Iranian Journal of Veterinary Science and Technology
Volume:7 Issue: 1, Winter and Spring 2015

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of a sustained-release multi-trace element ruminal bolus on sex ratio, the reproductive performance and lambs growth of Afshari ewes. Eighty Afshari cycling ewes during breeding season were used in the trial. The animals were synchronized using CIDR for 14 days and assigned into 4 groups including: group 1 (n=20) received a single Ferrobloc bolus four weeks prior to CIDR insertion following 400 IU eCG on CIDR removal, group 2 (n=20) received two boluses four weeks prior to CIDR insertion following 400 IU eCG on CIDR removal, group 3 (n=20) received only 400 IU eCG on CIDR removal and group 4 (n=20; control) received no bolus and no eCG. Growth traits were analyzed using the mixed procedure of SAS. Number of observations (lambing rate, litter size, barren rate and the male / female lamb rate) in different groups was compared using the Chi-Square test. Results showed that ruminal bolus can play an indirect role in skewing sex ratio toward male offsprings. Given 1 or 2 sustained-release multi-trace element ruminal boluses four weeks before synchronization programme using eCG, causes the pregnancy of all ewes. Of the four treatments tested, the 2 boluses+eCG showed superiority on reproductive performancein terms of lambing rate (150%) and litter size (150%) in Iranian Afshari ewes during breeding season. Also, bolus supplementation enhances lamb body weight at birth up to 60 days of age.

Colibacillosis is of the most common infectious bacterial diseases of poultry.A total of 170 Escherichia coli isolates obtained from broiler and layer flocks implicated with colibacillosis between 2011 and 2014 were subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Among 150 E. coli isolates from typical lesions of local and systemic colibacillosis, 54 (31.8%), 37 (21.7%), 36 (21.2%) and 43 (25.3%) isolates determined as belonged to groups A, B1, B2 and D, respectively. The distribution of phylogenetic types for 20 isolates, obtained from apparently healthy birds as controls, were 9 (45%), 5 (25%), 1 (5%) and 5 (25%) for A, B1, B2 and D, respectively. Overall, the phylogenetic Determination revealed the B2 groups as predominant isolates in diseased birds, whereas the A group was apparently predominant in healthy birds. Results of this study represent genotypic diversity among different manifestations of avian colibacillosis.

In the present study karyotype of Mazani river buffalo was studied in comparison with those of Azeri buffalo populations from Iran. Blood samples were taken from ten (5 males and 5 females) Mazani buffaloes and thirty (15 males and 15 females) Azeri buffaloes. The Mazani buffaloes belong to Mazendaran province and Azeri buffaloes belong to west and east Azerbaijan and Ardebil provinces. Blood lymphocytes cultured at 37ºC for 72 hours in the presence of phytohemagglutinin and the metaphase spreads were performed on microscopic slide. Giemsa was used to stain chromosomes. The Mazani and Azeri Buffalo exhibited the same karyotype with diploid number of 2n = 50. The fundamental numbers (NF) were 60 in male and female. The types of chromosome were 6 submetacentric, 4 metacentric and 40 telocentric which the X chromosome is the largest telocentric and the Y chromosome is one of the smallest telocentric chromosomes. The relative length of chromosomes ranged between 2.17% to 7.2% in Mazani buffalo, and also 2.21% to 6.55% in Azeri buffalo. No obvious abnormality was found among chromosomes. Therefore, based on the identified karyotype both Mazani and Azeri buffaloes are riverine.

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of toxin genes in Clostridium perfringens isolated from 200minced meat samples using molecular typing. For this purpose, after isolation of Clostridium perfringens using conventional culture method and confirmation by specific 16Srd NA gene PCR, alpha (cpa), beta (cpb), beta 2 (cpb2),epsilon (etx), iota (iA) and enterotoxin (cpe) genes were investigated by multiplex PCR.Out of 200 minced meat samples, 25 (12.5%) were determined as contaminated with C. perfringens and m-PCR results demonstrated that, out of these 25 isolates, 18 (81 %) possessed only the cpa gene (type A), while 4 (18 %) carried the cpa and cpb2 toxin genes (type A-cpb2+). Furthermore, the results showed1 isolate (4 %) as type B, 1 isolate (4 %) as type D and 1 isolate (4 %) as type E. This study reports the first cpb2 positive type B of C. perfringens in minced meat. Our results also indicate that C. perfringens type A is the most common type in minced meat.

Fleas are the most common and important external parasites worldwide and also serves as vectors of various pathogens for humans and animals. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of Pulex irritants in sheep herds and residential areas of villages in Kurdsitan Province, Iran. A total of 2,900 sheep were randomly selected from 48 flocks and 630 residential areas of 18 villages from November 2011 to October 2012. The collected fleas were identified by key fleas. Results revealed that 259 (8.93%) sheep from 31 flocks (65.51%) and 31 (4.92%) residential areas were infested with P. irritants. Of 1323 P. irritants, 503/1323 (38.02%) and 820/1323 (61.98%) were male and female, respectively. Of these, 950 (72%) were from animals and 373 (28%) were from residential areas. The highest infection rate was found in age group less than one year (30.93%, 29/92). The body distribution of all collected flea was found to be from back part of the body (100%). Seasonal distribution of P. irritants in examined animals had significant difference. Geographical distribution of P. irritants indicated that the highest infection rate was found in Marab region (6.03%). The highest flea infestation was also found in summer (41.8%) with a total number of 450 fleas out of 1323 (34.01%). From the results of this study, it was concluded that P. irritants was a prevalent flea in sheep and residential areas in the region and may serve as an important vector for pathogenic agents.

This study was undertaken to estimate specific activities of rhodanese and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MST) in different tissues of turkey. Enzyme activities were determined in tissue samples from freshly killed adult male turkeys by measurement of thiocyanate amounts produced by the action of enzymes on suitable substrates. Activities of rhodanese and MST in examined tissues of turkey range from 0.023 to 0.448 and 0.01 to 0.191, respectively. The highest activity of the rhodanese was observed in the liver followed by the kidney and then heart, with statistically significant difference between them. Indeed, the activities of MST were significantly higher in hepatic and renal tissues of turkey than in other examined tissues. Although both sulfurtransferases were detected in brain and all studied parts of the digestive tract, the mean values of enzyme activities were far less compared with those of liver and kidney. The results suggest high potential of liver and kidney in sulfurtransferases mediated cyanide detoxification in turkey. However, the demonstration of both enzyme activities in all examined tissues supports the involvement of them in other biochemical processes besides cyanide detoxification which needs to be clarified in detailed studies.

Monocephalus thoracopagus is a kind of attached symmetrical twin in which two nearly complete individuals joined front-to-front in the thoracic region with a single head, fused chests, one or two hearts and two lower bodies. A died female kid goat with one head, four ears, four paired limbs and two more or less complete body was referred to the Veterinary Faculty of the Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman. Detailed dissection was done on it and the progress of the duplication process of the internal organs was studied precisely. In the presented case, the way of the articulation of the ribs to the sterna and the progress of the duplication process in the alimentary canal can support the Spencer's spherical theory, saying that “a group of conjoined twins resulting from the union of two embryonic discs (or incomplete fission in one disc) over a common yolk sac”.