Serological Survey of Avian Influenza (H9N2) in Commercial Ostrich Farms in Iran, 2015

The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of avian influenzaH9N2 subtype in the industrial ostrich farms and its geographical distribution. This cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2015. A total of 40 farms were selected from different provinces of Iran, from each of which 11 ostriches (n=440) were sampled. The sera samples were examined using 4 hemagglutination units of H9N2 antigens. A frequency distribution was used to describe the responses to the survey questions. The mean titers between provinces were compared using one-way analysis of variance. According to the results, 21 (47.5%) out of 40 farms and 108 (24.5%) out of 440 ostriches tested positive in the HI-H9N2 test. There were statistically significant differences between the mean titers of samples in different provinces (

Efficacy of compound therapy by ginseng and ciprofloxacin on bacterial prostatitis

Objective: Genitourinary tract infections play a significant role in male infertility. Infections of reproductive sex glands, such as the prostate, impair function and indirectly affect male fertility. The general aim of this study is to investigate the protective effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) on prostatitis in male rats treated with ciprofloxacin (CIPX). Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, we randomly divided 72 two male Wistar rats into 9 groups. The groups were treated as follows for 10 days: i. Control (no medication), ii. Sham (normal saline injection into the vas deferens and oral administration of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), iii. Ginseng, iv. CPIX, v. CIPX+ginseng, vi. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) (UPEC), vii. UPEC+ginseng, viii. UPEC+CIPX, and ix. UPEC+ginseng+CIPX. The rats were killed 14 days after the last injection and the prostate glands were removed. After sample preparation, routine histology was performed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method was used to determine the presence of apoptotic cells. Results: The severity score for acinar changes and inflammatory cell infiltration in the UPEC+CIPX group did not significantly different from the UPEC group. However this score significantly decreased in the UPEC+CIPX+ginseng group compared to the UPEC group. Apoptotic index of all ginseng treated groups significantly decreased compared to the UPEC and CPIX groups. Conclusion: These results suggested that ginseng might be an effective adjunct in CIPX treatment of prostatitis. The combined use ginseng and CIPX was more effective than ginseng or CIPX alone

Characterization of reoviruses isolated from some broiler breeder flocks in Iran

ABSTRACT Avian reoviruses (ARVs) are considered as an important cause of several diseases in poultry, particularly arthritis and tenosynovitis. Tenosynovitis and arthritis, which are among the causes of chronic lameness in breeder flocks, can result in reduced egg production and culling of breeder hens. In this study, the molecular characteristics of ARVs in some broiler breeder flocks were investigated in Iran. After RNA extraction of the field samples, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to amplify two regions of ARVs for S1 and S4 genes. The positive samples were further analyzed by five restriction enzymes in restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) for determining the strains. The phylogenetic analysis of S1 and S4 genes from the isolates indicated divergence into five and four major lineages, respectively. The sequence analysis of S1 and S4 genes of ARVs revealed that most of the positive samples were closely related to tenosynovitis-inducing ARVs (with less than 2% nucleotide divergence). Also, these samples were most homologous to S1133 strain, with 99.90% nucleotide and amino acid affinity. Keywords: Molecular characteristics, Avian reoviruses, Tenosynovitis, Breeder flocks, Iran Caractérisation des réovirus isolés à partir de poules pondeusesen Iran Résumé: Les réovirus aviaires (ARVs) sont considérés comme une cause importante de maladies chez les volailles, particulièrement d'arthrite et de ténosynovite. Ces deux maladies sont à l'origine de boiteries chroniques chez les poules pondeuses,pouvant engendrer une réduction de la ponte et l'abattage des poules reproductrices. L'objectif de cette étude était la caractérisation moléculaire des ARVs affectant les poules pondeuses en Iran.Après l'extraction des ARN à partir des échantillons de terrain, une amplification en chaîne par polymérasetranscriptase inverse (RT-PCR) a été menée sur deux régions des ARVs, incluant les gènes S1 et S4. Les échantillons positifs ont été ensuite soumis à une analyse plus approfondie du polymorphisme de taille des fragments de restriction (PTFR) par 5 enzymes,afin de déterminer les souches impliquées. L'analyse phylogénétique des gènes S1 et S4 des isolats montre une divergence dans cinq et quatre grandes lignées, respectivement. L'analyse des séquences des gènes S1 et S4 a démontré que la majorité des échantillons positifs étaient étroitement liés aux ARVs induisant des ténosynovites (avec moins de 2% de divergence au niveau des nucléotides). De plus, ces échantillons étaient fortement homologues à la souche S1133, montrant une similitude nucléotidique et d'acides aminés de 99,90%

Evaluation of mice infected to Salmonella Spp in Poultry farms of Tehran Province

In this survey, 290 mice and rats fecal samples from commercial layer and broiler poultry houses were tested for Salmonella sp. presence. All samples were cultured on Selenite F broth media and passaged on SS agar and McConkey agar. The suspected colonies were cultured on Urea and TSI agars to be confirmed as Salmonella sp.. Finally, Salmonella isolates were identified genetically and biochemically by PCR and conventional methods, respectively. Serogrouping and Antibiotic resistance profiling were done for further differentiation of isolates. Twenty eight (9.65%) Salmonellas were isolated from (out of) 290 samples. Eight (28.6%), seven (25%), four (14.3%), and two (7.2%) isolates were located in serogroups C, D, B and E, respectively. Seven isolates (25%) belonged to Arizona subspecies and just one non-motile serogroup D Salmonella was isolated. All isolates were sensitive to enrofloxacin, difloxacin, norfloxacin, chloramphenicol and florfenicol, but they were resistant to sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim and neomycin in decreasing order. In addition to former surveys, this study confirmed the role of mice and rats in spreading of Salmonella spp. in poultry farms. In conclusion it is essential to take appropriate measurements (measures) for pest management in poultry houses to approach the prevention of some bacterial infection like  (such as ) salmonellosis

A Study on Mental Health Status and Personality Traits of Pet Owners

Introduction & Objective: Many Iranian families manage to keep pets at home. Examining psychological consequences and personality traits of pet owners is important. The aim of this study was to examine mental health status and personality traits of pet owners. Materials & Methods: In this descriptive study, 612 pet owners (143 cat owners, 162 dog owners, 155 bird owners and 152 other pet owners) were asked to complete General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and IPIP Personality Scale from January to December 2006. Results: Bird owners had the highest (234 cases (38.3%)) and other pet owners had the lowest (129 cases (42.3%)) mental health problems. In general, 188 cases (30.7%) of all groups had mental health problems. 122 cases (20%) of them had somatic compliance, 182 cases (29.7%) had anxiety, 149 cases (24.3%) had social dysfunction and 84 cases (13.7%) had depression. Bird owners had significant high level of social dysfunction than other pet owners. With respect to personality traits, dog owners had low level of agreeableness and openness to experience than other groups. Other pet owners had high level of emotional stability than other groups. Conclusion: Contrary to other countries, it seems that having a pet in home enhances the probability of mental disorders in Iran. It is possible that lower mental health persons were keeping pets in Iran. In personality perspectives, dog owners are more disagreeable people and other pet owners are more emotionally stable ones

Pathogen and Host Response Dynamics in a Mouse Model of Borrelia hermsii Relapsing Fever.

Most Borrelia species that cause tick-borne relapsing fever utilize rodents as their natural reservoirs, and for decades laboratory-bred rodents have served as informative experimental models for the disease. However, while there has much progress in understanding the pathogenetic mechanisms, including antigenic variation, of the pathogen, the host side of the equation has been neglected. Using different approaches, we studied, in immunocompetent inbred mice, the dynamics of infection with and host responses to North American relapsing fever agent B. hermsii. The spirochete's generation time in blood of infected mice was between 4-5 h and, after a delay, was matched in rate by the increase of specific agglutinating antibodies in response to the infection. After initiating serotype cells were cleared by antibodies, the surviving spirochetes were a different serotype and, as a population, grew more slowly. The retardation was attributable to the host response and not an inherently slower growth rate. The innate responses at infection peak and immediate aftermath were characterized by elevations of both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Immunodeficient mice had higher spirochete burdens and severe anemia, which was accounted for by aggregation of erythrocytes by spirochetes and their partially reversible sequestration in greatly enlarged spleens and elsewhere

Pathogen and Host Response Dynamics in a Mouse Model of Borrelia hermsii Relapsing Fever.

Most Borrelia species that cause tick-borne relapsing fever utilize rodents as their natural reservoirs, and for decades laboratory-bred rodents have served as informative experimental models for the disease. However, while there has much progress in understanding the pathogenetic mechanisms, including antigenic variation, of the pathogen, the host side of the equation has been neglected. Using different approaches, we studied, in immunocompetent inbred mice, the dynamics of infection with and host responses to North American relapsing fever agent B. hermsii. The spirochete's generation time in blood of infected mice was between 4-5 h and, after a delay, was matched in rate by the increase of specific agglutinating antibodies in response to the infection. After initiating serotype cells were cleared by antibodies, the surviving spirochetes were a different serotype and, as a population, grew more slowly. The retardation was attributable to the host response and not an inherently slower growth rate. The innate responses at infection peak and immediate aftermath were characterized by elevations of both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Immunodeficient mice had higher spirochete burdens and severe anemia, which was accounted for by aggregation of erythrocytes by spirochetes and their partially reversible sequestration in greatly enlarged spleens and elsewhere