فصلنامه دامپزشکی ایران
سال شانزدهم شماره 66 (بهار 1399)

Bacillus coagulans is a spore-based probiotic, resistant to environmental and gastrointestinal conditions. The ability to form spores makes this probiotic resistant to technological stresses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Bacillus coagulants (Bacilact®) as a food additive on the production level, dry matter, fat percentage, crude protein, casein, serum protein, and microbial load, and the number of the somatic cell as important economic and health indicators of raw milk of cattle. This study was performed on 33 Holstein breeders divided into two groups; control (16 heads) and experimental (17 heads). Probiotics were added daily for 63 days at a rate of 2 grams per each cow. Sampling was completed every 21 days from starting the study. The addition of probiotic Bacillus coagulans did not affect the levels of milk production, dry matter, fat, lactose, milk serum, somatic cell count, and microbial load, but the level of protein and casein in the experimental group were increased. At days 42 and 63, protein levels were higher in the experimental group. The level of casein was higher in the experimental group on the days 42 and 63. Using probiotic Bacillus coagulans can be considered as an improving factor to increase the quality of milk and the quality of dairy products.

Nowadays, replacing antibiotics with herbal essence in the broiler diet has been raised but different essence processing methods can improve essence efficiency. This study performed to investigate dietary pure and encapsulated thyme essence on histometry of some part of the intestinal tract, liver, and hematology of broilers. A total of 192, day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to four treatments. This experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments, 4 replicates, and 12 broiler chicks per each replicate. The experimental treatments consist 1) basal diet as control group 2) basal diet + 0.2 g/kg thyme essence 3) basal diet + 0.2 g/kg encapsulated thyme essence 4) basal diet + 0.1 g/kg encapsulated thyme essence. Duodenum height of villi, and Villus height to crypt depth ratio in all supplemented groups, were differed from the control group significantly (P<0.05). Villus height to crypt depth ratio in jejunum significantly differed in 0.1 g/kg encapsulated thyme essence group in comparison to the control group. There is no significant difference in hematology and white blood cell count traits in all experimental treatments. Based on results, it can be concluded that 0.1 g/kg encapsulated thyme essence group had better histometric parameters are compared with the control group and it can be concluded that encapsulation of thyme essence can improve histometry traits and may increase essence efficiency.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary inclusion of coriander seed and α-tocopheryl acetate on the immunological response, blood, and antioxidant parameters of broiler chickens. Two hundred forty-one-day old chicks (Cobb 500) were randomly assigned to four treatments arranged in a completely randomized design with three replicates and 20 chicks per each group and kept for 42 days. Dietary treatments included a basal diet without additive (negative control), basal diet containing 250 mg/kg alpha-tocopheryl acetate (positive control), and basal diets containing 0.3 and 0.6% coriander powder. In the days of 35 and 42 days old, two birds were selected from each treatment and evaluated for humoral Immune Response. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), plasma antioxidants, triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and VLDL were measured at 42 days of age. Serum levels of triglyceride and cholesterol were significantly lower in coriander and α-tocopheryl acetate treatments than the negative control. The use of coriander seed increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase, as well as reduced the serum concentration of malondialdehyde in broiler chickens. Both the total antibody and immunoglobulin M titers were higher in the primary immune response to SRBC injection in coriander seeds and α-tocopheryl acetate treatments compared to the negative control group. However, no significant difference in secondary immune response was observed among all study groups. The results of this study showed that the use of 0.3 and 0.6% coriander seeds in broiler chicken diet improves the immune system, reduces oxidation and balances of blood parameters.

To investigate the effect of different doses of eCG on reproductive performance of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province native goats, 75 goats (2-3 years age and 46±1.9 Kg mean weight) and 75 goats (3-4 years age and 45±2.6 Kg mean weight) were chosen during the summer season (first experiment) and during the spring season (second experiment), respectively. The estrous cycle of goats was synchronized by progesterone sponges in an 18 days period. In each experiment, one day before removing sponges, 300, 400, 500 and 600 IU of eCG were injected intramuscularly to the goats in experimental groups, and one group was assumed as control group. The results indicated that the groups which received 500 and 600 IU of eCG and the control group all had less kidding compared with the remaining groups. The fecundity rate in treatment groups that received 400 and 500 IU of eCG (1.2 and 1.13, respectively) was also more than the remain groups. During the spring season, the results indicated that all the goats which received eCG doses more than 300 IU cycled in 42 hours and in the groups, which received 500 and 600 IU of eCG doses, the onset of estrus was significantly earlier compared to other groups. The results indicated that the eCG dose up to 500 IU level, the percentage of triple kidding was increased. Fecundity and prolificacy rate among different treatment groups tended to significant difference and these characteristics were higher in the group receiving 500 IU of eCG, compared to other groups. In conclusion, the result of this study indicated that 400 and 500 IU of eCG had the most effect on increasing the pregnancy rate, twin kidding, and fecundity rate of native goats during the late summer and the beginning of spring seasons, respectively.

Bovine viral diarrhea is one of the viral causes of mastitis in cattle and the economic losses of herds. This virus can make cattle more susceptible to bacterial causes of mastitis by damage to tits, papillary ducts, and immune suppression. The study aimed to examine the relationship between bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infections on bulk tank milk somatic cell counts (BTMSCC) in Semnan province. Forty dairy farms supplying milk to a dairy in Semnan province were recruited for this study. Bulk milk ELISA test was used to determine the BVDV infection status. Also, a delaval somatic cell counter was used to count the total somatic cell and Gerber and Formel titration method used for evaluating fat and protein percent of milk, respectively. The BTMSCC mean values for the BVDV seronegative (464.25×103 cells/ml; SD: 57.96×103) and seropositive (618.08×103 cells/ml; SD: 79.17×103) herds did not differ significantly. The percentage of protein and fat showed no significant difference between seropositive and seronegative. In conclusion, no statistically significant effect of BVDV infection on BTMSCC was found.

The occurrence of resistance to antibiotics in bacterial pathogens due to their unnecessary consumption, as well as,the importance of use antibiotics in the outbreaks with heavy economic failures cause that finding optimal clinical dosage would be striking. The present study was intended to the determination of optimal clinical dosage of orally administered florfenicol in rainbow trout with the experimental Streptococcosis/ Lactococcosis, and assessment of drug residues in their muscles. First, the median lethal dose (LD50) of Streptococcus iniae and Lactococcus garvieae for fish was determined via daily casualty record and calculating the probit regression. These doses were applied to determine ED50 in control and orally treated groups with dosages including 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg-1 BW in 10 consecutive days. The liver and muscles of the survived fish were sampled three times after the therapeutic session, since sample and standards preparing, the chemical analysis was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Amounts of orally administered florfenicol for L. garvieae and S. iniae were 14.52 and 15.49 mg/kg BW during 10 consecutive days, respectively. Maximum limit residual (MRL) of sampling tenth day in the liver and muscle were 0.461±0.064 and 0.622±0.103 µg/g that were significantly lower than authorized amount of the European agency for the evaluation of medicinal products. The optimal clinical dosage of florfenicol in rainbow trout with the experimental disease was equal to mean of the median effective dose of the drug was known 15 mg/kg BW that it takes at least 10-day recovery time after administration of this dosage for safe consuming of these fishes

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.

Mentha and Thyme medicinal planst are the effective plants on performance and immune system of poulty. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different levels of 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0% Mentha and Thyme mixture on performance, internal organs, carcass charactersitics and immunity system of Japanese quail. For this purpose, two hundered Japanese quails on day 14 were used in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 5 replicates for each (10 chicks per replicate). Consumption of different levels of Thyme and Mentha mixture had no significant effect on weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio during the different weeks of age or whole the expermnetal period in Japanese quail (P>0.05). Relative weight of spleen was increased by all the diferent levels of plant mixtures and the highest spleen weight was related to the birds fed 1.0% of Thyme and Mentha mixture (P<0.05). Delayed-type hypersensitivity (cellular immune) was decreased by the all levels of plants mixtures and more decreased at the higher levels of plant mixtures (P<0.05).The consumption of 0.5 and 1.0% of Thyme and Mentha mixtures caused the increased antibody titers as compared to the low plants mixture (0.25%) and the control diet (P<0.05). The all plants mixtures cauased the higher lymphocyte proliferation and respiratory brusting as compared to control treatment (P<0.05). In conclusion, consumption of 0.5 and 1.0% of Thyme and Mentha mixture increase the antibody titer against sheep red blood cells, lymphocyte profileration, and respiratory brusting ability and decrease the delayed type hypersensitivity in Japanese quail.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of slow-release urea in comparison with conventional urea, with or without the addition of molasses, on rumen fermentation, histomorphometrically and cellular parameters of rumen and abomasum of growing lambs. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments including control, two sources of non-protein nitrogen (1.6% conventional urea and 1.8% slow-release urea) with or without molasses (0% and 20%) and 7 replicates with using of 35 Arabian lambs during 105 days. The diets included 70% concentrate and 30% forage. Using slow-release urea reduced the concentration of acetate. Adding molasses to the ration increased the concentration of butyrate and total rumen volatile fatty acids relative to the control diet. In control, rumen pH was lower than non-protein nitrogen sources. Compared to conventional urea, using slow-release urea with or without molasses in the diet increased stomach glands depth and decreased thickness of tunica submucosa, and also tunica vascularizes. The addition of molasses was increased epithelial cell height and decreased numbers of parietal cells and chief cells in the abomasum. At the cellular level, the addition of molasses had damaging effects on epithelial cells, and increased diffuse lymphatic tissue was observed. In general, there was no significant difference between non-protein nitrogen sources on gastrointestinal tissue. Because of the undesirable effects of using a high level of molasses on the tissue structure of the digestive tract, the inclusion of 20% ration dry matter molasses in a high concentrate diet is not recommended.

Campylobacteriosis is a zoonotic disease which causes enteritis in human, dog, and cat, as well as other domestic and wild animals. The present study aimed to detect of campylobacter infection in companion cats referred to the Veterinary Hospital of the Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. Risk factors such as age, gender, breed; nutrition status, and lifestyle (open or close environment) were reviewed also. Fecal samples were examined by two methods of culture and PCR from one hundred one of cats (thirty-five diarrheic and sixty six clinically healthy). Only two samples were positive in culture method (1.98%), but Campylobacter species were detected in thirty-seven samples by PCR; which yields an overall prevalence of 36.63%. The most prevalent species of campylobacter among the referred cats were C. upsaliensis and C. coli with 23 and 7 out of 37 identified isolates (62.16% and 18.91%) respectively. A lower prevalence was observed for C. jejuni in four identified isolates (10.81%) and for concurrent infections in two cases (C. coli + C. jejuni) (5.40%) and one case (C. upsaliensis+ C. lari) (2.70%). The prevalence of infection was 57.14% and 25.75% in diarrheic and healthy cats respectively. There was a significant difference for campylobacter infection between the healthy and diarrheic cats in the PCR method, as well as, age, breed; nutrition status and lifestyle showed a significant difference, but there was no significant difference for gender factor in campylobacter infection. In conclusion, because of the frequent presence of campylobacter species in feces of cats, these bacteria can constitute a public health hazard. Accordingly, periodic tests and isolation of diarrheic cats from others are important, especially cats that eat raw meat and live in a shelter.

Candida albicans is a natural opportunistic flora on the skin and mucous membranes, growth in good conditions and causes clinical symptoms of candidiasis. Prophylactic and therapeutic administration of some antifungal agents has been caused drug resistance, so nowadays there is a need to introduce newer drugs for the treatment of candidiasis. In this study, 12 heads of 8 months old goats with a weight of 20 kg were used. After induction of vaginal candidiasis with Candida albicans (PTCC: 5027), animals were randomly divided into four groups: treated with ethanolic extract of propolis, treated with nystatin ointment, treated with glycerin and non-treated group. In this study, mucosal injuries occurred within 5 days. Ethanol extract of propolis during 5 days and nystatin within 7 days resolved the clinical signs of vaginal candidiasis. Mucosal injuries created in non-treated and glycerin-treated groups worsened over time by up to 3 weeks later. In the histopathological examination, the anti-inflammatory effects, the repair of sweat glands, sebaceous and hair follicles, and the removal of abscess from the dermis, in the treatment groups with ethanolic extract of propolis and nystatin, were significantly different from that of the non-treated and glycerin-treated groups. The results of this study showed that the ethanolic extract of propolis can repair vaginal candidiasis lesions in a shorter period compared to nystatin in goat.

Antioxidants can disrupt the production of free radicals by neutralizing oxidative stress and increase the proliferation of testicular germ cells and then improve the quality and quantity of sperm fertility indices in breeder chickens. The knotgrass extract (Polygonum avicular) has high levels of phenolic and flavonoid compounds and has high antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate the effect of knotgrass extract on the biological parameters of sperm in roster. In this study, hydroalcoholic extracts of knotgrass was prepared in four concentrations of zero, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/L and added to drinking water for adult Golpayegan official breeders for one week. After one week, the effect of different doses of the extract on the biological parameters of sperm (number, mobility, survival and normal sperm morphology) was evaluated and compared. The Papanicolaou staining was also used to evaluate the sperm abnormalities. The most number of live sperm with the highest motility and normal morphology was observed in group receiving 2000 mg/L of knotgrass extract. Also, application of high dosage of extract significantly reduced the head, middle piece and tail abnormalities of sperm (P≤0.05). The highest number of live sperm with the highest motility and normal morphology was observed in the group receiving 2000 mg/L of knotgrass extract. Also, using high dose of extract significantly reduced head, medulla, and sperm motility abnormalities (P≤0.05). In overall, the use of hydroalcoholic extracts of knotgrass improved some of the biological parameters of sperm. It can be concluded that knotgrass (Polygonum avicular), due to high amount of phenolic and flavonoid antioxidant compounds, improves the sperm quality in fowls.