Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
Volume:13 Issue: 2, Spring 2019

Cardiac murmur and subsequently cardiac failure is one of the poor-performance causes in athletic horses. Attention to murmur character is vital during heart examination. Polo is a sport which demands very high stress on horses, which may result in more stress on cardiovascular system. In this study we assume that high pressure on polo horses makes them more susceptible to valves insufficiency as a result of high velocity across valves. 136 polo horses were evaluated in this study, and all participated in polo matches. Both sides of chest were heard carefully by two clinicians and murmur characters recorded in detail. Afterward the accuracy of auscultation finding was proved by echocardiography, in echocardiography examination all the valves were evaluated carefully for any trace of regurgitation or stenosis across valves. Forty-seven horses showed cardiac murmurs during auscultation (34.55%). Thoroughbred had the highest rate of murmur, with 71% of murmurs observed in this breed. Grade 2 murmurs were more frequent than others and 24 horses showed Grade 2 murmurs. And tricuspid had the highest involvement and 24 horses had tricuspid regurgitation. This study is the first report of cardiac murmur in Polo horses, which showed the high presence of tricuspid and aortic murmur. The difference between prevalence of murmurs in this study and other ones was not remarkable

Mitral valve disease is the most common acquired heart disease in dogs. Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) due to endocardiosis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in dog. Echocardiography as a non-invasive tool is routinely used to evaluate and diagnose different disorders in the heart. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of medical treatments and follow-up administration by the veterinarians in Tehran, using radiography and echocardiography. A total of 35 dogs from various breeds with cardiac heat failure (CHF) because of MR were selected for prospective randomized study. After clinical examination and radiography, progressive mitral endocardiosis was confirmed by echocardiography.  After that, patients were treated by a routine plans recommended by the general practitioners (12 active small animal clinicians). Follow-up radiography and echocardiography were performed again after 3 months for checking the efficacy of treatment protocol on cardiac output. None of the medically treated patients statically showed significant improvement in their radiographic or echocardiographic parameters, that can be the outcome of incompatibility of using protocols with the standard ones. Although more studies are needed, based on the present results there was no significant change in cardiac parameters after 3 months of treatment. It seems that the current routine medication used by the active practitioner is not effective and cannot make a better quality of life in short term and requires changing the dose, the drugs producers or use of different  prescription items.

DNA amplification method has been developed for identifying and discriminating Salmonella serovars, using specific primers at the genus and serovar levels and to identify the S. Enteritidis, S. Dublin, S. Gallinarum and S. Pullorum. This study was conducted for molecular identification and discrimination among some important Salmonella serovars. Fifty isolates of Salmonella were assayed. The PCR assay was designed to amplify DNA fragments from six Salmonella genes, invA (284 bp), tcpS (882 bp), lygD (339 bp), flhB (155 bp), SlgC (252 bp), and speC (174 bp). The results showed invA and tcpS genes presence in all four Salmonella serovars, whereas the lygD gene only exists in S. Enteritidis and is not found in S. Dublin, S. Gallinarum and S. Pullorum. The flhB gene is only present in S. Enteritidis and S. Dublin whereas it does not exist in S. Gallinarum and S. Pullorum. The SlgC gene exists in both S. Gallinarum and S. Pullorum, the SpeC gene is specifically present in S. Gallinarum, whereas SlgC and SpeC genes are not found in S. Enteritidis and S. Dublin. Salmonella Dublin serovar amplification assay successfully identified three selected serovar specific genomics regions (SSGRs) and hut gene. The results identify hut gene (495 bp), DSR1 (Dublin-specific genomics region1) (105 bp), DSR2 (Dublin-specific genomics region2) (203 bp), and DSR3 (Dublin-specific genomics region3) (296 bp). Amplification techniques on Salmonella serovars specific genomics regions are able to identify and discriminate clinically significant Salmonella serovars, and therefore, have the possibility to be used as a useful and rapid screening assay and support conventional biochemical and serological examinations

Diseases affecting the respiratory tract of sheep and goats are one of the most important factors which limit production of these species on a world-wide basis. The main goal of this study was to determine Adenovirus (AdV) antigen in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded lung tissue of pneumonic goats, using immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining method. For this purpose, the lungs of 402 goats, which were raised in various farms in the Garmsar district and surrounding areas and were brought to the local abattoir for slaughtering between April and September 2016, were examined. Macroscopic pneumonia findings were detected in different lobes particularly in the apical and cardiac lobes of the lungs of 26 goats (%6.46). The rates of mild, moderate and severe consolidations observed in the pneumonic lungs were 59.8%, 26.3% and 11.6%, respectively. Pneumonias were microscopically classified in goats as interstitial pneumonia (n=15) (57.69%), suppurative bronchopneumonia (n=4) (15.38%), bronchointerstitial pneumonia (n=3) (11.53%), and parasitic pneumonia (n=4) (15.38%). A total of 22 pneumonic lungs, excluding parasitic pneumonia, examination with immunohistochemistry (IH) in terms of AdV antigen, were considered. AdV antigen was determined to be (13.63 %) (n=3) by the immunohistochemistry (IHC) method. In conclusion, the presence of viral antigen in lung tissues of goats may indicate that natural pneumonia may be induced by AdV or possibly other species-specific AdVs. Moreover, it is suggested that AdV might have a role in predisposing this species to secondary bacterial infections.

Feeding behavior is regulated via a complex network which interacts through diverse signals from central and peripheral tissues. The main purpose of the current study was to determine the role of central cannabinoidergic (CBergic) system on ghrelin-induced hypophagia in 3-h food deprived (FD3) neonatal chicken. In experiment 1, chicks were ICV injected with control solution, ghrelin (0.6 nmol), SR141716A (selective CB1 receptors antagonist, 6.25 µg) and ghrelin + SR141716A. In experiment 2, chickens received ICV injection of (A) control solution, ghrelin (0.6 nmol), AM630 (selective CB2 receptors antagonist, 1.25 µg) and ghrelin + AM630. In experiment 3, chickens were ICV injected with control solution, 2-AG (selective CB1 receptors agonist, 2µg), GSK1614343 (selective ghrelin receptors antagonist, 6 nmol) and 2-AG + GSK1614343. In experiment 4, the birds received control solution, CB65 (selective CB2 receptors agonist, 6.25 µg), CB65 + GSK1614343. Then the cumulative food intake was measured until 120 min post injection. According to the results, ICV injection of the ghrelin, significantly decreased cumulative food intake (P<0.05). Co-injection of the ghrelin + SR141716A and/or ghrelin + AM630 significantly amplified ghrelin-induced hypophagia compared to control group (P<0.05). Hyperphagia observed by ICV injection of the 2-AG (2 µg) (P<0.05). Co-injection of the 2-AG + GSK1614343 increased food intake compared to control group (P<0.05). ICV injection of the CB65 (1.25 µg) significantly increased food intake (P<0.05). Also, co-injection of the CB65 + GSK1614343 significantly amplified cumulative food intake in FD3 neonatal layer-type chicken (P<0.05). These results suggested ghrelin-induced hypophagia mediates via CB1 and CB2 receptors in neonatal layer-type chicken

Soil and plant contamination in copper exposure causes chronic copper poisoning (CCP) in animals following the consumption of plants in these soils. The present study was carried out on 10 clinically affected copper poisoned cases (in each season) from autumn 2015 to the end of summer 2016, in four seasons in Kerman province to evaluate the seasonal effects of CCP in sheep. All samples were taken from clinically affected cases of copper poisoning that were then necropsied and the poisoning was confirmed by pathognomic pathological findings and serum copper concentration. Samples from liver, lung, kidney, heart and spleen were collected immediately after death and their copper concentration was measured. The highest levels of copper in lung, heart, spleen and kidney were observed in the summer. Liver had the highest amounts of copper in spring and the levels of copper in wool and serum were detected in winter. The copper levels of liver and kidney were positively correlated in autumn, but the copper levels in these tissues were negatively correlated in both spring and winter. Severity of the copper toxicity (judged by the liver copper concentration) is season-dependent in sheep and seasonal variations affect this toxicity. Environmental climate and stressors may be the main causes of copper contents of different tissues and the liver is the main organ to reserve copper in poisoned sheep.

Colonoscopy is the preferred procedure for diagnosis of large-bowel diseases in dogs. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is the most commonly used laxative for colonic cleansing. Senna has been used in traditional medicine as a laxative and an aid to treat constipation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of senna as an alternative or adjunct to polyethylene glycol solution in dogs using hematology and biochemistry. For this purpose, 20 mongrel dogs were randomly allocated to receive 1 of 4 different bowel preparation regimens including PEG, senna or their combinations plus enema. Serum concentrations of sodium, potassium, total calcium, phosphorus, chloride, magnesium, PCV, total protein, ALT, AST, BUN and creatinine were measured at 0, 1, 2, 5, 6 and 24 hours after the first ingestion of laxative solutions. Statistical analysis showed that PEG or senna solutions had no significant effect on serum concentration of the evaluated parameters (P>0.05). Despite the significant changes in serum concentration of all measured parameters based on time of sampling in all groups, they were in their normal ranges (P>0.05). This is the first evaluation of the safety of bowel preparation with senna in dogs. This study showed that the use of PEG and senna for colon cleansing in dogs did not have any deleterious effects on their serum biochemical and electrolytes concentration.

Recently, tendency to use veterinary specific Portable blood glucose meter (PBGMs) has increased. However, assessment of their analytical and clinical accuracy is a matter of concern. To assess accuracy of two veterinary (AlphaTRAK2 and CERA-PET) and one human-based (Bionime) PBGMs for canine blood samples. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 160 client-owned dogs with various signalment and disease were included. Venous blood samples were obtained from a peripheral vein of each dog and blood glucose was measured with the three PBGMs. Immediately afterward, serum was harvested and sent to laboratory until analysis with reference methods. Blood glucose measured with the reference method was 21 to 650 mg/dl. There was a significant correlation between results of the reference method and PBGMs. Both of the veterinary specific PBGMs showed significant proportional and constant bias, nevertheless, no proportional and constant bias were recorded for human-based one. Mean deviation from reference methods was -7.4, 9.8, and -3.9 for AlphaTRAK2, CERA-PET, and Bionime respectively.  Although most of the PBGMs readings lay in the calculated 95% limits of agreement, none of the devices completely satisfied the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 15197:2013) criteria. Error grid analysis revealed all measurements for AlphaTRAK2 in zone A and B, while CERA-PET demonstrates one measurement in zone D. Bionime showed two  measurements in zone C and D. Only the result of AlphaTRAK2 could be interpreted without any hazardous outcome on medical decision making.

The application of phytogenic additives in the form of essential oils have attracted considerable attention in poultry industry. An experiment was conducted to evaluate effects of the blends of essential oils (EO) isolated from some medicinal plants including savory, thyme, fennel and rosemary on performance, blood metabolites, intestinal microflora, and meat quality of broilers. Two hundred 1-day-old broilers were randomly allocated to 5 treatments with 4 replicates of 10 chicks. The dietary treatments included 1) NC (negative control; without EO), 2) PC (positive control; 300 mg commercial EO of oregano/kg diet), 3) SR (300 mg EOs of savory and rosemary/kg diet), 4) SRT (300 mg EOs of savory, rosemary and thyme/kg diet), 5) SRTF (300 mg EOs of savory, rosemary, thyme and fennel/kg diet). Neither PC nor combinations of EOs affected growth performance of broilers. Serum cholesterol reduced (P<0.05) by feeding the blend of EOs compared with NC. The lowest ileal Lactobacillus counts were observed in chicks fed diets supplemented with EO of oregano or SR (P<0.05). Dietary supplementation of oregano EO decreased (P<0.05) lipid peroxidation of thigh meat after 30 and 60 days of frozen storage compared with NC group. Broilers fed diets supplemented with EOs of oregano or SR had the lowest ileal Lactobacillus spp. counts probably due to their large amount of carvacrol contents which suppress growth and proliferation of Gram-positive bacteria. Contrary to blended EOs, oregano EO did not reduce serum cholesterol concentration, suggesting hypocholesterolemic effect of other compounds except carvacrol in EOs. The highest stability to meat oxidation was achieved in oregano EOs-fed broilers. This antioxidative effect was lower in treatments with less carvacrol contents

Autoxidation is an irreversible reaction which occurs with the effect of oxygen in the air, and results in unpleasant taste and smell that are known as the signs of rancidity in oil. In this study, the antioxidant potential of clove, summer savory and tarragon essential oils (EOs) in grape seed oil was evaluated. Effects of EOs at different concentrations (0.3, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 %, v/v) on peroxide value (PV) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) of grape seed oil at 60 ºC were investigated. Results showed 1.5% clove showed the lowest PV (52.13 meq/kg) at the end of the period. Among EO- treated samples, the highest PV was seen in samples treated with tarragon. There was no significant difference between the TBARS of samples containing 1% clove and 1.5% savory at day 10 of storage. TBARS of clove treated samples increased slightly toward the end of storage and similar trend was observed for savory-treated samples. TBARS values of tarragon treated samples at each storage time were higher than those for clove and savory EOs. The antioxidant activity of EOs in grape seed oil was as follows: clove > summer savory > tarragon.