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The purpose of the present survey was to determine the effects of the chitosan and atorvastatin on serum lipid profile changes and the influence of time on treatment process in cats. For the management of cholesterol induced hyperlipidemia, twenty-one healthy cats were randomly divided into three equal groups. Group A [control] included seven cats that were fed with cholesterol powder [4g/kg for 10 days]. Group B was similar to group A, but in addition, atorvastatin [5 mg/kg] was administered for 45 days after induced hyperlipidemia. Group C was similar to group B, but chitosan [3 g/cat] was administered instead of atorvastatin. Blood samples were collected four times on days 0, 10, 40 and 55 after challenge. Serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C and LDL-C levels were measured using standard commercial kits. Atorvastatin [P<0.001] and chitosan [P<0.01] showed more hypolipidemic activity in lowering triglycerides compared with group A. In a comparison between two drugs and their effects on triglyceride, atorvastatin showed a significant difference with chitosan [P<0.01]. Atorvastatin [P<0.01] and chitosan [P<0.05] showed more activity in lowering cholesterol than the control group. The treated groups [B and C] had good results in lowering LDL-C, compared with group A, on day 45 [P<0.001]. A significant difference was seen only between groups A and B and on day 45 in increase of HDL-C [P<0.01]. In conclusion, it was shown that although both drugs had hypolipidemic activity in cats, atorvastatin was more effective than chitosan. Further experimentation will be needed to elucidate the possible biochemical mechanism of the drugs
ABSTRACT
Background: Minerals are essential materials in animal reproduction. The determination of these elements is valuable in relation to different conditions in Arabian horses
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of pregnancy on certain macro and micro minerals in Arabian horses
Methods: Blood samples were collected from one hundred apparently healthy mares from different regions of Ahvaz including 50 pregnant mares [light, medium, heavy] and 50 non-pregnant mares. Macro-minerals [calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium] and micro-minerals [copper, zinc and iron] were measured, using standard common laboratory methods. Methods of O-cresol phetalein, Molybdate reduction, Xylidil blue were used for measurement of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium respectively. Flame photometry was used for measurement of sodium and potassium. Amounts of copper, zinc and iron were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy
Results: In order to analyze the results, all the data was statistically compared by SPSS-17.0 software. The study of serum calcium levels between the pregnant and non-pregnant mares showed that the differences were not significant. In this study there was significant differences between serum phosphorus levels between pregnant and non-pregnant mares [p<0.05]. The serum phosphorus levels during different stages of pregnancy was significantly different [p<0.05], and the level of serum phosphorus during pregnancy declined in total compared to non-pregnant mares. Serum magnesium did not show significant differences between two groups. Serum sodium levels, compared to the other two groups, did not show significant changes. Changes in serum potassium levels showed significant difference between two groups of pregnant and non-pregnant mares [p<0.05]. The level of potassium in pregnant mare's serum was less than non-pregnant, and the least level of this element was seen in medium pregnancy
Conclusions: Except phosphorus, potassium and zinc, other minerals did not affected different stages of pregnancy. Although the relationship between these changes and pregnancy can be the result of physiological processes, the other factors such as parity, age, nutrition, season, weather conditions and other factors should not be ignored in the evaluation
ABSTRACT
Ovine anaplasmosis is a tick-borne rickettsial disease, widespread in tropical and subtropical areas. In the present study, a PCR-RFLP method based on major surface protein 4 [MSP4] gene, was utilized for the detection of Anaplasma infection in 119 sheep blood samples collected from different parts of Ahvaz in the southwest of Iran. PCR identified Anaplasma infections in 87.4% [104/119] of the samples in contrast to the routine blood smear examination, which revealed inclusion bodies in only 33.6% [40/119] of samples. RFLP assessment revealed that all PCR positive samples were A. ovis, while for the first time in Iran, a mixed infection with A. marginale was seen in 50% [52/104] of Anaplasma infected samples. These results suggest higher sensitivity of PCR method over the conventional microscopic technique for diagnosis of anaplasmosis, particularly in carrier animals. It also revealed that ovine anaplasmosis caused by A. ovis and A. marginale is present and highly prevalent in Ahvaz and appears to be the first report from this region
ABSTRACT
The copper level in the serum of 1280 and liver of 200 goats raised in the mountain areas of Khuzestan province, Iran were determined. Copper, molybdenum and iron content of soil and pastures as well as sulfur content of the pastures were seasonally estimated. Mean serum copper levels of goats in Behbahan, Ramhormoz, Eizeh and Masjed-Soleyman districts were 8.14 +/- 0.21, 1.98 +/- 0.12, 7.74 +/- 0.11 and 6.97 +/- 0.14 micro mol/L, respectively. The results showed that the blood copper of goats in the area was significantly was low in Behbahan, Eizeh and Masjed-Soleyman and at a deficient level in Ramhoromz. The results also revealed a high level of molybdenum in the soil and pasture as well as high amounts of sulfur in pastures of the studied area. In this survey the status of copper in many goat flocks around the studied towns was dangerously low. Many liver samples had a copper concentration below 30 mg/kg and many serum copper concentrations were below normal. The results of this study confirm the presence of a secondary copper deficiency in goats in the mountain areas of Khuzestan province
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In this study, the immunostimulatory effect of dietary Aloe vera crude extract was investigated in Cyprinus carpio. Three hundred fish were randomly divided into four groups. The first group was immunized with Aeromonas hydrophila bacterin [A.h] and was fed a diet contained 0.5% Aloe vera. The second group was immunized with A.h and fed a diet without Aloe vera. The third group was not immunized and fed with a diet that contained 0.5% Aloe vera. The fourth group remained as the control group and was neither immunized nor fed with Aloe vera supplements. Blood samples were taken every 14 d for eight weeks and samples were analyzed for hematological and immunological parameters. White blood count [WBC], red blood count [RBC], packed cell volume [PCV], lysozyme activity, serum bactericidal activity, complement activity, total protein, IgM concentration and specific A. hydrophila antibody were assessed. At the end of treatment, 20 fish from each group were challenged with A. hydrophila. WBC value, antibody level, lysozyme and bactericidal activity were significantly increased in the serum of fish treated with Aloe vera [p<0.05]. No significant differences were seen in the RBC, PCV or complement activity among the groups. The relative percent survival [RPS] was found to be increased in fish fed with Aloe vera. This study indicates that the oral administration of Aloe vera is able to enhance some specific and non-specific immune responses in the common carp
Subject(s)
Animals , Immunity , Aloe , Diet Therapy , ImmunomodulationABSTRACT
To compare the ELISA test with digestion method for dignosis sarcocystosis in water buffalo and estimate its sensitivity and specificity. Cross sectional study.Three hundred slaughtered water buffaloes in Ahwaz abattoir.Blood and oesophageal muscles were examined. Oesophageal muscles were examined for sarcocystis by both macroscopic and microscopic [digestion method] examination.Then the ELISA test were designed and compared with digestion method.Finally its sensitivity and specificity were determined. Sensitivity, specificity and 95% confidence intervals were determined by comparing the results obtained by the ELISA assay and digestion method. Me nemar test were used for comparing the percentage of positive cases and their correlation. While specific anti-sarcocytis antibodies were detected in 54.3% of cases macroscpic and microscopic infection were 20% and 57%, respectively. Furthermore, while the positive results of the macroscopic examination significantly differed from those values of the digestion and ELISA methods [P<0.01], no differences were observed between the positive results of the microscopic infection [digestion method] and the ELISA test [P>0.05]. Conclusion: ELISA test providing an effective and reliable means for detecting sarcocystosis in naturally infected water buffaloes. Its simplicity and ease of performance makes it particulary suitable for using in large-scale epidemiological surveys of livestock