Visceral coccidiosis in a common mynah [Acridotheres tristis] due to Isospora sp. infection

A captive adult common mynah [Acridotheres tristis] died shortly after a course of seizure and opisthotonous with an illness characterized by severe lethargy, depression, loss of appetite, polyurate, and urate discoloration. Abdominal distention and hepatomegly, visible over the abdominal skin, were noticed clinically. At necropsy, severe enlargement of liver with general discoloration was obvious. Histopathological findings included schizonts and gametes in the intestine, especially in the duodenum. Cytology from impression smears revealed intracyto-plasmic Atoxoplasma-like zoites in the inflammatory cells especially macrophages within the liver and in the contact smears prepared from the liver, lung, and spleen. Based on postmortem findings of the organisms in blood mononuclear cells and in impression smears of liver and Giemsa stained impression smears of liver, the spleen and lung atoxoplasmosis caused by Isoapora sp. was specified as the cause of death. According to the literature, visceral coccidiosis [atoxo-plasmosis], described here, could be considered as one of the severe causes of mortality among captive birds

[Survey of the burn wound healing by Iranian traditional medicine from the herbalists or herbal medicine vendors in the Mazandaran province]

A Burn injury is a major health problem in the developing countries. Various treatments were applied for treatment of burn wounds by Iranian traditional medicine for thousands of years ago. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the natural products based on treatment of burn wounds by herbalists or herbal medicine vendors in the Mazandaran province. This research was a cross-sectional study; and all herbalists or herbal medicine endors were enrolled in this study. Snow ball sampling method was used with a questionnaire. Demographic data, methods of treatment for wounds, itching and pain were collected. The results were analyzed. In this study, 29 herbal and 4 animal based products were recommended by herbal medicine vendors for treatment of burn wounds. The results showed that 77 percent of respondents to treatment of burn wounds by natural products were recommended. Aloe Vera gel was the first choice for treatment of burn that was recommended by the herbalists. These results are interesting to find new drugs for treatment of burn wound healing with regards to Iranian traditional medicine. Since there are limited animal and clinical studies for approval of these natural products, future studies are needed for assessment of these traditional medicines for treatment of burn injuries

Isolation of chlamydophila psittaci from pet birds in Iran

Avian chlamydiosis is one of the most important infectious diseases of birds. Despite the rapid growth of exotic bird populations in Iran, there is little or no information on the specific infections that these types of birds carry. In this study, conventional isolation methods were used in cell culture to study occurrence of infection in pet birds. Samples from the conjunctiva, choana, and cloaca and/or droppings were provided from 17 birds of different species. The samples were used to infect McCoy cell culture to isolate Chlamydophila psittaci. The inoculated cells were fixed, stained by Giemsa, mounted on slides using Entellan_ and observed by light microscope for the presence of typical chlamydial inclusion bodies. Chlamydophila psittaci was isolated from four birds including a ring-necked parakeet [Psittacula krameri], an Alexandrine parakeet [Psittacula eupatria], an African grey parrot [Psittacus erithacus], and a Timneh grey parrot [Psittacus erithacus timneh]. All negative cultures were passaged a further two times. To the best of our knowledge; the report represents the first isolation of chlamydia from birds in Iran