The effect of furazolidone on some clinical and biochemical parameters in goats

Furazolidone (FZ) administered to goats orally at the recommended therapeutic dose (10 mg/kg body weight for 5 days) resulted in significant decreases in heart rate, pulse rate, and rectal temperature. No change was observed in respiratory rate or body weight, although a tendency towards a decrease in the latter was observed. An increase in the number of the erythrocytes was found. FZ also produced significant decreases in the pseudocholinesterase activity and plasma concentrations of total protein and ascorbic acid. A significant increase in the adrenal cholesterol concentration was observed while the weight of adrenal glands and their ascorbic acid concentration and content were unaffected. No significant histopathological changes were observed in treated goats.     

Predicting the tensile strength of polyester/cotton blended woven fabrics using feed forward back propagation artificial neural networks

Tensile strength plays a vital role in determining the mechanical behavior of woven fabrics. In this study, two artificial neural networks have been designed to predict the warp and weft wise tensile strength of polyester cotton blended fabrics. Various process and material related parameters have been considered for selection of vital few input parameters that significantly affect fabric tensile strength. A total of 270 fabric samples are woven with varying constructions. Application of nonlinear modeling technique and appreciable volume of data sets for training, testing and validating both prediction models resulted in best fitting of data and minimization of prediction error. Sensitivity analysis has been carried out for both models to determine the contribution percentage of input parameters and evaluating the most impacting variable on fabric strength.     

Nutrient and amino acid profiles of egg and larvae of Asian seabass, Lates calcarifer (Bloch)

Fertilized eggs and developing larvae of hatchery reared Asian seabass, Lates calcarifer (Bloch), were analyzed to determine the changes occurring in their proximate and amino acid (AA) composition. The fertilized dry egg weighed 31 μg and contained 13.71 μg (44%) protein, 8.48 μg (27%) lipid and 0.657 J of gross energy. Dry weight decreased by 39% during hatching. The protein, lipid and carbohydrate nutrients decreased by 4.86, 4.15 and 0.09 μg, respectively from egg to 2-days post hatching (dph) larvae (pre-feeding). The protein content of the spawned eggs and larvae were hydrolysed to AA in the laboratory. The fertilized eggs had a total AA content of 42% of their dry weight. The egg contained 1.287 μg, 1.132 μg, 0.964 μg, 0.942 μg, 0.787 μg and 0.713 μg of leucine, lysine, arginine, valine, threonine and phenylalanine, respectively and these six indispensable amino acids (IAA) constituted approximately 78% of the total IAA. In the early feeding stages of L. calcarifer larvae, the ratio of IAA/DAA increased from 0.797 in the pre-feeding stage to 1.632 after 2 days of feeding. During larval growth of L. calcarifer, the percentage contribution of isoleucine and leucine to total IAA contents increased, while it decreased for lysine, phenyl alanine and arginine. L. calcarifer larvae were found to have proteins, which are rich in glutamic acid, leucine and lysine, and poor in threonine and histidine, suggesting high dietary leucine and lysine IAA requirement. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Study the Physical,Chemical, Mineralogical,and Geo-technical Properties of Soils Used in Pottery Industries,Kurdistan-lraq

The study area is located in Duhok and Sulaimania province in Kurdistan region, lraq. Study soils developed from parent material that has derived from limestone. Randomize, composed and disturbed surface soil samples were collected. The bulk soils were air dried, crushed and passed through 2 mm sieve. Standard methods were used for chemical, physical, geotechnical and mineralogical analyses of soil samples. The results indicated that the study soils texture were clay to loam clay, this texture was considered as suitable for ceramic and pottery industries as a result of increasing clay contents that ranged between 301 g/kg and 676 g/kg. Soil consistence depending on geotechnical properties increased the ability of study soils for resistance rapture and deformation. Existence the high amount of cementing agents in study soils such as organic matter, iron oxides and particularly total carbonate （247.2-308.8 g/kg） act to reduce the bad effect of the smectite minerals group （high shrinkage） in soils of study locations through increasing the resistance of these soils for rupture and deformation. The existing of Kaolinite, palygorskite and chlorite allows clay to be dried in ceramic and pottery industries without cracking from shrinkage. Study soils were different in their colors as a result of existence, different pigmentation materials that led to coloring soils with different colors in turn caused coloring of pottery and ceramic materials. Since, there are no available academic studies or researches about this subject in Kurdistan region in addition the clay pottery and ceramic sector still has a good market at the same time using this type of soils for arts, therefore, this study was conducted.     

Influence of methionine and dithioerythritol on sperm motility, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacities during liquid storage of ram semen

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of methionine and dithioerythritol, added to the Tris extender, on ram sperm motility and LPO (lipid peroxidation) and antioxidant capacities during liquid storage up to 72 h at 5 °C. Ejaculates collected from five Merino rams, were evaluated and pooled at 37 °C. This study included two experiments. In experiment 1, each pooled ejaculate was divided into four equal aliquots and diluted (37 °C) with the base extender, containing 0 (control), 1, 2 and 4 mM methionine, at a final concentration of approximately 4 × 10⁸ sperms/ml (single step dilution), in a 15-ml plastic centrifuge tube. In experiment 2, dithioerythritol, at concentrations of 0 (control), 0.5, 1 and 2 mM, was used as an additive in the extender, and the procedure explained above was applied for the division of aliquots and the dilution of semen. Diluted semen samples were kept in glass tubes and cooled from 37 to 5 °C in a cold cabinet, and maintained at 5 °C. Sperm motility and LPO and total glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) capacities were determined at 5 °C for periods of 0, 24, 48 and 72 h of liquid storage.The extender supplemented with 1 mM methionine led to higher motility percentages (77.0 ± 1.2%), in comparison to the control group (66.0 ± 4.9%), during 72 h of liquid storage (P < 0.05). As regards dithioerythritol, it did not statistically improve the motility rates for any of the storage times at 5 °C. In biochemical assays, differences in LPO levels between the groups with antioxidants and the control groups were not statistically significant. Compared to the control group, no significant difference was observed in GSH and GPx activities following the addition of methionine, during 72 h of storage. Total GSH and GPx activities did not increase significantly upon supplementation with 0.5 and 1 mM of dithioerythritol, compared to the control group, at any of the time points (P > 0.05). Dithioerythritol at 2 mM led (P < 0.01) to elevating GSH activity, compared to the control group, during 72 h of liquid storage. GPx activity was approximately 10 times higher for 2 mM of dithioerythritol (P < 0.001), compared to that of the control group at all time points.The question regarding the sustainability of sperm survival, LPO and antioxidant capacities following liquid storage of semen remains unanswered. Further studies are required for a better understanding of the biochemical changes and to obtain more information on the determination of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacities during cooled storage of ram semen.     

Determination of antibiotic resistance pattern and virulence genes in Escherichia coli isolated from bovine with subclinical mastitis in southwest of Iran

The aims of the present study were to investigate the prevalence of some virulence genes and also determine the antimicrobial resistance pattern of E. coli isolated from bovine with subclinical mastitis. The milk of 502 cows was collected from 8 dairy herds in the southwest of Iran. Conventional biochemical tests were used for identification of E. coli at the species level. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of E. coli isolates were determined by disc agar diffusion method and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for detection of seven virulence genes including f17A, afaE-8, afaD-8, eaeA, cnf1, cnf2, and iucD. Seventy (13.94%) isolates of E. coli were identified in 502 milk samples. The highest rate of resistance was observed against tetracycline (18.6%), while none of the isolates were resistant to streptomycin. Eight (11.5%) out of 70 E. coli isolates carried at least one of the virulence genes. The afaD-8 was the most prevalent gene detected in 5 (7.1%) isolates. The afaE-8, iucD, and eaeA were detected in 3, 3, and 2 isolates respectively. Low prevalence of virulence factors may be indicating that most of the E. coli isolates originated from the commensal flora of cows and enter to the udders via environment contamination with feces.

     

Bacterial infertility in camels (Camelus dromedarius): isolation of Campylobacter fetus

This study constitutes the first reported isolation of C. fetus subsp. venerealis from cervical swabs in breeding camels. 9 of 30 camels which were barren for a long period were found to be positive for C. fetus. The methods of isolation are described. Additionally, cervical flora of 30 camels were examined. 9 different bacterial species were isolated of which Staphylococcus aureus was most frequently found. All samples were negative for Trichomonas sp. and Streptococcus zooepidemicus.     

Appropriate Timing of Supplemental Feeding for Production of Nile Tilapia, Silver Carp, and Common Carp in Fertilized Polyculture Ponds

In an attempt to identify appropriate times for initial application of supplemental feed in polyculture fertilized fish production earthen ponds, a study was conducted for 19 wk to establish the growth performance, yield, survival, and body composition of Nile tilapia, common carp, and silver carp as influenced by four different feeding regimens (treatments). The four treatments were: 1) supplemental feeding beginning at onset of the experiment (T-I) (control treatment); 2) 6-wk delay of feeding after fish stocking (T-II); 3) 13-wk delay of feeding after fish stocking (T-III), and 4) no supplemental feed application (T-IV). Two ponds were assigned to each treatment and each pond was stocked with a similar number and weight of each fish species. A commercial pelleted fish feed (25% protein) was used to feed fish in T-I, T-II, and T-III at 3% of their body weight, twice a day. At the end of the experiment, fish species (except for silver carp) in T-II showed weight gain, growth rates, and yields significantly higher than fish in T-III or T-IV. Also, the total fish production and net profit in T-II were significantly higher than in T-III or T-IV. Fish species in T-II showed weight gain, growth rates, survival rates, and yields similar to those of T-I (control treatment) with no significant differences. The amount of feed consumed by fish in T-II was reduced by approximately 7.3% compared to that consumed by fish at T-I. Moreover, there was increase in th net profit in T-II by 4.8% over that achieved in T-I. Therefore, T-II appears to be the most appropriate among the tested feeding treatments and recommended for use in order to achieve the best growth, production, and net profit.     

Effect of age on the immune response of cattle experimentally infected with Babesia bigemina

Two different age groups of Holstein Friesian cattle were experimentally infected with Babesiabigemina. Calves of group A (6 months old) did not show noticeable symptoms of babesiosis and had relatively low (0.6%) numbers of parasites in their red blood cells (RBCs). Group B calves (1 year old) had typical signs of the disease; parasites were found in 6.6% of their RBCs. Blood from both groups inoculated into splenectomized calves at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months following initial inoculation demonstrated the presence of B. bigemina, while after 22 months no parasites could be demonstrated.The indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test detected babesial antibodies at 4–5 days post inoculation (PI) and reached a maximum titre of 1 : 640 at 2 weeks PI. Following challenge at 2–3 months after initial inoculation, the antibody titre rose sharply to 1 : 2560, then decreased gradually but was still detectable 22 months PI. No correlation was found between antibody titre and the presence of the parasite hin the peripheral blood.