[Oak poisoning [Quercus castaneifolia] mortality report in a sheep flock]

Within a few consecutive days, 8 cases of lambs' mortality were reported from the Golestan National Park area [Golestan province]. According to the farmer's claims, the disease has occurred only in less than one year old lambs whose major feeding was free grazing in the oak rich areas and also collected and manually feeding with new and fresh buds of this tree. Ascites, hydrothorax, hydropericarditis, intestine, abomasum and mesenteric subserosal accumulation of fluid, and swelling of the kidney with cortex hemorrhage was observed in necropsy. Microscopic pathology revealed tubular and glomerular nephritis with tubular hyaline casts and mucosal necrosis with submucosal and serosal edema of GI specimens. Based on available epidemiological data, macro and microscopic pathology, oak poisoning is the most likely cause of mortality in this flock. It seems the major cause of mortality is the high sensitivity of these young animals and furthermore, the farmers insistence on feeding them the fresh buds of this tree

Evaluation of transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation effects on muscular ability in dog: an animal model

Assessment of transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation effects on muscular repair and capability following sciatic nerve injury as animal model. Experimental study. Ten male and female 15-22 month-old mixed breed dogs between 18-23 kg body-weight. Animals were subsequently divided into two groups of [control and experimental] 5 dogs each. Then anesthesia was induced. Skin was incised and the muscular dissection performed. The right sciatic nerve was exposed in all dogs and crushed in full thickness using artery forceps for 5 seconds. The experimental group was subjected to of transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation [TENS] regimen, daily ten minutes for two weeks. The electromyography [EMG] was recorded from semimembranosus [SI], and semitendinosus [S2]; Extensors [Ext], and Flexors [Flex] muscles before, after crush, 14,28 and 45 post-operative day. Variance analysis by ANOVA and Tukey's test. EMG recording showed significant differences in muscle forced in SI and S2 in experimental group by comparison with control one. The evaluation of [TENS] showed to be helpful to reduce muscle atrophy