Isolation and identification of molds flora in external genital tract of healthy mares

Background: Microorganisms are responsible for development of many diseases, which directly or indirectly affect reproductive performance in mares, like various animal species. Fungi are present at mucous membranes of reproductive tract as mycoflora in warm blooded animals

Objectives: The aim of this study was isolation and identification of molds of external reproductive tract in mares

Methods: Samples were collected from genital tract of 151 mares in different ages from horse breeding farms and clubs suburb of Tehran from April to December, 2014. Age, pregnancy, insemination and mating were recorded. Samples were taken by sterile cotton swabs from 3 different sites, [1] vestibule, [2] clitoral fossa and [3] vagina and transferred under cold condition to the laboratory of Mycology Research Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran,Iran. Samples were inoculated in Sabouraud glucose agar supplemented with antibiotic [chlor-amphenicol; 0.005] and kept at 30°C for 10-15 days before being considered negative. Fungal identification relied on morphologic and physiologic features. SPSS Version 20 was used for statistical analysis of the data

Results: Totally, 666 filamentous fungi colonies were isolated. Maximum colony [CFUs] were 20 and 37 colonies for each site and horse, respectively. In total, 81.5 percent of mares and 48.3 percent of different sites were positive. The most predominant isolates were Aspergillus spp 362[54.35%], Scopulariop-sis 93[13.96%], Cladosporium 35[5.25%], Penicillium 31[4.65%], Alternaria 26[3.90%], Fusarium 20[3.03%]. Aspergillus took high occurrence with 362 and A. fumigatus with 156 colonies followed by Scopulariopsis 93, Cladosporium 35 and Pencillium 31. A. fumigatus had significant difference among other fungi p<0.05. Among sites, 39.51% for filamentous fungi and 8.17% for both filamentous fungi and yeasts were positive.265

Conclusions: Isolated filamentous fungi could be resident flora of external reproductive tract of mares. These saprophytic pathogen fungi in predisposing conditions could be causative agents of endometritis and infertility in mares

Isolation of bovine spermatogonial cells and co-culture with prepubertal sertoli cells in the presence of colony stimulating factor-1

Spermatogonial stem cells [SSCs] are infrequent self-renewing cells among the type A spermatogonia within the seminiferous tubules and are the basis of spermatogenesis in mammalian testis. An adequate number of SSCs is a primary requirement for the study of their behavior, regulation, and further biomanipulation. In this paper, we studied the development of the primary co-cultures of type A spermatogonia and prepubertal bovine sertoli cells in the presence of Colony Stimulating Factor 1 [CSF1], a potential contributor in the SSC niche. The effect of different concentrations of CSF1 [0, 10, 50 and 100 ng/mL] on the colonization activity of spermatogonial cells was assessed 4, 7 and 11 days after the beginning of the culture by counting the total number of colonies and measuring their area in each group of the present experiment. Immunofluorescent staining against OCT4 and vimentin led to the confirmation of the nature of both the SSCs and sertoli cells. Results showed that the total number of colonies from day 4 to 11 increased significantly in all groups, independent of CSF1 concentration. In addition, the total number and total area of colonies were higher [not significant] in 10 and 50 ng/mL CSF1 treatments than the control and 100 ng/mL CSF1 groups in all the three evaluations during the experiment. However, this difference was only significant [p<0.05] between the total area of colonies in the control and 10 ng/mLCSF1 groups at day 4 of co-culture. It was concluded that CSF1 can be a suitable growth factor for improving SSCs colonization in vitro, particularly during the first days of culture where accompanying sertoli cells still have not proliferated sufficiently to support the propagating spermatogonial cells

[Preliminary study on frequency of mycoplasmal mastitis in some dairy cattle herds in Mashhad Suburb, Iran]

To determine sublicnial and clinical mycoplasmal mastitis and their frequency in dairy cattle herds. Prospective study. One hundred Holstein dairy cattle. Affected cows with clinical [n=19] and subclinical mastitis [n=81] were determined by using routine clinical methods and California Mastitis Test [CMT]. Samples were collected in the sterile tube containing Ampicillin. They were inoculated into both PPLO broth and PPLO agar for 96 hours and one week at 37 [degree sign] C, respectively. Chi-square test. Mycoplasma was isolated from 13 cows. The frequency rate of clinical and subclinical mastitis were 15.38% and 84.61%, respectively. There were no significant correlation between infected quarter and herd population [P>0.05]. The mammary glands of dairy cattle herds in suburb of Mashhad-Iran were infected by Mycoplasma. It is necessary to be investigated more in the field of mycoplasmal mastitis in dairy cattle herds

frequency of photosensitization in a dairy cattle herd infected by Leptospires

Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease, which can induce hepatic lesions. Photosensitization [PS] maybe is the result of accumulation of photodynamic agents in unpigmented area of the skin exposed to sunlight which occurred due to hepatic lesions. An outbreak of leptospirosis was occurred in a dairy cattle herd complex with 760 dairy milking cows in March [1990]. Totally, 412 cows [54.21%] showed clinical signs including fever, systemic mastitis, haemoglobinuria, jaundice, lameness, abortion and stillbirth. The microscopic agglutination test [MAT] was used for diagnosis of leptospirosis. The herd was infected with Leptospira interrogans grippotyphosa, L. interrogans icterohaemorrhagiae, L. interrogans pomona, L. interrogans canicola and L. interrogans hardjo. Only one [0.13%] cow showed PS in the unpigmented skin dorsum. MAT showed that she was infected with L. interrogans pomona, L. in!errogan.s hardjo and L of antibody. In spite of the high incidence of interrogans icterohaemorrhagiae with titre of 1:3200 leptospirosis, the frequency of PS was too low

survey of Histophilus somni and other bacteria frequency in mastitis of Holstein dairy cattle herds in suburb of Mashhad

1-If Histophilus somni can be involved ofmastitis in Holstein dairy cattle. 2- The frequency ofHistophilus somni and other bacteria isolated in mastitiscases. Cross-sectional. 116 Holstein dairy cattle. Cows were examined in 6 dairy cattle herds insuburb of Mashhad, Iran. They were tested for clinical [No:22; 18.64%] and sub clinical mastitis [No: 94; 81.04%] byusing routine clinical methods and California Mastitis Test [CMT]. They were cultured in Brain Heart Infusion Yeastagar at 37° C in 10% Co2 for Histophilus somni and otherbacteria infection. They were evaluated after 24- 48 hours. Chi- square and Fisher tests.Histophilus somni was isolated from only 2[1.73%] clinical mastitis cows. Sub clinical mastitis cows were notinfected by Histophilus somni. There were significantdifferences between clinical and sub clinical mastitis inrespected to mammary gland infection [P<0.05]. Theinfection rate in winter and spring seasons were 1.73% [No:58] and [1.73%], respectively. However, 8 bacteria wereisolated, too. The infection rate of mastitis due toHistophilus somni was very low [1.73%]. It was cultureddifficulty. The real infection rate may be higher. It isnecessary to use more sensitive methods

[Survey of fetal disposition and different contributing factors in dystocia of Holstein dairy cattle]

1- Survey of dystocia due to Malpresentation, Malposition and Malposture of fetus during calving 2- The effect of factors contributing to dystocia due to fetal Malpresentaion, Malposition and Malposture such as age and number of parturition of dam, season of parturition sex and weight of calves. A total of 2140 single calvings. Cross sectional prospective. Fetal presentation, position and posture are used to indicate the condition of calving. In a normal calving, the presentation position and posture are: Anterior- longitudinal, dorso- sacral and extended posture, respectively. During 4 years survey [1988- 1992] 2140 single calvings were recorded and used to analyze the correlation between the fetal disposition due to the above fetal condition and age and number of parturition of dam season of parturition, sex and weight of calves. The data were analyzed by using Chi- square statistical method. There were 108[5.04%] faulty presentation, position and posture out of 2140 calvings. The incidence of malpresentation, malposition and malposture were 3.27%, 0.09% and 1.68%, respectively. Posterior- longitudinal [No: 70, 3.27%], Dorso pubis [No: 2, 0.09%] and lateral head deviation [No: 18, 0.84%] were the highest Malpresentaion, Malposition and Malposture, respectively. Dams with 2 years old had the highest faulty disposition [31.48%] whereas it was observed that the 6 year old dams had the lowest [5.5%].The highest fetal disposition were observed in the first number of calving [31.42%] and the lowest was in the 5l parturition. It was observed that 65 [5.94%] male calves out of 1094 calving and 43[3.11%] out of 1046 calving had faulty condition. The average weight of calves with normal condition for male and female calves were 41.52 and 39.22 Kgs, respectively. But, calves with Malpresentation, Malposition and Malposture were 40.92, 50.3 and 53.3 Kgs for male calves whereas 39.39, 31.29 and 35.36 Kgs for female calves, respectively. The most abnormal conditions were in winter [28.7%] and the lowest [25.92%] were in autumn. There were no significant differences between fetal disposition and age of dam, parturition No. of dam, season of calving and weight of calves