Structure of Vomeronasal Organ (Jacobson organ) in Male Camelus Domesticus Var. dromedaris persica

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is a tubular structure in the roof of nasal cavity. The important role of this organ is olfaction of sexual odour. In this study, position, anatomical structure and histology of VNO in Iranian camels (camelus domesticus var. dromedaris persica) were determined. Fourteen healthy male camel heads were collected from an industrial slaughterhouse in Tehran, Iran, for anatomical and histological studies (seven each). The length of VNO and width of dental pad and the number and width of palatine crests were measured. For anatomical studies, the mandible was removed, and maxilla and nasal cavity was cut longitudinally and transversely. For histological studies, the mandible was removed, and first 0.5 cm of initial part of VNO was cut. Then, nasal cavity was cut in some segments with 2 cm thickness. The width of VNO was 3.85 ± 0.31 cm and 1.57 ± 0.18 cm in front and distal parts, respectively. The length of VNO was 15.61 ± 0.59 cm. In histological examinations, VNO was surrounded by J‐shape hyaline cartilage. The lining epithelium of lateral wall of VNO was originated from respiratory epithelium, while it had an olfactory epithelium origin in the medial wall. Lamina propria and tunica submucosa were a cavernous connective tissue with seromucous gland with abundant of serous secretory units. The lumen of VNO opens into nasal cavity. The presence of olfactory epithelium found in our study indicates an important role for VNO in pheromone perception and beginning of sexual behaviour.     

Livestock feed resources availability,feeding practices,and nutrient balances in high Himalaya (Gurez) valley of Kashmir

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Assessment of the ruminant livestock feed sources availability, existing feeding practices, and nutrient balances was embarked at different zones of Gurez...     

Reactions of goldfish (Carassius auratus) to three suture patterns following full thickness skin incisions

Three different suture patterns (simple interrupted, interrupted horizontal mattress, subcuticular) were placed in a full thickness incision (skin and body wall) of 18 goldfish (Carassius auratus). After 14 days all fish were euthanized using benzocaine solution. The tissue reactions were evaluated by gross visual inspection and histopathological examination. The superficial inflammatory reactions were graded on a scale from 0 (no inflammation) to 3 (severe inflammation). The inflammatory response in histological examination was graded on a scale from 0 (no inflammatory response or normal skin tissue) to 5 (severe inflammatory response and necrosis). The interrupted horizontal mattress induced a moderately severe to severe inflammatory response and necrosis (grades 4–5) but the subcuticular suture induced a very mild to mild inflammatory response (grades 0–1). The simple interrupted suture induced a moderate to moderately severe inflammatory response (grades 2–4). In conclusion, results showed that a subcuticular suture is the most appropriate to use in the closure of a full thickness body wall incision.     

In ovo injection of flavanone on bone quality characteristics,biochemical parameters and antioxidant enzyme status of blood in daily chicks

In ovo injection (IOI) of Naringin (N), flavanone was examined on post‐hatch blood biochemical parameters, antioxidant status and bone characteristics. Fertile eggs (n = 700) were distributed in seven groups with 100 eggs. On 14th and 17.5th days of incubation, four groups were injected using 15 or 30 mg active ingredient levels of naringin/0.5 ml saline/egg, low and high level, into amnion sac. Controls include sham (injected normal saline, 0.5 ml/egg on day 14 and 17.5th) and un‐injected group. IOI of high naringin and saline on 14th day of incubation resulted in lower hatchability and then higher mortality in last week of embryonic life. On day hatch, high levels of injected groups more body weight compared to the control. Chick length was increased at high levels of naringin on day 17.5th compared to control and saline injected. Quality traits of bones were improved in naringin‐injected groups compared to control. IOI of naringin influenced thyroid hormones on 14th day of incubation. Naringin groups influenced the Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Calcium (Ca), superoxide dismutase (SOD), blood biochemical and lipids. Totally, amniotic IOI of naringin in last days of developing embryo may be useful for hatched chick, development of leg long bone or effect on biochemical metabolites by levels of flavanone that it needs more research.     

Evaluation of bone healing in canine tibial defects filled with cortical autograft,commercial-DBM,calf fetal DBM,omentum and omentum-calf fetal DBM

The present study was conducted to compare the effects of xenogenic bovine fetal demineralized bone matrix (DBM), commercial DBM, omentum, omentum-calf fetal DBM, cortical autograft and xenogenic cartilage powder on the healing of tibial defects in a dog model to determine the best material for bone healing. Seven male adult mongrel dogs, weighing 26.2 ± 2.5 kg, were used in this study. Seven holes with a diameter of 4-mm were created and then filled with several biomaterials. Radiographs were taken postoperatively on day 1 and weeks 2, 4, 6, 8. The operated tibias were removed on the 56th postoperative day and histopathologically evaluated. On postoperative days 14, 42 and 56, the lesions of the control group were significantly inferior to those in the other group (p < 0.05). On the 28th postoperative day, the autograft group was significantly superior to the control and omentum groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, calf fetal DBM was significantly superior to the control group. There was no significant difference between the histopathological sections of all groups. Overall, the omentum and omentum-DBM groups were superior to the control group, but inferior to the autograft, commercial-DBM, calf fetal DBM and calf fetal cartilage groups.     

Evaluation of foot and mouth vaccination for yak (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bos grunniens</Emphasis>) in Pakistan

In northern Pakistan, many farming communities rely on domestic yak (Bos grunniens) as a principle source of income. A 2006 participatory disease surveillance report from this region indicated that foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is the most prevalent annual disease of yak. Our objectives of this study were to determine exposure levels of yak to FMD virus; implement a vaccination program based on current, regional FMD virus serotypes and subtypes; and quantify immune responses following vaccination. Blood samples were used to determine pre-vaccination exposure of animals to FMD virus by antibody presence to non-structural proteins of FMD virus using a 3-ABC trapping indirect ELISA. Vaccine used consisted of FMD serotypes ‘O’ (PanAsia-2), ‘A’ (Iran-05), and ‘Asia-1’ (Shamir), but changed later during the study to match newly circulating viruses in the country (‘O’-PanAsia-2; ‘A’-Turk-06 and Asia-1-Sindh-08). Three hundred sixty-three blood samples were tested from selected villages to determine pre-vaccination FMD virus exposure in yak with an average of 37.7%. Immune responses from initial vaccination and booster dose 30 days later showed clear protective levels (as mean percent inhibition) of antibodies against structural proteins of serotypes ‘O,’ ‘A,’ and ‘Asia-1.’ These responses remained above threshold positive level even at day 210 following initial vaccination. Results of sero-surveillance and anecdotal information of repeated FMD outbreaks demonstrate the persistence of FMD virus of yak in northern Pakistan. Laboratory results and field observations clearly indicated that yak can be protected against FMD with a good quality vaccine with FMD serotype(s) matching current, regionally circulating FMD virus.     

Anti-diabetic potential of ursolic acid stearoyl glucoside: a new triterpenic gycosidic ester from Lantana camara

A new stearoyl glucoside of ursolic acid, urs-12-en-3β-ol-28-oic acid 3β-d-glucopyranosyl-4′-octadecanoate and other compounds were isolated from the leaves of Lantana camara L. The structure of this new glycoside was elucidated and established by standard spectroscopic methods. In streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats it showed significant reduction in blood glucose level.     

Effects of salinity,rootstock, and position of sampling on macro nutrient concentration of pomegranate cv. Gabri

In order to study the effects of salinity, rootstock, and position of sampling on macronutrient concentration of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. “Gabri,” a factorial experiment was conducted based on completely randomized design with 0 and 70 mM sodium chloride and calcium chloride (1:1), three graft combinations (Gabri non-grafted as a control, Gabri/Tab-o-larz, and Gabri/Malas-e-yazdi), and two positions of sampling (lower half and upper half shoot), with three replications. The results showed that mineral concentration of sodium, chloride, calcium, and potassium in shoot and root increased while that of magnesium decreased with salt treatment. The graft combination of Gabri on Tab-o-Larz rootstock had the lowest of sodium and chloride levels in the lower half shoot. Also, calcium concentration in the lower half shoot and potassium concentration in the upper half shoot were higher in the graft combination of Gabri on Tab-o-Larz rootstock. These results imply that Tab-o-Larz rootstock restricts the uptake or transport of sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) from root to shoot; furthermore, it can be used as a salt-tolerant rootstock for pomegranate cv. Gabri.