Occurrence of Unilateral Posterior Polyneuritis in an 8-year-old Crossbred Mare

An 8-year-old Thoroughbred Turkoman crossbred mare was examined for right pelvic limb paresis and ataxia. The signs had been progressing through time. Neurological examinations revealed a gait deficit, right pelvic limb gluteal muscles atrophy, skin hypalgesia around the tail, perineum, and right pelvis. Hyperesthesia was found in the margins of anesthetic areas. Hypotonic anal sphincter and flaccid tail were also evident. Fecal and urinary retention were revealed by rectal palpation. At necropsy, the affected nerve roots in right lumbar, sacral vertebrae, as well as cauda equina were found to be significantly thickened and fibrotic with adhesions to the related vertebral bodies. Histopathological examinations confirmed the diagnosis of polyneuritis in this mare.     

Estimating Cape hare occupancy and abundance in southern Tunisia using spotlighting data

This study outlines the importance of integrating spotlighting data and occupancy modelling to estimate the spatial occupancy, abundance and habitat preferences of Cape hares Lepus capensis in southern Tunisia. Exploring the spatial distribution pattern of this species is problematic because of its nocturnal and secretive behaviour. In order to overcome these constraints, we used spotlight surveys on equidistant points along tracks to collect presence/absence data. Using a likelihood-based approach, we estimated occupancy and relative abundance of Cape hare populations in three national parks: Sidi Toui, Bouhedma and Jbil. We also combined the three parks in a single area to represent ‘southern Tunisia’ for investigating the factors affecting its distribution pattern. Sidi Toui showed the highest occupancy and relative abundance values (88.84 ± 10.95% and 7.97 hares km^?2, respectively). Bouhedma was also recognised as high-quality hare habitat with occupancy and relative abundance values of 61.70 ± 11.70% and 2.85 hares km^?2, respectively. The lowest occupancy (49.65 ± 26.25%) and relative abundance (2.10 hares km^?2) estimates were encountered in Jbil. The combined parks model suggested that part of the distribution pattern of Cape hares can be explained by habitat quality. Spatial occupancy over southern Tunisia showed a positive relationship between its occurrence and the availability of Poaceae and Plantaginaceae.     

Full-genome characterization and genetic analysis of a H9N2 virus in commercial broilers in Iran, 2017

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Since 1998, Iran’s poultry industry has faced several outbreaks of low pathogenic avian influenza H9N2. Tissue samples were collected from a broiler...     

Calcium and phosphorus status in juvenile Beluga (Huso huso) fed citric acid‐supplemented diets

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary citric acid (CA) (0, 1%, 2% and 3%) on the calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) contents of muscle, scute and serum of Beluga (Huso huso) juveniles (25.1±1.9 g). After 8 weeks of feeding on the experimental diets, the Ca and P contents of muscle, scute and serum were measured. The results revealed that the addition of 2% and 3% CA significantly increased the Ca and P contents of muscle and serum. Dietary CA had no effect on the Ca content of scute, but the P content of scute was significantly higher compared with additional 1% CA and the control. These results indicate that the addition of CA to the diet of Beluga increased the bioavailability of Ca and P, thereby increasing muscle and scute mineralization.     

The influence of water jet pressure settings on the structure and absorbency of spunlace nonwoven

Nowadays, the use of nonwovens as absorbent products is increasing. One of the most important methods for the nonwoven production is spunlace. This research evaluates the effect of spunlace nonwoven structures in wicking, water retention, water vapor permeability and porosity structural parameter of nonwoven. Carded webs from polyester fibers and viscous fibers of four different basis weights (35, 40, 45, and 50 g/m²) were hydroentangled using three different water jet pressures (50, 60, and 70 bar). To study the effect of these variables on the structure of nonwovens and absorbency related properties, sample’s characteristics such as thickness and mass density were measured. An electrical resistance technique was used to study the liquid penetration into nonwovens. The results showed that with increasing water jet pressure, mass density increased and other parameters like thickness, water retention, water vapor permeability and capillary pore size decreased. Also, it was observed with increasing basis weight, the sample thickness increased. On the other hand, with increasing weight, the amount of water retention, water vapor permeability and porosity structural parameter of nonwoven were reduced. The wicking characteristic of nonwovens using the least jet pressure and weight was the best of all the samples.     

Antioxidant Activity and Chemical Characterization of Essential Oil of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bunium persicum</Emphasis>

The search for natural antioxidants, especially of plant origin, has notably increased in recent years. Bunium persicum Boiss. is an economically important medicinal plant growing wild in the dry temperature regions in Iran. In this study, chemical constituents of the essential oil of the seed from Bunium persicum Boiss. have been studied by GC/MS technique. The major components were caryophyllene (27.81%), gamma-terpinene (15.19%), cuminyl acetate (14.67%). Individual antioxidant assays such as, DPPH* scavenging activity and beta-carotene bleaching have been carried out. In DPPH* system, the EC(50) value of essential oil was determined as 0.88 mg/mL. In beta-carotene bleaching antioxidant activity of essential oil (0.45%) was almost equal to BHT at 0.01%. In addition, the antioxidant activity of the essential oil was evaluated in crude soybean oil by monitoring peroxide and thiobarbituric acid values of the oil substrate. The results showed that the Bunium persicum essential oil (BPEO) was able to reduce the oxidation rate of the soybean oil in the accelerated condition at 60 degrees C (oven test). The essential oil at 0.06% showed the same effect of BHA at 0.02%. Hence, BPEO could be used as an additive in food after screening.     

Prevalence of Class 1 Integrons and Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamases among Multi-Drug Resistant Escherichia coli Isolates from North of Iran

Background:

Extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBLs) are an important cause of transferable multidrug resistance (MDR) in gram-negative bacteria. The most described ESBL genes are generally found within integron-like structures as mobile genetic elements. The aim of this study was to identify the accompanying of class 1 integrons and ESBLs in the MDR E. coli isolates.

Methods:

Susceptibility to antimicrobial agents was determined for 33 E. coli strains by the disk diffusion method. Double-disk synergy test was applied for screening ESBL. To identify the strains carrying integrons, the conserved regions of integron-encoded integrase gene intI1 were amplified. For detection of gene cassettes, 5′CS and 3′CS primers were used.

Results:

All E. coli isolates were identified as multi-drug resistant. More than 50% of the isolates were resistant to tetracycline, cephalothin, cefuroxime, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and third generation cephalosporines. Nearly all of the isolates displayed sensitivity to piperacillin. There was a significant correlation between production of ESBL and resistance to all antibiotics except for ciprofloxacin and piperacillin (P < 0.01). Thirty two MDR strains (97%) included class 1 integron, and some isolates that included integrons were similar in the size of gene cassettes. The isolates were different in the resistance profiles; however, some others had similar resistance profiles. Of eight ESBL positive isolates, seven (87.5%) carried class 1 integrons.

Conclusion:

Class 1 integrons were frequent in MDR and also ESBL-producing E. coli isolates. High prevalence of class 1 integrons confirms that integron-mediated antimicrobial gene cassettes are important in E. coli resistance profile. Key Words: Antibiotic, Integrons, Escherichia coli     

Dietary fat content and feed supply influence growth and body composition in juvenile beluga sturgeon (Huso huso)

This study is to evaluate the impacts of two levels of fat on the fish growth, feed intake, and compositions of muscle, liver, and viscera on the juvenile Huso huso. There were four treatments: two experimental diets (high-fat: 30% and low-fat: 15%) and two feeding levels (100 or 60% of satiation). The treatments were assigned to 16 tanks each with 15 fish, with four replicates for each treatment. Beluga sturgeon juveniles with an initial weight of 61.3?±?4.4?g were reared for 3?months. Increasing fat content of the diets resulted in an increased final weight (621.8 vs. 467.5?g for high-fat and low-fat diets, respectively, at 100% feeding level; p?<?0.01), but had no impact on feed conversion rate (FCR; p?>?0.05). Total feed intake was increased by the use of high-fat diet (487.8 vs. 365.0?g for high-fat and low-fat diets, respectively, at 100% feeding level; p?<?0.01). Results also showed no interactions between fat level of the diets and feeding level in final weight and FCR. Beluga sturgeon muscle and liver fed high-fat diets contained higher fat than those fed low-fat diets (186.5 and 329.6 vs. 144.1 and 261.9?g?kg^?1 for high-fat and low-fat diets, respectively, at 100% feeding level; p?<?0.01), and feeding levels did not change protein content of the examined organs. In conclusion, beluga sturgeon shows an enhanced growth on high-fat diet, and feed intake does not reduce by the use of high-fat diets.     

Live Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) as a growth and immunity promoter for Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), challenged with pathogenic Aeromonas hydrophila

The use of antibiotics to control fish disease is one of the constraints in tilapia farming. Hence, the use of probiotic and live organisms as alternative strategies has received much more attention. This study was undertaken to evaluate the use of Spirulina (Arthrospir platensis) as a growth and immunity promoter for Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.). Fish (1.88 g) were randomly distributed at 20 fish per 100 L aquarium and fed a diet containing either 0.0, 1.25, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 or 10.0 g Spirulina kg^?1 diet for 12 weeks. After the feeding trial, fish of each treatment were challenged by pathogenic Aeromonas hydrophila, which was given by an interperitoneal injection, and they were kept under observation for 10 days to record any abnormal clinical signs and the daily mortality rate. The growth‐promoting influence of Spirulina was observed with fish, and the optimum growth and feed utilization were obtained at 5.0 g Spirulina kg^?1 diet. No significant changes were observed in fish survival among the different treatments. Spirulina supplementation improved the protein and lipid contents in fish bodies without significant differences among them, especially when fed 2.5–10.0 g kg^?1 diet, but no significant differences in the moisture and ash contents were observed among different treatments. The physiological parameters were improved when fish were fed a Spirulina‐enriched diet. However, the highest red blood cells, white blood cells and nitro blue tetrazolium values were obtained at 5.0–10.0 g Spirulina kg^?1 diet; meanwhile, the lowest value was obtained in the control. Total fish mortality due to A. hydrophila infection decreased with an increase in the Spirulina level in fish diets. These results indicate that Spirulina supplement is promising as an alternative method to antibiotics for disease prevention in tilapia aquaculture, and the optimum level of Spirulina in the fish diet should be 5.0–10.0 g kg^?1 diet.     

Effect of dietary protein regime during the growing period on growth performance, feed utilization and whole-body chemical composition of Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of various dietary protein regimes on growth performance, feed utilization and whole-body chemical composition of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.). Twenty cages (1 m³ each) were randomly allocated to a four-replicate experiment to represent five treatments (T1–T5) where fish were randomly stocked at a rate of 50 fish (1.5–2.2 g) per cage. Fish in T1–T5 fed on a 45% crude protein (CP) diet for the first 4 weeks. In T1, T2 or T3 fish fed on 45%, 35% or 25% CP diets for the last 8 weeks respectively. In T4 fish fed 35% CP diet for the second 4 weeks followed by 25% CP diet for the last 4 weeks and in T5 fish fed 25% CP diet for the second 4 weeks followed by 35% CP diet for the last 4 weeks. Diets were offered to satiation and provided manually twice a day in the morning and in the afternoon, 6 days a week. The optimum fish growth and feed utilization were obtained at T1, T2 and T4. Protein efficient ratio and apparent protein utilization were lower at T1 and T2 than those of T3–T5. On the other hand, no significant changes in energy utilization were observed among the different treatments. There were no major changes in the carcass composition except in ash content, which was higher in T3 and T5 only. This study recommended that the dietary protein regime is an important management in tilapia culture, and the protein level could be reduced from 45% to 35% then to 25% on increasing the fish size.