Fertility evaluation in Egyptian buffalo bulls using zona pellucida binding and in vitro fertilization assays

This study aimed to develop a system of in vitro assays based on zona pellucida binding and in vitro fertilization for predicting male fertility in buffalo bulls. Frozen–thawed semen from nine bulls was tested for motility, viability index, acrosomal integrity, zona pellucida binding and in vitro fertilizing ability. Differences in post-thaw sperm motility between bulls were not significant. Differences in viability indices and percentage of spermatozoa with detached acrosome between bulls was highly significant (P < 0.001). Sperm attached per ovum, fertilization rates and polyspermy percentages varied significantly (P < 0.01) among buffalo bulls. A significant (P < 0.01) positive correlation coefficient of 0.69 was evident between normal acrosome and sperm attached per ovum, while between normal acrosome and fertilization efficiency it was 0.72. Sperm from different buffalo bulls differs in their ability to bind and fertilize oocytes. This study provides a basis to predict and maximize the in vitro fertilization performance of individual bulls.     

Effects of various salts on the germination of two cultivars of Medicago sativa

The germination responses of Medicago sativa (Yazdi and Hamedani cultivars) seeds to salinity stress by different salt solutions were studied in this project. To evaluate salt tolerance during germination, 25 seeds of each cultivar were placed on filter paper in 9 cm petri dishes containing distilled water (control), 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, and 300 mmol · L^?1 saline solutions of NaCl, CaCl₂, and KCl, respectively. The results indicated that the effects of salinity levels were significant (P < 0.05) for percent seed germination, seed germination rate, mean time to germination, length of the stem, and radical and seed vigor. Seed germination decreased significantly by increasing salinity levels. These two cultivars of alfalfa were more resistant to KCl than NaCl and CaCl₂ salts, respectively. In addition, the results showed that the Hamedani cultivar was more tolerant than Yazdi cv. against salinity.     

A study on intestinal helminthes of dogs, foxes and jackals in the western part of Iran

Human infection especially with helminth parasites is an emerging health issue, as the human environment is increasingly shared with infected animals, either pets or wild life. In this survey, the intestinal content of 83 stray dogs, 22 red foxes and 10 golden Jackals collected from the West Azarbaijan, Kordestan and Kermanshah provinces in the west of Iran, were studied for the presence of helminth parasites. The percentage of different species recovered from these animals is listed as follows: From stray dogs: Toxocara canis (6.02%), Toxascaris leonina (32.53%), Ancylostoma caninum (3.61%), Oxynema sp. (1.35%), Rictularia affinis (12.05%), Taenia hydatigena (53.01%), Taenia ovis (7.23%), Taenia multiceps (4.82%), Echinococcus granulosus (13.25%), Dipylidium caninum (38.55%), Mesocestoides lineatus (26.50%) and Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus (4.82%). From red foxes: T. canis (4.54%), T. leonina (31.82%), A. caninum (4.54%), Uncinaria stenocephala (13.64%), Oxynema sp. (9.09%), R. affinis (54.54%), Strongyloides sp. (4.54%), Physaloptera sp. (4.54%), T. hydatigena (9.09%), E. granulosus (4.54%), D. caninum (9.09%), M. lineatus (81.82%), Joyeuxiella pasqalei (27.27%), Diplopylidium nolleri (4.54%), M. hirudinaceus (22.72%) and Macracanthorhynchus sp. (9.09%). From golden jackals: T. canis (10%), T. leonina (30%), R. affinis (50%), T. hydatigena (10%), D. caninum (20%), M. lineatus (70%), J. pasqalei (30%.), Alaria canis (10%), M. hirudinaceus (30%) and Macracanthomynchus sp. (10%).     

The antioxidant activity of some commonly used vegetables in Iranian diet

Methanol extracts of 26 commonly used vegetables in Iranian diet were monitored for antioxidant activity against linoleic acid peroxidation. Some vegetable extracts including savory, radish leaf, garden-cress, spirmint, leek, chive (aerial part), lettuce and dill showed an antioxidant activity comparable with those of dl-alpha-tocopherol and quercetin.     

Antifungal activity of the methanolic extract and alkaloids of Glaucium oxylobum

The methanolic extract and total alkaloids of the aerial parts of Glaucium oxylobum exhibited good activity against Microsporum gypseum, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Epidermophyton floccosum. Four alkaloids, dicentrine, glaucine, protopine, and alpha-allocryptopine, were identified as the compounds responsible for the antifungal activity of this plant.     

An abattoir study on hepatic tumors of sheep

The aim of the present study was to assess the incidence and age distribution of hepatic tumors of sheep as well as study of their histopathologic characteristics. For this purpose, 3000 slaughtered sheep, consisting of 284 rams with approximate age of 7 to 20 months and 2716 ewes with approximate age of 3 to 7 years, were inspected during a routine postmortem examination. This study was conducted at Tabriz abattoir in the East Azerbaijan province of Iran, in a course of 8 months from March to November 2006. In this survey, two livers were encountered tumoral. Representative sections of the tumors were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Gross and microscopic features of these tumors supported diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocellular carcinoma for a seven-years-old crossbreed ewe and a five-years-old native breed ewe respectively. In this survey, 0.074% of slaughtered ewes had hepatic neoplasia. That is, the prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocellular carcinoma in aged ewes was equally 0.037% in this study.