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 (

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

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