteria defined in the purpose of this study. The results of the study indicated the presence of SBV in a number of domestic animals such as horses, cows, sheep, goats and camels. In Iran, only one study was found to be conducted on the prevalence of the disease which indicates that horses are infected (5%). Turkey and Pakistan showed the highest percentages of positive serum samples in cattle (39.82%) and camels (86%) respectively. Due to the proximity and livestock exchanges between Iran and Turkey in the northwest of the country, as well as between Iran and Pakistan in the southeast, precautionary measures are recommended by veterinary officials.

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases in human societies and ani- mal populations, particularly pregnant women and domestic animals. This life-threatening infection may cause severe consequences in the fetus.

This study was aimed to estimate the prevalence of anti-parasite antibodies in pregnant wom- en and sheep and goat populations of Zabol city, Sistan and Baluchistan Province, Southeast Iran.

Ninety serum samples of pregnant women and 184 serum samples of sheep and goats were collected and anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies were examined using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Subsequently, the correlation between the seroprevalence of infection and socio-de- mographic data was statistically calculated.

Among pregnant women, 13/90 (14%) samples were IgG positive and seroprevalence was signifi- cantly correlated to history of abortion (p <0.05). Among examined sheep and goats, 34 sheep (24.6%) and 3 goats (6.5%) out of 184 (138 sheep and 46 goats) serum samples were positive for parasite-specific IgG. Also, the seroprevalence of infection was significantly associated with animal species (p <0.05), history of abortion (p <0.05) and parity (p <0.05).

According to the findings of this study, despite the relatively low prevalence of infection in pregnant women in Sistan, given the high prevalence of infection in the small ruminant population of the region, more careful monitoring and control of transmission of infection from small ruminants along with other common vectors of the disease are essential. However, more precise investigations are needed to reveal the epidemiological aspects of the parasite in Sistan.

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a viral, acute, febrile, and hemorrhagic disease that causes significant death in humans. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus has been isolated from different species of ticks, including 28 hard ticks and 2 soft ticks. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of CCHF virus in ticks isolated from domestic livestock in border villages of Sistan region in the north of Sistan and Baluchestan province. In this study, 54 livestock including 50 sheep, 3 goats and 1 cow in four villages (Choto, Nader Alamkhan, Millak and Sanjarani) from Sistan region were sampled. After identifying genus and species of ticks, the samples were examined for the presence of the virus genome by reverse polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Acording to taxonomic ranks 2 genera and 3 species were identified, which include Rhipicephalus Sanguineous, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus and Hyalomma anatolicum. The presence of the virus was not confirmed in any of the 50 tested samples. Our findings indicate that CCHFV may not circulating in the ticks of Sistan border villages. However, since Sistan and Baluchestan province is an endemic region for CCHF, more research is needed for a better understanding of CCHFV vectors in this region.

The use of medicinal plants has a special importance in medicine because of its therapeutic properties, low side effects, availability, and ease of use. Nettle is a medicinal plant found in most parts of Iran and has unique properties in traditional medicine such as the treatment of anemia. In this study, the effect of aqueous extract of Urtica dioica leaf on hematological parameters in rats was investigated. For this purpose, 16 rats were studied and divided into two groups of 8 cases. Each rat in the treatment group received 200 mg/kg of aqueous extract of nettle leaf orally for 28 days and blood sampling was performed on days 0 and 28 and hematological parameters were measured and finally, hematological parameters of control rats that did not receive nettle were compared and the obtained parameters were analyzed. The mean cell volume (MCV) was significantly increased in the treatment group (p=0.044), which, along with parameters such as hemoglobin, red blood cell count and hematocrit, showed an increase compared to the control group. The results of this study indicate that oral administration of aqueous extract of nettle leaf can have hematopoietic effects on rats.

Parasitic infestation of breeding sheep can cause weight loss, production loss and condemnation of edible organs at slaughter. This study was designed to evaluate gastrointestinal parasitic infections in sheep of Sistan region. Fecal samples from 395 sheep were collected randomly. Coordinates of the sampling locations were recorded using a GPS device. Fecal tests were conducted using the Clayton-Lane floatation method. In this study only cestode eggs of the genus Moniezia and protozoan oocysts of the genus Eimeria were found in the faeces. Prevalence of Moniezia was 21 percent (83 cases) and prevalence of Eimeria was 39 percent (154 cases). There was no nematode or trematode eggs in the selected fecal samples. Chi-square test showed that there was no significant difference between the prevalence of Moniezia in cold and warm seasons but the prevalence of Eimeria in the warm season was significantly greater than the cold season (p=0.008). The results showed that gastrointestinal parasitic fauna of sheep in Sistan region is different from other regions of the country. This may be due to hot and dry weather of Sistan. In addition, the 120 days' winds of Sistan displace a large volume of soil in this region that can cause scattering of sheep stool in the desert, preventing completion of the life cycle of parasites.

Neospora caninum is protozoan parasitic disease now described as the major cause of abortion and other reproductive issues. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of N. caninum in cattle breeds of the Sistan region, southeastern border area of Iran.

Using an ELISA kit (ID.VET, France), the antibodies against N. caninum in cattle of Sistan was evaluated in 2016. Overall, 184 blood samples from apparently healthy cattle in the eastern border area of Iran Sistan were collected for assessment of antibodies against N. caninum. The values greater than or equal to 50%, were considered positive based on manufacture’s manual for ELASA kit.

3.8% of 184 cattle have antibody against N. caninum. Chi-square test showed that the seroprevalence among Holsteins, Sistan and cross-breed was 9.4%, 0%, and 4.3%, respectively. No significant difference was observed among the breeds (P>0.05). The seroprevalence was decreased as the age of cow increased and there is no significant difference between the prevalence of N. caninum and different city area. No statistically significant relationship between the seroprevalence of N. caninum and history of abortion, lactation number and infertility was observed. Although there was no significant difference between the cattle breeds of the Sistan region all the Sistani cows were negative for the antibody against N. caninum.

Infection rate with N. caninum in bovine population in Sistan region is very low. Environmental and management factors are the major causes, which influence the regional prevalence.

Liver lesions in cattle not only have negative effects on the cattle breeding industry, but also lead to loss of animal protein production, and in particular to endanger the consumers’ health.
This study was carried out to examine the macroscopic and histopathologic lesions of liver in slaughtered cattle of Zabol City.
Livers of 281 cattle slaughtered at the industrial slaughterhouse of Zabol City were collected from March to September 2015 for gross and microscopic investigation. Tissue processing was conducted from specimens inspected to tissue lesions with routine protocol and histopathological changes of livers were examined under light microscopy.
Macroscopic investigation of 281 cases showed 90 livers (32.02%) with gross lesions. In histopathological examination, there were 83 cases (29.53%) with hydatidosis, 3 cases (1.07%) with fasciolosis, 2 cases (0.71%) with perihepatitis and 2 cases (0.71%) with lipidosis.
Based on the results of this study, the most frequent liver lesion in cattle slaughtered in Zabol City was hydatidosis indicating the active life cycle of Echinococcus guanulosus and the outbreak of this parasitic disease in dogs and other carnivores in Sistan region

Dermatophilosis is a bacterial skin infection and wet conditions like, raining and dipping predispose sheep to it. A great economic loss can be caused by this disease because of its effect on the quality of wool. In Iran (near Saveh), there was an outbreak of the disease in a herd and the clinical manifestation was different from that of typical dermatophilosis. Diffuse wide alopecic area accompanied by large amount of purulent discharges were seen. The main lesions were located at the thoracic area. Secondary infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and bacteremia caused by staphylococcus was diagnosed and is considered to be the cause of 0.16% mortality.For diagnosis blood samples were obtained for CBC, and bacteriological culture and direct smear were taken from skin lesions. Biopsy was also prepared from skin lesions for histopathologic study and bacteriologic culture. Direct microscopic examination was made on Giemsa-stained smear prepared from crusts and their underlying tissue. Gram stained smear was also prepared from underlying crusts of skin. After bacteriological and histopathological evaluation, Dermatophilus was determined. A typical railroad track of Gram positive bacteria was seen in Gram and Giemsa stained smear. Filamentous bacteria in the epidermis were seen in histopathological samples. Infection was controlled by treating herd intramuscularly with 70,000 mg/kg BW procaine penicillin G, twice daily for 5 consecutive days.

A2-year-old cachectic cross-breed gelding was admitted to Veterinary Teaching Hospital of University of Tehran following the onset of a marked respiratory distress، coughing and ventral edema. Clinical examinations indicated harsh respiratory and expiratory sounds as well as jugular vein distention. The respiratory and heart rates were 35/min and 60 bpm، respectively. Agrade III/IV pansystolic murmur with the PMI on the tricuspid valve، which could be heard on the left side، was detected. Sinus tachycardia was revealed by electrocardiography. Rupture of the chorda tendineae of the tricuspid valve، pulmonary artery regurgitation، pulmonary artery hypertension، tricuspid valve regurgitation، pulmonary artery، and right ventricular dilation were also found in echocardiography. These findings were confirmed at post mortem examinations. On the basis of the findings، chorda tendineae rapture of the tricuspid valve and right side heart failure due to primary pulmonary hypertension were diagnosed.

Root canal irrigants could change the structure of root dentin and affect the posts retention the purpose of this study was to compare the effects of three different endodontic irrigants on the retention of quarts fiber posts cemented by different resin cement. In this in-vitro study, 10 mm long post spaces were prepared in root canals of 120 premolars after endodontic therapy and cutting the crowns at the cementoenamel junction. The teeth were randomly divided into four equal groups based on the irrigants as follows: distilled water, 2% chlorhexidine, 0.25% iodine and 1% NaOCl. Quarts fiber posts were cemented by Panavia F2. Samples were stored at 370c and humidity of 100% for one week. After thermocycling, the retention of fiber posts were measured by tensile test and modes of failure were reported. Data were analyzed by One-Way ANOVA, Tukey and Fisher's exact tests. The mean and standard deviation of the posts retention were 367.08±63.07, 377.59±72.02, 363.11±68.53 and 342.89±74.94 for distilled water, chlorhexidine 2%, iodine 0.25% and sodium hypochlorite, respectively. One-way ANOVA showed that there was a significant difference among the groups (P<0.001). The results of Tukey test showed that posts retention was significantly higher after rinsing by chlorhexidine (P<0.01) According to the results of this study, chlorhexidine rinse had a favorable effect on retention of posts cemented by resin cement.