Journal of Ruminants Health Research
Volume:3 Issue: 1, Winter and Spring 2018

Minerals and some biochemical parameters determined from blood serum analyses in left displacement abomasum (LDA) affected and healthy dairy cows to evaluate the effect of displacement abomasum on mineral status, energy metabolism and liver function. Samples were collected from 60 affected cows and 60 healthy control cows matched with cases, based on herd, parity, and stage of lactation. Concentrations were significantly higher in LDA cows than in control cows for nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) (1.35 vs. 0.42 mmol/L), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) (2.7 vs. 0.68 mmol/L) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (97.62 vs. 72.93 IU/L), whereas concentrations were lower in DA cows than in control cows for calcium (Ca) (7.45 vs. 9.24 mg/dl) (P < 0.05). Parity number and lactation had significant effect in energy metabolism and liver function of LDA affected cows. Significant increases in mean serum concentrations of NEFA, BHBA and AST were observed in DA cows with three or more lactations when compared with healthy control cows (P < 0.05).

Border disease, which is a congenital pestivirus disease and also known as "hairy Shaker or fuzzy lambs", is one of the causes of lambs and kids mortality and losses in animal production. Due to the lack of new comprehensive information on the rate of infection with pestiviruses in sheep and goat populations in Khorasan-Razavi province (in Iran), the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of the above mentioned virus in 2017. After collecting 273 and 179 blood samples from sheep and goats, respectively in 11 districts of the province with the method of cluster sampling, the prepared serum samples were tested for antibody against the pestiviruses by ELISA kit. The results showed that 217 heads of sheep and 127 goats were serum positive. So, the seroprevalence of the virus in all studied animals were estimated 75.9% (95% CI: 71.7- 80.1). At least one positive case was detected in all studied epidemiological units. By introducing the independent variables including species, age, sex and sampling district into the multivariable logistic regression model, it was found that, apart from gender (P> 0.05), the other variables had a significant relationship with seropositivity (P<0.05). The frequency of seropositivity were significantly higher in sheep than goat and in the age group more than 3 years than under 2 years old (P<0.05). Since the seroprevalence of pestiviruses in small ruminants is higher in this province than the other parts of country, therefore, it is essential to use appropriate strategies to control it.

Little attention has been paid to the aspects of cardiac injury-related foot and mouth disease (FMD) in young animals. So, this research was conducted to evaluate the serum biomarkers and electrocardiographic (ECG) evidence of myocardial injury in the infected lambs with FMD. During an outbreak, 33 lambs with FMD and 11 healthy lambs were randomly enrolled. After blood sampling, ECGs were taken from 24 out of 33 infected lambs. Serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) activities were measured in the patient and control group. Interpretation of ECG showed abnormalities such as sinus tachycardia, premature ventricular complex (PVC) and ventricular tachycardia (VT) in 9, 5 and 6 scik lambs, respectively. The patients had significant greater serum CK-MB activity (170 ± 36 IU/L) compared to control (51.4 ± 4.7), (P<0.01). The lambs with VT had the highest serum CK-MB (546.5± 192 IU/L) and LDH (2813± 523 IU/L) activities compare to the affected lambs with the other dysrhythmias (P<0.01). It seems that CK-MB has a reliable value for detecting cardiac injury in sheep. Due to the highest CK-MB level in the lambs with VT, it seems VT is associated with highest cardiac lesion compared to the others arrhythmias in FMD lambs.

Pest des petits ruminants (PPR) is one of the important viral diseases of goats and sheep. The viral agent of PPR, Small ruminant morbillivirus (SRM), has been shown to infect several species among domestic and wild ruminants. In order to investigate the occurrence of SRM infection in Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), blood samples were collected from 150 buffaloes (98 males, 52 females) referred to Ahvaz abattoir and their sera were tested for the presence of anti-SRM specific antibody. Sera were tested by Virus Neutralization Test (VNT) in Vero cells, using the live attenuated virus of a commercial PPR vaccine. Based on the results of VNT, 11.33% of the studied buffaloes had anti- SRM antibodies. Statistical analysis of the results revealed no correlation between infection with age and sex. Given the seropsitivity of some of the slaughtered buffaloes for SRM, it can be concluded that Small ruminant morbillivirus has the ability for transition from small ruminants to Water Buffaloes. Therefore, in planning of programs for controlling and preventing the disease in domestic small ruminants, the possibility of SRM infection in other ruminant species, including Water buffaloes should be considered.

Oestrus ovis, sheep nasal bot fly, is one of the important parasites and causes of sinus and nasal myiasis in small ruminants. It is a zoonotic infection that causes disturbing myiasis in humans. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of O.ovis infection in the sheep population in the southwest of Iran. During 2009-2010, blood samples were collected monthly and randomly from 1800 sheep (>6 months of age) of Ilam and slaughtered sheep of Ahvaz (the capital of Khuzestan). All sera were examined for antibodies to crude somatic antigens of O.ovis second-stage larvae using an Elisa test. Positive sera were prepared by marking the sheep, blood taking and direct observation of the parasite in the head. The somatic antigens were prepared by ultra-sonication of the second-stage larvae. Results of the ELISA test on the sheep sera revealed that seroprevalence of Oestrus ovis infection in sheep of Ilam and Khuzestan was 427 (47.4%), out of 900 and 398 (44.2%) out of 900 respectively. Mean seroprevalence of Oestrus ovis infection in sheep in south West-Iran was 825 of 1800(45.8%). Seasonal differences in the prevalence of the infection were significant (p<0.001), with the highest rates in spring (Apr.-May. 62.7%) and autumn (Oct. 61.5%, Nov. 76.0%), the lowest rates in summer (Aug. 27.1%-29.3%) and winter (Jan. 41.1%, Feb. 26.7%). The results of this study demonstrate that O.ovis has a widespread distribution in the sheep population of southwest-Iran. Control measures must be applied continuously to decrease the incidence of the infection in livestock herds.

Tribulus terrestris herb has been used as a drug in traditional medicine and its toxic effects have also been reported. Less attention has been paid to the interpretation of pathological and laboratory findings in the natural form poisoning with this plant in animals. Following a report of mortalities in a sheep farm feeding on a pasture containing Tribulus terrestris herb and involvement of 50 of the animals with similar clinical symptoms, one ewe with these signs; inappetance, serosal nasal discharge, dehydration, severe mucosal and scleral jaundice and rumen impaction was evaluated. Serum biochemical profile and CBC tests revealed; increasing of total protein, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, total bilirubin, magnesium, phosphorus values and enzymes activities (ALT, ALP, GGT, CPK) and leukocytosis, neutrophilia, lymphopenia. The presence of bilirubin, protein and blood in the urine was also confirmed by the urine strip. In macroscopic observations, severe pathologic jaundice in different parts of the carcass, rumen impaction with forage materials, petechial hemorrhages in the abomasal mucosa, necrosis and ulcerative lesions in the gallbladder mucosa, presence of pinpoint dark spots on the surface of the kidney, pulmonary edema and focal white deposits on the endocardial surface of the heart were seen. Microscopically, necrosis and degeneration of the hepatocytes and myocardium, acute tubular necrosis, deposition of eosinophilic structures in the renal tubules and hemosiderin pigments in its epithelium were observed. The presence of some toxins in the herb, especially steroidal saponins, is very important in inducing hepatorenal lesions in sheep