Enhancement of broiler performance and immune response by Echinacea purpurea supplemented in diet

The objective of the present study was to compare short and long term application of Echinacea purpurea root powder on growth performance and immunity response of broiler chicks. Three replicate trials involving a total of 600 day-old Ross chicks were used in this study. In each trial, a total of 200 chicks were randomly allocated into 5 groups. Each group consisted of 4 pens with 10 chicks in each pen. The birds in group A received control mash diet during the experiment, but those in groups B and C were given control diet supplemented with 0.1% (w/w) and 0.5% (w/w) E. purpurea root powder, respectively. The chicks in groups D and E received control diet supplemented with 0.1% (w/w) and 0.5% (w/w) E. purpurea root powder, respectively, just for one week and fed control diet afterwards. The results showed that E. purpurea consumption for six weeks changed the total counts of white blood cells (WBCs), number of lymphocytes and heterophils, feed conversation ratio, and antibody titers against newcastle and avian influenza diseases (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this result suggests that feeding E. purpurea, particularly for long time, may improve feed conversion, change blood cells number and enhance immunity response in broilers.Key words: Echinacea purpurea, broilers, feed conversion, immunity response

A survey on some risk factors and evaluation of their impacts on streptococcosis in rainbow trout farms in east of Mazandaran province (Haraz River)

One of the most important bacterial fish diseases which has caused some outbreaks in rainbow trout farms in Iran is streptococcusis .The farmers were suffering from huge economic losses due to the disease outbreaks in different rainbow trout farms in Iran. The aim of our study was to determine rate of streptococcusis incidence in different stage of growth in farmed rainbow trout in Haraze River, Mazandaran province. Fish and water samples were randomly collected and measured of randomly in10 selected farms, monthly throughout a year. After clinical observations, Isolation and recognition of strep strains were made using biochemical tests. Some Environmental factors include Nitrate, Nitrite, Temperature, pH, Ammonia and DO measured during sampling periods. According to our results 4.6% of juvenile samples showed clinical singe of streptococcusis while only0.7% of them had strep. Contamination .These rates in adult samples were 8.9 and 1 percent respectively. Major isolated bacterial strain was Streptococcus uberis. Incidence of streptococcusis in rainbow trout 20% affected by fluctuation of Nitrite, temperature and DO. Management of these factors can decrease rate of disease outbreaks

Homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folate levels in premature coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND: Hyperhomocysteinemia is known as an independent risk factor of atherosclerosis, but the probable role of hyperhomocysteinemia in premature Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is not well studied. The aim of this study was to assess the role of hyperhomocysteinemia, folate and Vitamin B12 deficiency in the development of premature CAD. METHODS: We performed an analytical case-control study on 294 individuals under 45 years (225 males and 69 females) who were admitted for selective coronary angiography to two centers in Tehran. RESULTS: After considering the exclusion criteria, a total number of 225 individuals were enrolled of which 43.1% had CAD. The mean age of participants was 39.9 +/- 4.3 years (40.1 +/- 4.2 years in males and 39.4 +/- 4.8 years in females). Compared to the control group, the level of homocysteine measured in the plasma of the male participants was significantly high (14.9 +/- 1.2 versus 20.3 +/- 1.9 micromol/lit, P = 0.01). However there was no significant difference in homocysteine level of females with and without CAD (11.8 +/- 1.3 versus 11.5 ± 1.1 micromol/lit, P = 0.87). Mean plasma level of folic acid and vitamin B12 in the study group were 6.3 +/- 0.2 and 282.5 +/- 9.1 respectively. Based on these findings, 10.7% of the study group had folate deficiency while 26.6% had Vitamin B12 deficiency. Logistic regression analysis for evaluating independent CAD risk factors showed hyperhomocysteinemia as an independent risk factor for premature CAD in males (OR = 2.54 0.95% CI 1.23 to 5.22, P = 0.01). Study for the underlying causes of hyperhomocysteinemia showed that male gender and Vitamin B12 deficiency had significant influence on incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia. CONCLUSION: We may conclude that hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for CAD in young patients (bellow 45 years old) – especially in men -and vitamin B12 deficiency is a preventable cause of hyperhomocysteinemia

A survey on some risk factors and evaluation of their impacts on streptococcosis incidence in rainbow trout farms in west of Mazandaran province

This study aimed to investigate the effects of 5- parameter dissolved oxygen, PH, nitrite, nitrate and temperature of the water on Streptococcosis incidence in two groups of fry and grower fish. Research was performed at west Mazandaran province -Tonkabon region in 12 rainbow trout selected farms. Research conducted in 3 farms with well source water, 8 farms with water source of the river of Dohezar and one farm with water source of the river of Azarood, during 12 consecutive months. From 1390.04.01 to 1391.04.01, once time each month, and in each time 10 fish randomly sampled, inlet water were sampled simultaneously Of 1350 sampled fish 607 fish with an average weight 22.04 gr, average length 12.59 cm were in fry category and 743 fish with an average weight 156.25 gr, average length 23.32 cm in were grower category. Streptococcosis observed only in grower category Of 72 fish with clinical signs of the disease, 14 numbers were positive Streptococcosis (19.44%) and 58 numbers were negative Streptococcosis (80.55%). Three fish from grower category has not any clinical signs of disease and seemed to be healthy but were positive Streptococcosis in examinations (0.22% of total fish sampled. Fish with clinical signs of the disease but negative Streptococcosis were of at least 55.1 gr and at most weight 417 gr respectively. The results showed that 47.07% cases of Streptococcosis happened at 15.6°C water temperature, 35.29% at 16.98°C and 17.64% cases happened at 18.04°C so that 100% of Streptococcosis cases was observed at the average temperature of 16.99°C. In addition, the survey results show that despite relatively high levels of nitrite in source water of farms from wells, nitrite does not effect on the disease incidence. It seems that an optimal level of dissolved oxygen in water is effective in reducing the effectiveness of nitrite in this disease. According to equation coefficients logit model is as follows: According to Logit model, it seems that for every degree change in temperature and pH of water, morbidity change will diminish 0.37 % and 1.74 % respectively. 80.56% of fish sampled that had the clinical symptoms, was ranging from an average weight of 5.1 gr (fry) and 417 gr (grower fish), that despite having clinical signs of the disease were negative Streptococcosis. Isolation of Staphylococcus bacteria as well as Gram-negative bacilli from fish with clinical symptoms similar to the symptoms of Streptococcosis, may indicate the involvement of other pathogens in fish clinical signs

Predicting Breast Cancer Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Using Pretreatment Diffuse Optical Spectroscopic-Texture Analysis

Purpose: Diffuse optical spectroscopy (DOS) has been demonstrated capable of monitoring response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) patients. In this study, we evaluate texture features of pre-treatment DOS functional maps for predicting LABC response to NAC. Methods: LABC patients (n = 37) underwent DOS-breast imaging before starting neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Breast-tissue parametric maps were constructed and texture analyses were performed based on grey level co-occurrence matrices (GLCM) for feature extraction. Ground-truth labels as responders (R) or non-responders (NR) were assigned to patients based on Miller-Payne pathological response criteria. The capability of DOS-textural features computed on volumetric tumour data before the start of treatment (i.e. “pre-treatment”) to predict patient responses to NAC was evaluated using a leave-one-out validation scheme at subject level. Data were analysed using a logistic regression, naïve Bayes, and k-nearest neighbour (k-NN) classifiers. Results: Data indicated that textural characteristics of pre-treatment DOS parametric maps can differentiate between treatment response outcomes. The HbO2-homogeneity resulted in the highest accuracy amongst univariate parameters in predicting response to chemotherapy: sensitivity (%Sn) and specificity (%Sp) were 86.5 and 89.0%, respectively and accuracy was 87.8%. The highest predictors using multivariate (binary) combination features were the Hb-Contrast + HbO2-Homogeneity which resulted in a %Sn/%Sp = 78.0/81.0% and an accuracy of 79.5%. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that pre-treatment tumour DOS-texture features can predict breast cancer response to NAC and potentially guide treatments

Effect of Pseudomonas and Bacillus bacteria on Yield and Nutrient Uptake in Comparison with Chemical and Organic Fertilizers in Wheat

The high cost of fertilizers in farming systems, soil pollution and degradation of soil are factors that caused to full use of available renewable nutrient sources of plant (organic and biological) with optimal application of fertilizers in order to maintain fertility, structure, biological activity, exchange capacity and water-holding capacity of the water in soil. Therefore, in recent years, according to investigators biofertilizers and organic farming as an alternative to chemical fertilizers has been drawn. Through this study, we examined the effects of triple superphosphate, organic matters and phosphate solubilizing microorganisms on quantitative and qualitative yield of wheat and nutrient uptake. The experiment was carried out in the factorial based on randomized complete block design. The factors were: 1-phosphate solubilizing bacteria in three levels including control, Pseudomonas Putida and Bacillus Coagulans bacteria, 2- triple superphosphate in five levels of 0, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% and 3-organic matter in 2 levels of 0 and 15 ton/ha in the soil with high phosphorous accessibility (13 mg/kg soil) but lower than sufficient limit for plant 15 mg/kg soil). The results showed that the highest amount of yield has been recorded in Pseudomonas Putida bacteria treatment with organic matter and 25% phosphate fertilizer. As a result, at the conditions of this experiment phosphate solubilizing bacteria and organic matter significantly had higher yield than control and their combination with phosphate fertilizer had significant effect on reducing phosphate fertilizer use

PREPARATION OF KILLED LEISHMANIA VACCINE AND ITS EVALUATION FOR CONTROL OF VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS IN DOGS

In this study, 16 eligible dogs were randomly divided in to 4 groups. Group 1, 2, 3 and 4 received autoclaved Leishmania infantum with BCG (ALI+BCG), autoclaved Leishmania major + BCG (ALM + BCG), BCG alone and normal saline, respectively. Dogs received the vaccines intradermally 3 times at 30 days intervals. All dogs were followed up 2 months intervals by Leishmanin skin test and Anti -Leishmania immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA) and Direct Agglutination Test (DAT) for detection of IgG and 1gM antibodies in collected blood samples. Ninety days after third dose, all dogs received an intraperitoneal challenge of 2.5 x 106 infective promastigotes of Leishmania infantum. After 7 months of follow up, necropsy was performed in all dogs to detect the parasites. Result of this study showed that all the dogs in unvaccinated groups were infected with L.infantum but in vaccinated groups, only one dog was infected