نشریه تحقیقات دامپزشکی و فرآورده های بیولوژیک
سال سی و ششم شماره 1 (پیاپی 138، بهار 1402)

In this study, the effects of using a garlic powder-supplemented diet on production performance, immune response, intestinal microbial flora, liver histopathology, and some blood, serum, and reproductive parameters in male Japanese quail were investigated. For this purpose, 80 one-day-old quail chicks were divided into 2 experimental groups, 4 replicates, and 10 pieces per replication in a completely randomized design. Experimental groups included basal diet (control) and basal diet + garlic powder 4%. Based on the results, garlic powder increased feed intake and feed conversion ratio. The highest antibody titer against Newcastle disease virus and SRBC was recorded in the secondary titer in the experimental group containing garlic. Feeding garlic powder reduced the population of Escherichia coli and increased the population of Lactobacillus (P<0.05). The results showed that the garlic powder caused a significant increase in hematocrit, MCV, and differential lymphocyte and heterophil count (P<0.05). Cholesterol and glucose concentrations were significantly reduced in the garlic powder-receiving quails (P<0.05). Also, sperm parameters such as acrosome integrity, viability, and daily sperm production improved significantly in birds fed garlic powder (P <0.05). It seems that adding garlic powder can improve production and reproductive performance of Japanese quail.

The present study was to investigate the effect of replacing Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) with wheat straw in the flushing diet of ewes on reproductive parameters and serum urea levels of ewes during the breeding season. The sample of healthy Lori-Bakhtiari ewes (n=66) with an average weight of 48.7±7 kg in the breeding season were randomly assigned to three experimental groups according to a completely randomized design: control (base flushing diet recipient), and two treatment group fed rations supplemented with 1% and 1.5% of Russian olive fruit (dry matter basis) respectively. The powder of this fruit was replaced by wheat straw in the base flushing diet. Each prepared flushing diet was fed to the experimental ewes two weeks ran introducing until four weeks after mating. The serum urea levels were assessed at the end of the fourth week post-mating and finally, some reproductive parameters including pregnancy rate, parturition rate, percentage of multiple births, prolificacy, and fecundity was recorded. The results of the present study indicated that Russian olive fruit supplementation in the flushing diet increased the fecundity rate (P<0.05) of Lori-Bakhtiari ewes and decreased their mean urea serum levels (P<0.01). The resultant increase in the lambing rates may be linked to decreased blood urea concentrations in the experimental ewes. In general, supplementing the flushing diet of Lori-bakhtiari ewes with 1% Russian olive fruit (dry matter basis) is recommended to produce more lambs from mated ewes.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of IGF-I on the number and area of colonies, viability and apoptosis related genes expression in sheep’s spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). In this study, SSCs at the basal membrane of seminiferous tubules were isolated from testes of Afshari sheep using enzymatic digestion steps. The control group did not receive IGF-I and the other groups received 0.1, 1, 5 and 10 μg/ml IGF-I, respectively. The cells were cultured for 2 weeks and the colonizing abilities were evaluated on the 5th and 14th days of culture. At the end of culturing period, apoptosis status and apoptosis related genes expression (BAX and BCL2) were evaluated. The results showed using 5 and 10 μg/ml IGF-I improved colonizing abilities on the 5th and 14th days compared to the other groups (P≤0.05). The highest viability and lowest apoptosis status was observed in groups received 5 and 10 μg/ml IGF-I (P≤0.05). The highest BCL2 expression and lowest BAX expression was observed in groups received 5 and 10 μg/ml IGF-I (P≤0.05). Therefore, using suitable dose of IGF-I in culture medium could be an effective method to improve the quality and viability of sheep’s SSCs during studying on stem cells.

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of Calligonum extract on the number of colonies, ROS production and apoptosis related genes expression in sheep’s spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). In this study, SSCs at the basal membrane of seminiferous tubules were isolated from testes of Afshari sheep using enzymatic digestion steps. The samples assigned into four groups. The control group received basic medium and the other groups contained H2O2 (30 µM), Calligonum (10 µg/ml) and Calligonum+H2O2 (30 µM H2O2 along with 10 µg/ml Calligonum), respectively. The cells were cultured for 3 weeks and the colonizing abilities were evaluated on the 5th, 14th and 21th days of culture. At the end of culturing period, ROS production and apoptosis related genes expression (BAX and BCL2) were evaluated. On the 5th and 14th days of culture, the number of colonies were higher (P≤0.05) in the control and Calligonum groups compared to the other groups. On the 14th day of culture, the highest and the least (P≤0.05) number of colonies were observed in Calligonum and H2O2 groups, respectively. The least and the highest (P≤0.05) rate of ROS contained SSCs, BAX expression and BAX/BCL2 ratio were observed in Calligonum and H2O2 groups, respectively. Moreover, the highest (P≤0.05) expression of BCL2 gene was found in Calligonum group. In conclusion, using Calligonum extract in culture medium could be a helpful strategy to improve the quality and decrease apoptosis status in sheep’s SSCs during research studies.

The aim of this research was to assess the effect of melatonin on the diameter of colonies, apoptosis status and apoptosis related genes expression in sheep’s spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). SSCs at the basal membrane of seminiferous tubules were isolated from testes of Afshari sheep using enzymatic digestion steps. The samples assigned into four groups. The control group received basic medium and the other groups contained H2O2 (30 µM), melatonin (1 nmol) and melatonin+H2O2 (30 µM H2O2 along with 1 nmol melatonin), respectively. The cells were cultured for 3 weeks and the colonies’ diameter were evaluated on the 5th, 14th and 21th days of culture. At the end of culturing period, apoptosis status and apoptosis related genes expression (BAX and BCL2) were evaluated. On the 5th and 14th days of culture, the diameter of colonies were higher (P≤0.05) in the control and melatonin groups compared to the other groups. On the 21th day of culture, the highest and the least (P≤0.05) diameter of colonies were observed in melatonin and H2O2 groups, respectively. The least and the highest (P≤0.05) rate of apoptotic SSCs, BAX expression and BAX/BCL2 ratio were observed in melatonin and H2O2 groups, respectively. Moreover, the highest (P≤0.05) expression of BCL2 gene was found in melatonin group. In conclusion, using melatonin in culture medium could be an effective way to improve the quality and decrease apoptosis status in sheep’s SSCs.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of vitamin E with glycerol as cryoprotectant on freezability of Alpine goat semen. Semen was collected from Alpine male Goat (3-4 years), twice a week for five weeks at the Animal Science Research Institute of IRAN (ASRI). Different concentrations of vitamin E (0, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 mM) in 5% glycerol as a cryoprotectant were evaluated to improve the quality parameters of goat semen. After ejaculation, semen equilibrated at 5 ºC for 2 h, and aspirated into 0.25 mL straws. After equilibration, straws were frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor and plunged into liquid nitrogen for storage. Sperm parameters, including motility and progressive motility by CASA, viability, membrane integrity and total abnormality sperm, were assessed. The results show that addition, different levels of vitamin E to the extender for freezing of goat semen can improve motility (P>0.05). Also, 1 mM vitamin E showed higher progressive motility, VSL, VCL and ALH than the other treatment groups (P>0.05). Addition 1 mM antioxidant significantly improved the viability and membrane integrity of sperm than the control group (P>0.05). Addition different levels of vitamin E to goat semen extender showed no significant difference in abnormal sperm and lipid peroxidation than the control group (P>0.05). Therefore, addition of 1 mM of vitamin E to extender improves the freezability of goat semen.

Blastocystis is an anaerobic intestinal parasite that is prevalent among humans and various animals throughout the world. Different methods such as direct and staining stool smear examination as well as molecular methods can be used to diagnose Blastocystis.The main objective of the present work was to study Blastocystis infection in humans and domestic birds in Tafresh city and to compare three methods in diagnosing Blastocystis. The present study was designed and conducted as a cross-sectional descriptive study during the years 1399-1400 in Tafresh city. For this purpose, fecal samples were collected from pigeons (300 samples), hens and roosters (50 samples) and from their owners (100 samples). Stools were then examined microscopically (direct examination and trichrome staining) for Blastocystis detection. The positive samples were tested molecularly by PCR (18S rRNA amplification).In direct stool examination, 39 samples of pigeon feces (13%) and 13 samples of hen and rooster feces (26%) and 18 samples of human feces (18%) and in trichrome staining examination, 45 samples of pigeon feces (15%), 12 samples of hen and rooster feces (24%) and 15 samples of human feces (15%) were found to be positive for Blastocystis. In PCR test, only one sample (2.5%) of pigeon positive samples and 5 samples (38.46%) of hen and rooster positive samples and 4 samples (22.22%) of human positive samples were found to be positive. In the present study, only a limited number of positive samples related to direct stool examination and stained with trichrome were found to be positive in PCR experiment. This indicates that PCR method alone is not an appropriate method to determine the infection rate of Blastocystis. Therefore, it is suggested to use several different techniques for accurate diagnosis of Blastocysts.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of Artemisia leaves on yield, hematological parameters and worm infestation. For this purpose, 20  female Kurdish lambs with average weight of 30±5 kg and 5-6 months old were used in a completely randomized design with 2 treatments and 10 replicates for 30 days. Treatments were: 1- control (diet without artemisia), 2- basal diet + 20 g of artemisia, where artemisia was mixed with basal diet and given to the lambs of this group. In order to determine the effect of Artemisia leaves on hematological parameters and worm infestation, blood sampling and fecal sampling were performed on days zero, 15 and 30, respectively. The number of white blood cells on day 0 was the highest in the control treatment (P <0.05). The percentage of lymphocytes on the 15th day was significantly affected by the treatments and increased with the addition of artemisinin leaves (P <0.05). Also, with the addition of artemisinin leaves, the mean number of phagocytic masses on the 30th day increased significantly (P <0.05). On day 0, parasitic infection was highest in the control group (P <0.05) and with the addition of artemisinin leaves, worm parasites decreased numerically on the 15th and 30th days but were not significant. In general, the results showed that the addition of artemisinin increased the percentage of lymphocytes and the average number of phagocytic mass and was effective in reducing worm infection in the studied periods.

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonoses protozoan parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. This parasite causes severe economic losses in the sheep industry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunogenicity of the live attenuated vaccine with different adjuvants in sheep. 20 two-month-old pregnant Iranian Qashqaeian serum-negative sheep for Toxoplasma gondii were randomly divided into five groups of four. Group one injected with media and served as control. Three experimental groups were immunized subcutaneously with 1 ml of 25 ×106 inactivate tachyzoites formulated with Montanide, alum, and chitosan, respectively. Last group was inoculated with live attenuated tachyzoite with the same dose. Immunization was performed once. After 21 days, blood samples were collected for ELISA test to evaluate the humoral and cellular immune response. The highest antibody titer was obtained in the group immunized with montanide adjuvant, which was significantly different from other groups (P <0.05). However, the highest cellular immunity according to gamma interferon measurements was related to live attenuated vaccine which was significantly different from other groups, followed by chitosan or aluminum hydroxide adjuvant. It should b notice that all immunized groups had a significant difference with the control group (P <0.05). According to the successful immune response in the live attenuated vaccine, we concluded that this strain can be used for immunization of sheep as the target host and use in higher numbers of sheeps.

This study was performed to compare the levels of proinflammatory cytokine (IL-6) and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) in rats after subcutaneous injection of Androctonus crassicauda scorpion venom with control group that received only physiological serum subcutaneously. 0.5 mg of Androctonus crassicauda scorpion venom with LD50 400mg / kg was injected subcutaneously into 12 rats in the venom group. In addition, 0.5 ml of physiological serum (equal volume of scorpion venom) was injected subcutaneously into 12 rats in the control group. At 0,4,24 and 72 hours after injection of the venom (28), heparinized blood samples were collected via the heart of animals and the plasma levels of cytokines (IL-6 and IL-10) were determined using the ZellBio ELISA diagnostic kit.Four hours after injection of the venom, the level of interleukin 10 was statistically significantly increased compared to the control group, but the level of interleukin 6 was decreased compared to the control group. 24 hours after injection of the venom, the levels of interleukin 10 and interleukin 6 did not show a significant change compared to the control group and reached a stable state.Finally, it was concluded that due to the balance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-10), the clinical symptoms of scorpion stings are variable. And the balance between cytokines plays a pivotal role in the development of clinical symptoms in scorpion stings.

In recent decades, advances in DNA-based marker technology and the availability of genomic data such as quantitative trait locus and the study of gene utilization through bioinformatics methods have played an important role in understanding the genetic potential of different traits. In this study, QTLs related to parasite resistance in sheep were prepared through Animal QTL database. The genes for each QTL were then obtained from the sheep reference genome in the NCBI database. Next, in order to understand the relationship between the obtained genes, gene networks for each trait were drawn using Cytoscape v3.8.0 software, and finally Cytoscape software was used to interpret gene networks and study gene ontology. The results of this study showed that there were a total of 71 QTLs for the parasite resistance trait, which included 198 genes. Most of these markers were mapped using methods such as the Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS), Regional Heritability Mapping (RHM), or Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). Ontological analysis in this study showed 20 biological pathways that four pathways contributed more than others, including: pyruvate metabolic process, antigen processing and presentation of peptide antigen via MHC class I, neural migration and cell adhesion molecule binding. In this study, the ontology of genes was investigated and the metabolic pathways associated with the parasite resistance trait in sheep were obtained through QTLs. Regarding methods and result of the current study, genes and gene ontology associated with other economic traits in sheep a well as other livestock species could be determined.

The presence of fat in the carcasses of broilers is one of the main challenges in the poultry industry. Hepatic lipogenesis is an important step related to lipid metabolism in broilers that is controlled by a set of genes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the gene expression profile to identify genes that are effective in the lipogenesis pathway. In the first, the gene expression profiles related to three tissues of the liver, breast, and abdominal fat of broilers fed with two diets containing high starch, low fiber, low fat (LF), and low starch, high fiber, high fat (HF) were downloaded from GEO database. In the next step gene expression analysis related to the three tissue mentioned was performed by GEO2R web-based software. The study of biological pathways was performed by the WebGestalt tool and the gene network was reconstructed by Cytoscape software.  The analysis of the results showed that there was no significant difference in the expression profile due to feeding with two different diets in the breast muscle tissue and abdominal fat, but 975 genes were significantly different in the liver tissue. Based on a network and biological analysis, 10 genes with the highest degree were involved in the biological activities of fatty acid biosynthesis, acyl-coenzyme A biosynthesis, fatty acid metabolism, and fatty acid degradation. Therefore, these genes can be important as key genes controlling hepatic lipogenesis. Therefore, based on our findings, which are the result of the interaction between nutrition and the genome, we can suggest diets for breeding poultry, which can be used as a suitable diet for the production of low-fat meat.

As yet no method has been proposed to determine the percentage of different components in meat products. The aim of this study was to identify the percentage of skeletal muscle and plant additives using histological method and image analysis in heated and unheated meat products. For this purpose, with the cooperation of Goshtiran company, 100 samples, with well-defined percentages of skeletal muscle and other components used in the production of these products, were prepared and provided to the laboratory. After delivery in the laboratory, the products were coded and according to the executive method of Iranian National Standard No. 6103a, samples were randomly removed from each product and were fixed in 10% formalin buffer solution. Then, the samples entered the routine stages and stained using H&E staining methods. Images were analyzed using Image Pro-Plus software. Finally, the results were compared with the documents sent from the production unit. Statistical analysis of the results obtained in the present study did not show a significant difference with the reported amount of production unit in relation to the percentage of meat used in all 5 types of sausages, hamburger, kebab and chicken nuggets (p >0.05). However, statistical analysis of the results obtained with the reported amount of production unit in relation to the percentage of plant additives used was not statistically significant only in the sausage product. It can be concluded that histology and image analysis can be used to determine the percentage of skeletal muscle in meat products.

American foulbrood disease is the most serious and deadly bacterial disease of bee infants and is caused by the gram-positive bacterium that produces Paenibacillus larvae spores. In this regard, accurate and timely diagnosis of this disease is very important. In the present study, the molecular epidemiology of this disease was studied regionally in eight provinces of the country. Frothy eight samples of bees, honey and debris were collected. After preparation, the samples were tested by nested PCR method and the PCR product was electrophoresed on 1% agarose gel. The results show out of 48 samples of bees examined, number of 14 were positive (29.16%), out of 48 samples of honey were examined, number of 16 were positive (33.33%) and out of 48 samples of debries, number of 5 were positive (10.41%). The results of this study show that for epidemiological and monitoring studies of Paenibacillus larvae infection in bee colonies, collecting honey samples is a more reliable method than other samples. Today in the world, this method is used for continuous monitoring of this disease and according to the results, the strategy of control, prevention and treatment are formulated and implemented. Also, diagnosis of the disease using honey samples and in the next priority of adult bees, has a higher prognostic value compared to the identification of bacteria in the samples of wax, pollen and debris.

In order to evaluate the lesions in the lungs tissue and compare it in native cows and imported cows, 2612 samples of the lungs of cows slaughtered were examined and observed macroscopically in Hamoon Golden Cluster Slaughterhouse from September 23, 2018 to March 20, 2018. A total of 250 lesions were transferred to the pathology department of University of Zabol, faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Histopathology sections were prepared by H&E staining. The collected data were then analyzed and described using SPSS software version 23. Although the number and type of lesions found on macroscopic and histopathological examination were not equal, but in two types of tumor studies, the lowest amount with 1.6% and hyperemia had the highest percentage of histopathological lesions with 78.4%. They also had the highest percentage of macroscopic tissue swelling with 80.4% of pathological lesions. Based on the results of the present study, it can be concluded that imported cows had more waste and contamination than domestic cows. It should be noted that a significance level was considered at P <0.05 in this study.