Seroprevalence and risk factors of equine influenza virus infection in horses of Khuzestan province

Equine influenza is an acute, infectious and highly contagious respiratory disease with worldwide distribution, high morbidity and low mortality. The disease is caused by H7N7 and H3N8 subtypes of genus A of influenza virus in the horse. The most significant clinical signs of equine influenza are fever, coughing and nasal discharge. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of Equine influenza in horses of Khuzestan province by ELISA assay. Blood samples were randomly collected from 184 horses from Ahvaz, Ramhormoz, Shush, Shushtar, Mahshahr and Abadan cities. Seroprevalence of influenza virus was 7.07% (95% CI: 3.97-10.77). Multivariate logistic regression showed that age, sex, history of respiratory disease, history of leaving the province, body condition score, type of use, herd size and geographical location justify 45 percent of fluctuations in infection. History of leaving the province was the only factor with a significant effect on infection (

Effect of Enrofloxacin on Histochemistry, Immunohistochemistry and Molecular Changes in Lamb Articular Cartilage

Enrofloxacin is a synthetic chemotherapeutic agent from the class of the fluoroquinolones that is widely used to treat bacterial infections. It is metabolized to ciprofloxacin in the body as active metabolite. Fluoroquinolones change in the articular cartilage, especially with high doses and more than two weeks use. So, due to relatively excessive use of enrofloxacin in mammals and similarity of lambs to human subjects with respect to skeletal activity cycles, this study was done to investigate the effects of enrofloxacin on some cellular and molecular changes in growing lamb articular cartilage to evaluate some possible mechanisms involved these changes. Twelve, 2-month-old male lambs divided into three groups: control group received only normal saline; therapeutic group received 5mg/kg enrofloxacin subcutaneously, daily, for 15 days and toxic group received 35 mg/kg enrofloxacin in the same manner as therapeutic group. Twenty four hours after the last dose, the animals were sacrificed, and their stifle joints were dissected. Sampling from distal femoral and proximal tibial extremities was done quickly for further histological and molecular studies. Collagen-п content was studied with avidin-biotin immunohistochemistry method in different groups. Expression of Sox9 and caspase-3 was evaluated by Real–time PCR. Immunohistochemical changes were included decreases of matrix proteoglycans, carbohydrates, and Collagen-п in the toxic group. Some of these changes were observed in the therapeutic group with less intensity in comparison to the toxic group. Enrofloxacin were significantly decreased (P≤0.05). Sox9 expression in therapeutic and toxic groups compared to control group. But caspase -3 expressions in the toxic group significantly increased (P≤0.0001) with a comparison to other groups, while, between control and therapeutic groups, there were no significant differences. So, it can be concluded that enrofloxacin increases apoptosis in chondrocytes and decreases their numbers. Enrofloxacin use in growing lambs even at recommended therapeutic dose is not completely safe on articular cartilage. Moreover, higher doses of enrofloxacin induce severe changes in lamb articular cartilage