[Molecular surveillance of avian influenza virus in domestic ducks: a provincial study]

In the first time, avian Influenza [AI] infection, subtype H9N2, was isolated from chicken in 1988 in Qazvin province and since then has become endemic in Iran. Waterfowls, such as wild ducks, are natural reservoirs for all types of influenza A viruses and cause virus circulation in environment and poultry population. In 2006, Iranian Veterinary Organization confirmed that 135 dead swans in Gilan province were positive for H5N1 avian influenza virus. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of domestic ducks in avian influenza virus circulation [subtypes: H5, H7 and H9] in Gilan province during 2010-2011 through molecular surveillance techniques. 550 cloacal swabs from Mallard and Pekin ducks were tested in rural areas of Shaft and Fouman cities. Meanwhile a breeding farm in Gilan was tested by RT-PCR assay for detection of AI virus subtypes [H5, H7 and H9] according to OIE protocols. We did not detect AI viral RNA in 550 samples which were tested for type A and subtypes H5 and H7. While waterfowls could have a crucial role in emergence of new influenza virus strains, no AI viral RNA mentioned subtypes was detected for the mentioned subtypes. These findings could be due to restrict control programs following 2006 AI outbreak in the mentioned region. However, surveillance programs for monitoring AI viruses need to be continuously performed

identification of avian eimeria species in Iran based on biological characteristics

One hundred and fourteen litter samples from grand parent, and broiler breeder farms were taken ,according to five different climate areas, to isolate and determine biological characteristics of Eimeria species. 0.5 Kg of each litter samples was used for oocyte isolation. Then, oocytes sporulated at 28' C? for 24-48 hours by oxygenation. The single oocytes were produced and OPG, the time of oocyte excretion and sporulatoin were recorded. Oocytes replicated and isolated from dropping collected on th 4 day after oral inoculation of a single oocytes to 4-6 week chicks. Replicated oocytes of different Eimeria species were ingested by 3-6 week oocyte- free chicks [of necessary quantity] for lesion studies and biometric assay. 25 isolates of oocytes related to different Eimeria species. [E. maxima,E. tenella, E.necatrix, E.acervulina,E.brunette,E.mitis and E.praecox] were categorized based on the following factors: Location of lesions in intestine, Gross lesions condition, Oocyte size, shape and color, Schizont and merozoite size, Parasite locationin tissues, Minimum latent period in experimental infection., Minimum required time for sporulation. The resultes were finally confirmed by"Weibridge reference laboratory". The result were analysed by variance analysis was performed by SX statistical Software

Protective effect of Johne's disease attenuated vaccine in an intensive non-tuberculosis free dairy

This study was carried out to control Johne's disease [JD] without interfering with tuberculosis [TB] control programme. A dairy herd [n>1500 heads] was used over a period of 6 years, from 1994 to 1999 for this investigation. The herd had a history of heavy infection with Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis [MAP] with culling rates of 1.5 and 5%, in 1991 and 1995, respectively. The mean annual losses due to the reduction in milk yield, pregnancy rate and carcass weight was about $32000. In addition, the farm has had positive tuberculin test. During this study, 2070 calves within 31 days of age, were inoculated once subcutaneously, with MERIAL JD attenuated vaccine, in the middle of brisket region. The vaccine protected the herd against JD effectively, so that from 1995 up to the end of 1999, the means of JD culling among 2-year-old vaccinated and unvaccinated cattle were 0.52 and 19.4%, respectively. This vaccination had no side-effects on TB control programme that was conducted by the comparative tuberculin test. In the site of inoculation, fibrocaseous inflammation, while increasing in size, was developed. during 2 years, on the majority of animals, this reaction disappeared; only in less than 1.5% of instances the lesion became tumoral. and permanent. These animals had no clinical abnormality. While inoculating the vaccine, the insertion of vaccine germ contaminated needles in fingers of vaccinators usually caused temporary, hard and painful inflammation. In one occasion, a progressive granuloma caused by vaccine germ was diagnosed histopathologically and treated with suitable antibiotics