Outbreak of primary pregnancy toxemia in fat tailed ewes due to ultrasonographic misdiagnosis of pregnancy

Four fat-tailed ewes from an indoor flock [n=40] were examined for recumbency and depressive nervous signs. They were from a seemingly nonpregnant group of the flock that had been diagnosed by transabdominal ultrasonography. The ration consisted of mainly wheat straw since their separation from the pregnant group. Detection of pregnancy on abdominal palpation along with depressive nervous signs and laboratory findings of hypoglycemia, ketonuria with severe fatty liver at necropsy followed by relevant histopathological findings confirmed an outbreak of primary pregnancy toxemia. While ultrasonographic pregnancy diagnosis is known as an accurate method, its accuracy could be strongly influenced by technical inexperience and improper implementation of the method. Indecent execution of the technique was considered the key predisposing factor for current outbreak

Study of the prevalence and type of ophthalmic diseases among different breeds of horses in Tehran riding clubs

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and type of ophthalmic diseases among horse populations in the suburbian riding clubs of Tehran. Ophthalmologic examinations were performed in 901 horses and ocular lesions were diagnosed in 40 [4.4%] animals. In the 54 eyes of these horses that had ocular defects, 103 ocular abnormalities were detected. Of those horses affected, 65% showed abnormalities in one eye and 35% had abnormalities in both eyes. Various sequelae to ocular trauma and periodic ophthalmia were the most common and recognizable causes, which comprised 25% and 15% of horses with ocular defects, respectively

Histomorphological evaluation of fresh ovarian tissue transplanted into back muscles of Balb/C mice

Today, different methods for maintaining reproductive capability in young women with cancer are being considered. One of the most prominent of these methods is ovarian tissue transplant. Despite the relative success of this method, the appropriate location and methods of transplantation is still a matter of discussion. The present study evaluated the histomorphology of fresh ovarian tissue transplantation by two methods, inter muscular and intra muscular, in Balb/C mice. The study was conducted at Hamedan University of Medical Sciences in 2009. Fresh ovarian tissues from 12-14 day old Balb/C mice were transplanted into back muscles of ovarectomized 6 week old Balb/C mice both intermuscularly and intramuscularly. All transplanted mice received intra-peritoneal injections of a unit of rFSH for 4 weeks, every other day. At the end of the tenth week, all transplant recipient mice were killed and the transplanted ovarian tissues were removed. All samples were assessed for the angiogenesis and viability of follicles. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, using independent t-test. In intermuscular transplanted group, the transplanted tissues were rejected in two cases. In the sections prepared from the other cases, in spite of the presence of some small necrotic areas, the majority of ovarian tissues had a healthy appearance within the primordial, primary, secondary and antral follicles. Apart from a significant reduction in the number of follicles and smaller size of follicles in the transplanted tissue in comparison with control group, no other major differences in morphology, histology, and the process of maturation of ovarian follicles were observed between the transplanted and control groups. Fresh ovarian tissue transplantation into muscles of the back area without basic vascular pedicle has new angiogenesis capabilities, appropriate survival and development of primordial follicles and significant natural growth of maturing follicles. Degeneration of transplanted tissue in the intra muscular area indicates that it is an inappropriate site for transplantation

Gastrointestinal infection with Brachyspira spp in a filly with chronic diarrhea: a case report

An eleven month old filly was referred to the Research and Teaching Hospital of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tehran. The animal presented a three-week history of diarrhea and previous treatments had failed to effect a recovery. Based on the history, clinical findings and results of laboratory investigations, it was assumed that a gastrointestinal disorder was affecting the filly. After the exclusion of other possible etiologies, Brachyspira spp. became the most likely causative agent. Despite supportive therapy in hospital, the clinical condition of the filly deteriorated over the course of eleven days and the animal died of inanition and consequent multiple organ dysfunctions. Subsequent pathological investigation confirmed a Brachyspira spp. infection of the gastrointestinal tract. This report is believed to be the first equine case of Brachyspira-associated gastroenteritis

Is iron deficiency responsible for endemic goiter in semirom?

In spite of iodine fortification programs, goiter is still hyperendemic in Semirom, a mountainous region in the central part of Iran. This study was conducted to assess whether iron deficiency could be responsible for the high prevalence of goiter in this region. A total of 1828 schoolchildren, aged 7-13 years, were evaluated for presence of goiter, and 220 cases were randomly selected. Urine and serum samples were collected from these children and assayed for urinary iodine concentraton [UIC] and serum ferritin, iron, thyroxine [T4] and thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] concentrations. In the 1828 children evaluated, 670 cases [36.7%] were goitrous, with goiters of grade 1 or 2. The mean UIC in children was 19.3 +/- 9.1 micro g/dl. Mild [UIC <10 micro g/dl] and moderate [UIC <5 micro g/dl] iodine deficiency was detected in 6.4% and 3.2% of cases, respectively. Only 1.8% of children were severly iodine deficient [UIC <2 micro g/dl]. The median serum ferritin concentration was 26.6 ng/ml [95% CI: 24.2-28.9], and 11 cases [5%] had serum ferritin concentrations less than 20 ng/ml. Goiter rate was 48.3% and 50.3% in children with low and normal serum ferritin levels, respectively [P = NS]. It seems that factors other than iodine and iron deficiency may, at least partly, be responsible for the high prevalence of goiter in the area studied. Further investigations for evaluating other micronutrient deficiencies and autoimmunity in goitrous children would contribute to the planning more effective goiter control programs