Size and number of corpora lutea and serum progesterone concentrations when administering two doses of eCG in an estrous synchronization treatment regimen for dairy cattle.

There was investigation of whether there were ovulations from co-dominant follicles following eCG administration. In all experiments, there was GnRH injection and CIDR insertion on day 0 (D0), CIDR withdrawal on D8, and cloprostenol administration on D8 (Exp. I and II) or D7 and D8 (Exp. III). Females in the control group were not administered any further treatment. Females in other group(s) were treated with eCG (500 IU) on Day 2 in Exp. I, Day 2 (eCG-2) or 8 (eCG-8) in Exp. II and Day 2 (eCG-2) or Days 2 and 6 (eCG-2-6) in Exp. III. Ovaries were examined using ultrasonography. In Experiments I and II, females had follicle emergence on Day 2. At the time of CIDR removal, more eCG-treated heifers (8/9; Exp. I) and cows (5/6; eCG-2; Exp. II) had co-dominant follicles compared to those in the control group (P < 0.05). Occurrence of ovulations from co-dominant for individual cows was minimal. In Experiment III, the time period from CIDR removal to estrus in cows treated with eCG-2 (68 ± 13 h) was longer compared to cows in the control (37±2 h) and eCG-2-6-treated group (38 ± 5 h; P < 0.05). There was a greater proportion of heifers having ovulations and thus greater progesterone concentration in the eCG-2-6 than eCG-2 group (P < 0.05). Administering eCG twice 4 days apart with the initial administration being two days after GnRH administration, at the time of follicle wave emergence, could induce growth of and ovulation from co-dominant follicles and enhance progesterone production in cattle.

Molecular detection of Brucella melitensis, Coxiella burnetii and Salmonella abortusovis in aborted fetuses of Baluchi sheep in Sistan region, south-eastern Iran.

Abortion in sheep and goats causes enormous economic losses. This study revealed the epidemiology of abortion caused by Brucella melitensis, Coxiella burnetii and Salmonella abortusovis in Baluchi sheep in Sistan region. In the autumn of 2015 and winter of 2016, a total of 78 aborted sheep fetuses were collected from all over the Sistan region. Risk factors, including location of livestock, history of abortion, gender of fetus, age of fetus, age of ewe and parity were obtained using a questionnaire. The results showed that 27 fetuses (35%) were infected with these organisms. Infection with B. melitensis, C. burnetii and S. abortusovis were identified respectively in 15 (19.2%), 13 (16.6%) and 1 (1.3%) fetus. Logistic regression analysis showed that infection with B. melitensis in male fetuses is higher than females (OR=3.73, P=0.040), also infection with C. burnetii in ≤2 years' ewes (OR=0.047, P=0.009) and 2-5 years' ewes (OR=0.197, P=0.069) is lower than ≥5 years' ewes.