Evaluation of the learning curve for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery: bilateral ovariectomy in dogs

Objective: Study the learning curve for canine Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) ovariectomy by evaluating operative times and complications. Study Design: Preclinical research study. Animals: Adult female dogs (n=20). Methods: NOTES ovariectomy procedures were performed as follows: Feasibility Group 1 (n=5), Feasibility Group 2 (n=5), and Early Clinical Group 3 (n=10). Six steps of the procedure were identified, timed separately, and the overall time was recorded from introduction to removal of the endoscope. Complications were recorded. Repeated measures analysis of variance using ranked data compared the effect of group (3 levels) on the time for each step. Nonlinear regression using an exponential model with nonzero asymptote was used to model the operative time–procedure number relationship. Results: Overall median operative time was significantly longer for Group 1 (195 minutes; range, 160–265 minutes) than Group 2 (108 minutes; range, 81–148 minutes; P=.048) and Group 3 (77 minutes; range, 41–136 minutes; P=.0008). The estimated asymptotic operative time was 71 minutes (95% confidence interval, 41–100 minutes); this time was reached after 10 procedures. Gastric cleansing and removing the left ovary took significantly longer in Group 1 than in Group 2 or 3. Operative complications included incomplete ovarian excision, dropping an ovary during retrieval, and conversion to an open procedure. No intraoperative complications occurred in Group 3. Conclusion: NOTES procedures result in longer operative times in the early part of the learning curve and require considerable experience before reaching proficiency.     

Molecular survey of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Toxoplasma</Emphasis> infection in sheep and goat from Fars province,Southern Iran

Toxoplasmosis is a widespread zoonotic disease that causes significant morbidity and mortality in human fetus and in immunocompromised patients. Moreover, it becomes a major cause of abortion in sheep and goats. Since consumption of meat of infected lamb and goat is considered as the main sources of human infection in Iran, this study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Toxoplasma infection in edible tissues of sheep and goats in Shiraz in 2008. Samples of brain, tongue, liver, and muscles of neck, intercostals, and femoral were taken from 56 sheep and 22 goats and tested by PCR. The total prevalence of Toxoplasma infection among animals was found to be 33.3%. Five out of 22 goats (22.7%) and 21 out of 56 sheep (37.5%) were infected by Toxoplasma. Differences between the prevalence rate of infection among females (nine out of 14 = 46%) and males animals (12 out of 45 = 29.5%) was significant (P = 0.013). Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between the age of animals and the rate of infection; animals greater than 2 years old showed a higher rate of infection (47%) in comparison with those less than 2 years old (25%, P = 0.04). The highest infected tissue was tongue (21.8%) followed by brain (19.2%) and femoral and intercostal muscles (17.9%). This study demonstrated a high level of Toxoplasma infection in slaughtered animals in Shiraz and these should be considered as the main sources of infection for human population in the region.     

Prevalence and risk factors for subclinical coccidiosis in broiler chicken farms in Mazandaran province,Iran

Coccidiosis is a disease of almost universal importance in Poultry production. The subclinical form of coccidiosis has most significant economic impact due to impaired growth rate and feed conversion. Some factors such as: age, size of flock, season, etc., may effect on severity of this disease. In this study, the relationships between some major risk factors and prevalence of subclinical coccidiosis were investigated. This study was done in 120 broiler farms in five different cities of Mazandaran province, north of Iran. Five chicks (3–8 weeks of ages) were taken randomly from every 120 farms and post-mortem and parasitological examinations were performed. Five Eimeria spp. were recognized: Eimeria tenella, Eimeria maxima, Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria brunetti, and Eimeria necatrix. The prevalence rate of subclinical coccidiosis among them is 75% (90 farms out of 120). E. acervulina was the most prevalent species (65.5%) followed by E. maxima (17.7%), E. tenella (15.5%), E. brunetti (10%), and E. necatrix (5.5%). According to what the results approve, the occurrence of subclinical coccidiosis is significantly related to the age and size of flock, whereas the other factors such as the season of year, industrial strains, chicken’s keeping system, and anticoccidial drugs do not affect this phenomenon remarkably.     

Mitigating the catastrophic impacts of torrential rivers in semi-arid environments: a case of the Gash River in eastern Sudan

The climatic, geomorphic, hydrologic and aquifer characteristics of the torrential Gash River across mountainous areas, in far eastern Sudan, were analyzed in order to mitigate its recurring catastrophic impacts. Hydrologic and climatic data and interpretation of Gash River satellite images were from relevant research works carried out in Gash Basin from 1985 to 2008. The results indicated that the total catchment area of Gash River is about 21,000 km2, and the basin area is 31,000 km2. The total length of Gash River is 450 km and the average slope is 200 cm/km. The width of the catchment varies from 30 m to 90 m and that of the basin is from 100 m to 800 m, and the course of the river is varied. During the period of 1980?2008, the mean annual rainfall was 250 mm and the mean annual discharge was 6.8 ×10~8 m~3, and the flooding is approximately one time per 5 years. Torrential floods measured at Kassala town since 1907 showed that an absolute maximum discharge was 876 m3/s and a mean maximum discharge was 365 m3/s. These characteristics differ widely between catchment and basin areas. The author proposes that, by analyzing the climatic, geomorphic, hydrologic and aquifer characteristics of the Gash River and considering the role of community, a concise database could be provided to formulate the aquifer, geomorphic, hydrologic and climatic (AQUIGEOHYCLIM) regional approach to mitigate Gash River recurring catastrophic impacts.     

Effects of Dietary Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and Fish Oil on Semen Quality of Miniature Caspian Horse

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a subshrub from the lamiaceae family with plants that are rich in essential oils and antioxidative phenolic substances. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of dietary thyme and fish oil supplementation on the semen characteristics of miniature Caspian horse. Sixteen stallions were randomly allocated into four groups and received four different diets: unsupplemented control diet, supplemented with fish oil at 2.5% dry matter intake (DMI), supplemented with fish oil (2.5% DMI), and thyme (0.02% DMI), and supplemented with thyme (0.02% DMI). All experimental diets were formulated according to National Research Council (1998). Semen was collected at 0, 30, 60, and 90 days. The semen samples were cooled and preserved at 5°C. Cooled diluted semen samples were evaluated in vitro by microscopic assessments of chilled sperm motility, acrosomal and other abnormalities (head, midpieces, and tail), viability (evaluated by Eosin–nigrosin), and plasma membrane integrity (evaluated by hypo osmolarity swelling test), and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was determined during cool storage 0, 24, and 48 hours after collection. The results showed that total and progressive sperm motility and plasma membrane integrity and functionality in all groups were significantly decreased with increasing storage time. On the other hand, the level of MDA in all groups was significantly increased with increasing storage time. Also, the results showed that most sperm quality parameters in this study were significantly higher in fish oil–thyme and fish oil group compared with thyme and control groups after 24 and 48 hours of storage at 5°C. We concluded that dietary supplementation of fish oil and thyme can improve sperm quality in miniature Caspian stallions during storage in cool condition via increasing total and progressive motility and plasma membrane integrity and functionality. More advances in vitro evaluations and artificial insemination are required to reveal the exact effects of thyme on miniature Caspian stallion sperm quality and its fertilizing ability.     

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—CELIACOMESENTERIC TRUNK AND PORTAL VEIN HYPOPLASIA IN A PIT BULL TERRIER

The computed tomography (CT) imaging findings of a celiacomesenteric trunk (CMT) in a 1‐year‐old dog with primary hypoplasia of the portal vein (PHPV) are described. Computed tomography angiography revealed acquired porto‐systemic shunts secondary to portal hypertension and a common origin of the celiac and cranial mesenteric arteries. The imaging findings and the association of a CMT with other vascular diseases have never been reported in dogs. The recognition of this rare arterial anomaly should prompt to investigate possible concurrent vascular diseases and may influence the planning of abdominal surgeries.     

Effects of Chinese herbal medicine on plasma glucose,protein and energy metabolism in sheep

Background： The use of antibiotics in animal diets is facing negative feedback due to the hidden danger of drug residues to human health. Traditional Chinese herbal medicine has been used to replace antibiotics in the past two decades and played an increasingly important role in livestock production. The present study was carried out to assess the feeding effects of a traditional nourishing Chinese herbal medicine mixture on kinetics of plasma glucose, protein and energy metabolism in sheep. Ruminal fermentation characteristics were also determined. Methods： Four sheep were fed on either mixed hay （MH-diet） or MH-diet supplemented with 2% of Chinese herbal medicine （mixture of Astragalus root, Angelica root and Atractylodes rhizome; CHM-diet） over two 3S-day periods using a crossover design. The turnover rate of plasma glucose was measured with an isotope dilution method using [U-^13C]glucose. The rates of plasma leucine turnover and leucine oxidation, whole body protein synthesis （WBPS） and metabolic heat production were measured using the [1-^13C]leucine dilution and open circuit calorimetry. Results： Body weight gain of sheep was higher （P = 0.03） for CHM-diet than for MH-diet. Rumen pH was lower （P = 0.02）, concentration of rumen total volatile fatty acid tended to be higher （P = 0.05） and acetate was higher （P = 0.04） for CHM-diet than for MH-diet. Turnover rates of plasma glucose and leucine did not differ between diets. Oxidation rate of leucine tended to be higher （P = 0.06） for CHM-diet than for MH-diet, but the WBPS did not differ between diets. Metabolic heat production tended to be greater （P = 0.05） for CHM-diet than for MH-diet. Conclusions： The sheep fed on CHM-diet had a higher body weight gain and showed positive impacts on rumen fermentation and energy metabolism without resulting in any adverse response. Therefore, these results suggested that the Chinese herbal medicine mixture should be considered as a potential feed additive for sheep.     

Genetic analysis of Rutilus rutilus caspicus (Jakowlew 1870) populations in Iran by microsatellite markers

The Caspian roach (Rutilus rutilus caspicus) is regarded as one of the most important commercial species in the Caspian Sea. Despite the commercial and conservation importance of the species, information on genetic relationships and diversities at the molecular level in Rutilus rutilus caspicus is scarce. Six microsatellite loci were analysed to study the genetic variation in two major populations of Caspian roach in the Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea: the Anzali Wetland and Gorgan Bay. The F_st value between populations was 0.07, suggesting that the genetic differentiation was significant (P<0.01). Both the studied populations deviated from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium proportions at a number of loci, mostly due to the deficiency of heterozygosities. The genetic distance between populations was 0.29, which indicates that the genetic difference among the studied populations is pronounced. The differences between both populations were not statistically significant (P>0.05), neither for average number of alleles per locus nor for observed heterozygosities. The data generated in this study provide useful information on the genetic variation and differentiation in populations of Caspian roach.