Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Sciences

The aim of this study was to evaluate the economic impact of the disease by using milk production records and to determine the serotypes circulating in the region during 2015. Sampling was done from different outbreaks initially on the basis of clinical signs and later reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed for the conformation of FMDV genome. Out of total 88 samples, 73 were found positive which were then serotyped into type O (n=44), Asia1 (n=18) and A (n=06). The economic impact was analyzed by recording milk loss at four affected farms. Their average milk yield was observed 9.2 liters before the onset of disease that decreased dramatically after the disease. Milk loss of 225 and 195 liters was recorded for buffalo and cattle respectively, during 70 days of the study period.

This study was designed to investigate the effect of different ways of barley germination including natural, barley sprout powder and hydroponic planting in university of Sulaimani/ Faculty of Agricultural Sciences/ Fisheries lab. on some blood parameters of common carp Cyprinus carpio L. The study was conducted for 56 days and a total of 175 fingerlings common carp with mean initial weight was 34.71±4.59 gm. Seven experimental diets were fed with the control as 0% (T1), Hydroponic Planting 2.5 and 5 gm/ kg diet (T2 and T3), Barley sprout powder BSP (2.5 and 5 gm/kg) (T4 and T5), Natural planting (2.5 and 5 gm/kg) (T6 and T7). According to the results significant differences observed among the treatments when compare with the control in RBC counts, Hb and PCV. In general BSP (5gm/ kg diet) was higher numerically than other treatments, especially when compared with control and hydroponic planting in both levels. No significant differences noticed in both of WBC counts and the counts of each of Monocytes, numerically, Barley sprout powder in both levels were more effects on WBC counts while T2 Hydroponic Planting 2.5gm/ kg diet was higher numerically in monocytes, T6 natural planting in Eosinophils and Basophils without significance. The statistical analysis of the Lymphocyte data showed no significance in Heterophil all the treatments were significantly differ than T7 natural planting 5gm/ kg diet.

This research was carried out to find out the treatment impact of aqueous and hexane extracts of sweet almond (Prunus amygdalus) on some histopathological indicators of heart, aorta and liver related to hyperlipidemia that induced in mice and compare them with Atorvastatin. Sweet almond was dried and grinded by an electrical grinder to form fine crude powder that extracted by two ways: by using 95% hexane and water by using the distilled water with Soxhlet apparatus. Forty mature mice were randomly divided into 8 groups (5 mice per group) and treated every day for 60 days, the first group was fed and drank normally and regarded as a negative control group, a second group was given polypropylene glycol offered as negative control group, third group was given tap water containing 0.5% of hydrogen peroxide and 1% of cholesterol in the feed for 60 days for induction of hyperlipidemia and offered as positive control group. Hyperlipidemia was induced in the other five groups as in the third group. The treatment of hyperlipidemia was done by using hexane extract at a dose of 500 mg/ kg of body weight and aqueous extract of sweet almond with three different doses (500, 750 and 1000) mg/ kg of body weight and compared with the other group that treated with atorvastatin 20 mg/ kg B.W. as antihyperlipidemic drug. The outcomes discovered that histopathological changes of heart, aorta and liver exposed to hydrogen peroxide and cholesterol revealed congested blood vessels with inflammation relevant cells in their lumen with necrosis of hepatic cells and inflammation relevant cells collected in sinusoids and inner surfaces of the blood vessels and infiltration of macrophages and lymphocytes in the liver moreover to the infiltration of mononuclear cells in the heart while in the aorta showed the vacuolation in the sub intimae and vacuolation and increase the thickness of intimate layer. Furthermore, inflammation relevant cells particularly infiltration around aorta. While therapy with almond extracts and Atorvastatin lead to valuable changes in therapy of damaging happened in the heart, aorta and liver induced with hyperlipidemia. In addition a dose of 1000 mg/kg of aqueous extracts of sweet almond was the best in treatment of hyperlipidemia.

Nowadays, one of the most common groups of diseases in veterinary medicine is the urinary system pathology. Urolithiasis is widespread disease, could be found in many species, including cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea-pigs, turtles etc. Despite the large scale of this pathology in animal world, there are some challenges with diagnostic process and diagnosis’s verification. The aim of our study is estimation of diagnostic value of advanced urine tesiocrystalloscopy in urolithiasis (by the example of cats). We studied crystallogenic and initiated properties of 24 healthy cats and 32 animals with urolithiasis. Own and initiated crystallogenesis of the urine specimens was studied. For teziographic test we used sodium chloride solution (0.45%, 0.9%, 3% consequently), hydrochloric acid solution (0.1H) and sodium hydroxide (0.1H) as a crystal-forming substances. We used the original criterions to estimate crystalloscopic and tezigraphic facias. As the main parameters structure index (SI), crystallizability (Cr), facia's destruction degree (FDD) and edge belt intensity (EB) were used to describe free crystallogenesis, and main tezigraphic coefficient (Q), belt coefficient (B) and FDD were used for the comparative tezigraphy data. Results showed that Cat’s urine in normal conditions has moderate crystallogenic activity, but in urolithiasis it acquires high level of crystallizing, with intermedium value of structure index, and significant destruction of crystal-forming elements. A similar changes of physical-chemical biomedium properties are detected during analysis of tezigraphic microslides of urines of cats with urolithiasis, that was prepared using 0.9% sodium chloride as basis substance. In conclusion, we fixed that tesiocristalloscopic „pattern“ of cats’ urine in urolithiasis significantly transforms into activation of crystal formation and increasing of biomedium’s initiating potential. So, the investigation of free or initialized urine crystallization in urolithiasis has diagnostic value.

This study examined effect of mycotoxin binder administered to female mice exposed to zearalenon on apoptosis incidence by observe at MDA, Caspase 9 and 3 levels in mice uterus. Negative control group (K-) was not exposed to zearalenon and without the administration of mycotoxin binders, positive control group (K+) exposed to zearalenon of 0.1 mg/head/day and without the provision of mycotoxin binders; and treatment groups (P1, P2, P3) were exposed to zearalenon 0.1 mg/head/day by providing mycotoxin binders each 0.5; 1; 2 mg/head/day. Zearalenon and mycotoxinbinders administration was conducted for 10 days. Results on MDA level were as follows 15.48 ± 0.50 (K-), 45.59 ± 0.50 (K+), 34.92 ± 3.38 (P1), 27.72 ± 1.25 and 23.89 ± 3.74. Caspase 9 levels showed the following results: 0.3 ± 0.60 (K), 8.3 ± 0.90 (K+), 3.6 ± 0.41 (P1), 3.3 ± 0.34 (P2) and 2.8 ± 0.28 (P3), while the levels of Caspase3 were as follows: 3.35 ± 0.44 (K-), 12.5 ± 0.66 (K+), 3.6 ± 0.41 (P1), 4.80 ± 0.43 (P2) and 3.85 ± 0.50 (P3). In conclusion, mycotoxin binders may lower malondialdehyde (MDA) level and the expression of caspase 9 and caspase3 in the uterus of mice exposed to zearalenon.

Ecological and climatic factors have an impact on the health, productivity and reproduction of the cattle. The goal of this work is the study of physiological status of servicing bulls reared under ecological and climate conditions of the Altai region, by defining the differences between Red-Steppe, Simmental and Black-and-White breeds in spermatogenic, hormonal, biochemical and hematological parameters. Samples of peripheral blood and ejaculates were taken from 48 grown-up servicing bulls (average age 5.6±0.3 years) in autumn period. It was established that Red-Steppe bulls have higher concentrations of nonorganic phosphorus, leucocytes, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in comparison with animals of Simmental breed, and the hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit are also higher in comparison with Black-and-White breed. It was noted that bulls of Black-and-White breed have a higher level of cortisol in comparison with the other breeds. The lowest level of serum urea and total protein and increased serum activity of creatine kinase and γ-glutamyl transferase, as well as the heaviest body weight were observed in Simmental breed bulls. The differences between breeds in a wide spectrum of physiological measures reflect not only genetically determined peculiarities of homeostatic mechanism, but also may reflect different ability to adapt to local ecological and climate conditions of the Altai region. Spermatogenic, biochemical and hematological measures in bull sires reared in the Altai region were similar to those in bulls bred in other Russian regions and some other countries. The measures reported could serve as reference values and therefore represent ‘normal’ values of physiological status for these bull sires reared in this ecological and climatic zone, but could be utilized in further studies for comprehensive monitoring of cattle breeding stock in other ecological and climatic zones of the Siberian region of Russia.

Toxoplasmosis is a protozoan infection of humans and animals caused by Toxoplasma gondii, and it’s continuous public health and food safety issue. The tachyzoites (Tg) of T. gondii are the most important stage, as they come in direct contact with immune cells such as a macrophage. Tg can modulate and prevent apoptosis of immune cells while promoting survival of the pathogen. Infections caused by Tg can be eradicated if immune cells could stimulate apoptosis and kill pathogens upon exposure. Apoptosis is characterized by the release of mediators, namely Caspases (Cas). New means are required for inducing apoptosis and enhance immunity in the infected host cell to control toxoplasmosis. The present study investigated whether Synthetic Immuno-stimulatory Glycans (SIGs) influence Cas and Nitric oxide (NO) release and led to Tg damage. Galβ1-3Gal-PAA-fluor (SIG1), Fucα1-4GlcNAcβ-PAA-fluor (SIG2) and GlcNAcβ1-3GalNAcα-PAA-fluor (SIG3) constituted samples studied principally. Murine macrophage had been exposed to the Tg then the SIGs effects on Cas and NO production were determined after 20 hours of pathogen phagocytosis. Here we report that the SIGs had potent in vitro activity against T. gondii; SIG2 was more effective than SIG1 and SIG3, representative by SIG2 treated infected macrophages can induced infected macrophages to release Cas1, 3, and 9. Maximum production of NO by infected macrophages was noticed following the expoxure to all SIGs. Therefore the present study provided the method for the selection of SIGs ligands bearing immunostimulatory factor and apoptotic stimuli properties.

In July 2010 outbreak was occurred in wild goat in Barzan, Sherwin mizzen and Mergasur in Kurdistan Region- Iraq. There were over 2700 deaths (both young and adult) during the period of July 2010 to October 2011. Based on the clinical signs and post-mortem findings, the involvement of peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) was suspected. This was confirmed by Real Time PCR technique using TaqMan®probes for the detection of Peste des petits ruminants. The results of Real-Time PCR for the 9 sample taken from 9 Wild goat there are 6 sample positive and 3 sample negative and 76 sample from domestic ruminants (sheep and goat) 63 samples was negative for PPR. This result confirms the diagnosis domestic ruminants in the region are routinely vaccinated with an attenuated vaccine based on the ‘Nigeria/75/1’ strain of PPRV.

The aim of this study is designed to evaluate the best methods for cow oocytes collection from abattoir specimens which is the cheapest, easily obtained and bulky number. Forty five fresh cow genitalia specimens and testicle were collected directly after slaughter from Al-Shoáalla abattoir north-west of Baghdad the capital early morning, transported in cool box under (4-8) °C to the laboratory of theriogenology in the college of veterinary medicine/Baghdad University during the period from November 2016 to February 2017. Ovaries were separated from the surrounding tissues, washed thoroughly with dis. water repeatedly, then with normal saline and finally with MEM medium containing Antibiotics and Nystatin for contaminant elimination. Oocytes were collected with four methods aspiration, slashing, slicing after aspiration and slicing. The result showed that; the collected oocytes were 55, 68, 87 and 106 oocytes respectively; slicing methods yield more oocytes count. Period of time between slaughtering and samples processing significantly affect oocytes collected percentage and quality, periods as 2, 6, 12 and 24 hours yield 75%, 68%, 61% and 55% oocytes counts of good, fair, poor to aged and bad quality oocytes respectively. Two hours period yield an elevated oocytes count with good quality. Maturation index of oocytes according to the type of collected methods showed 44, 37, 39 and 42 with 12, 8, 6 and 6 good oocyte quality for the four methods respectively. In conclusion slicing methods yield more oocytes count with a moderate quality and embryos production while aspiration methods yield a moderate oocytes count with an elevated quality and good embryos production.

The soft white cheese is considered one of the most popular locally manufactured cheese in Iraq, a kind of traditional cheese that is mainly produced from sheep milk. It usually becomes available in the markets of Mosul between the months of February and July. To investigate the microbiological quality, 25 samples of white, soft, un-salted fresh locally produced sheep cheese were collected from the market in Mosul. These cheese samples were examined by the quantity method to determine the total viable bacterial counts (TVC) and the total counts of coliform and Escherichia coli bacteria. The minimum, maximum and average results of the aforementioned bacterial counts were 1.0x106, 1.4x103, 1.4x102 CFU g-; 2.9x108, 6.0x107, 12.6x105 CFU g- and 18.0x107, 5.8x106, 3.1x105 CFU g-1, respectively. Corresponding to the ‘International Microbiological Reference Criteria’ for cheese, it could be clear from these results that the samples were highly contaminated. Hence, it can be concluded that the sanitary conditions were inadequate either during the milk production and cheese manufacturing process or throughout their distribution in the local market. Therefore, it is recommended to comply with the public health and sanitary measures during the process of local cheese production. In consequence, it is essential to follow the annual screening of local cheese in terms of bacterial counts to determine the degree of contamination and in order to develop a national standard microbiological criteria and quality control for local cheese.

Current study aimed to identify the gross and microscopic lesions and their percentage in liver of cattle slaughtered in Kirkuk province abattoir. A total of 6211 liver sample were examined during period from 01/08/2016 until 01/12/2016 with total cattle liver that showed gross lesions 738 cases. A gross examination was applied to affected liver and tissue sample were taken from lesions for histopathological examination. The result of current study showed that the total liver lesions in cattle is about 11.88% (738/6211) which distributed as liver fluke infestation 3.34% (213/6211), hydatid cyst 3.12% (194/6211), liver abscess 2.29% (142/6211), cholangiohepatitis 2.01% (125/6211), and hepatic hemorrhage with congestion 1.03% (64/6211). The results of gross and microscopic examination of liver infested with liver fluke showed presence of thickening in bile ducts with adult fluke as well as liver atrophy with hyperplasia of epithelial cell in affected bile ducts with dystrophic calcification. While in case of hydatid cyst the lesions composed from presence of larval stage in form of white cyst in different size and their walls composed from hyperplasia of fibrocytes and fibrin strands. In case of hepatic hemorrhage and congestion the result showed sever congestion with staining of liver tissue by blood color, with presence of red blood cells in association with inflammatory cells between hepatocytes. While in case of hepatic abscess we noticed presence of white to yellow solid lesions that randomly distributed in different shape and size composed from necrotic center with infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cells and hyperplasia of fibrocytes. While in case of cholangiohepatitis the affected area showed paleness with accumulation of bile material inside bile ducts, as well as hyperplasia of affected ducts and fibrosis in portal areas with infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cells in liver tissue with dystrophic calcification in bile ducts. We concluded from current study that wide spread of hepatic lesions in liver of cattle in Kirkuk province and this result should be taken in more serious action which can result in economic losses as well as possibility of zoonosis of these pathogens to human, also the gross lesions described by current study were identically similar to microscopic lesions.

The current study aimed to identified the pathological changes of oral toxicity induced by Di (2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in Japanese common quail. To a chief this aim a pilot study conducted to determine the median lethal dose (LD50) of DEHP. Forty male quails one day old were divided randomly into two equal groups, the first group was orally administrated by 10% of LD50 of DEHP daily for fourteen days, while second group was considered as control group and left without treatment all over the experimental time. The result of pilot study showed that the LD50 of DEHP in quails is 5574,1 mg/kg of body weight and the dose used in experiment to induced the acute oral toxicity was 557.4 mg/kg of quail's body weight. The result of gross pathological appearance of euthanized quails at fourteen days of experiment revealed presence of sever congestion in kidney lobules as well as congestion of liver with hemorrhagic ecchymotic patches while at other case the liver appear pale in color. The histopathology of kidney revealed presence of degenerative changes represented by cloudy swelling of the cell lining renal tubules lead to narrowing the lumen of affected tubules as well as interstitial edema with coagulative necrosis associated by infiltration of inflammatory cells as well as interstitial hemorrhage. The liver sections revealed presence of fatty change in hepatocytes in which the liver cell contained vacuoles of different size and shape also hepatocytes suffered from coagulative necrosis with infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cells as macrophages with presence of hemorrhage. We conducted from current study that the oral administration of plasticizer DEHP in fourteen days at dose of 557.4 mg/kg of quail body weight induced degenerative and coagulative necrosis in both kidney and liver tissue in Japanese common quail.

Effect of metronidazole on the pharmacokinetics of paracetamol were examined in chicks. Chicks were dosed orally with metronidazole at 350 mgkg of body weight daily (10 -13 days of age). On the last day of metronidazole dosing, chicks injected intraperitoneally with paracetamol at of 50 mgkg of body weight. Paracetamol appeared in chick plasma at 52.00, 45.00, 40.75, 32.75, 23.25 µg ml after 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1, 2, 4 hours of injection respectively. A significantly decreased the concentration paracetamol at times of 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1, 4 hours post injection and appeared at concentrations of 36.62, 35.37, 25.62, 20.50, 11.00 µgml. These was reflected by changes in the pharmacokinetics of paracetamol as show by the increase elimination rate constant (48%) and decrease in the half-life (32 %) and increase in volume distribution (29%) and increase in clearance by (96%) and decrease in the area under the plasma curve (33%) and decrease in the area under moment curve 65% and lack mean residence time (33%). These results indicate that oral dosing of chicks with metronidazole for four consecutive days and this effect increase in the elemination rate of paracetamol and this effect must be considered when therapy with paracetamol when given during metronidazole therapy.

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli isolated from slaughtered broilers in retail market that sell live chickens in Erbil city, Iraq. Forty-one cloacal fecal samples from broiler caecum were investigated from January to April 2016. ESBLs strains were isolated using MacConkey agar supplemented with cefotaxime 1 mg/l and the isolates were identified phynotypically by biochemical tests, TBX agar and VITEK-2 compact system. A total of 34 Escherichia coli and 4 Proteus mirabilis were analysed for determination of ESBL/AmpC by disc diffusion test using antimicrobial 68DC MAST® ESβL discs group including cefpodoxime, cefpodoxime + ESBL inhibitor, cefpodoxime + AmpC inhibitor and cefpodoxime + ESBL inhibitor + AmpC inhibitor and 67DC MAST® ESβL discs group including cefpodoxime, cefpodoxime + clavulanate, ceftazidime, ceftazidime + clavulanate, cefotaxime and cefotaxime + clavulanate. The phenotypic results showed that in group 68DC discs 23.7% E. coli were resistant to cefpodoxime and in group 67DC discs 73.7% of E. coli and 7.9% of P. mirabilis were resistance to one or more of the cefpodoxime, ceftazidime and ceftazidime. Final results revealed that 78.0% of samples were ESBLs/ AmpC positive. This study is the first examination to determine phenorypically E. coli producing ESBLs/AmpC in broiler chickens in Iraq. Conclusion, the healthy broiler can be a major source of ESBLs/AmpC and the possibility that transmitted to humans through the food chain, direct contact and the surrounding environment raises the concerns about public health and safety of poultry meat and the negative consequences of drug therapy that causes the spread of antibiotic resistance.

The aim of this survey is to collect data relating to antibacterial drugs used to treat different animals in the veterinary teaching hospital in the province of Kirkuk, which is taking place for the first time at the province level for the purpose of knowing the types of drugs most commonly used and the outcome whether these drugs used are optimal. Data were collected from the veterinary teaching hospital in Kirkuk province for 6 consecutive months and for the period between 1/7/2016 and until 1/1/2017 period included both the summer and autumn and winter seasons. The results show that the most commonly used drugs were Oxytetracycline, Oxytetracycline, Doxycycline-Colistin compound by 26, 57 and 36% in cattle, sheep-goats and Poultry, respectively. While the least commonly used drugs were Tylosin, Gentamicin and Gentamicin-Tylosin compound by 10, 5 and 4% in cattle, sheep-goats and poultry, respectively. Based on the results obtained from this survey, we recommend the use of Penicillin-Streptomycin compound because it has a synergistic effect against most of the resistant bacteria and not to increase usage of Oxytetracycline because of its side effects and lack of effectiveness in recent times due to the abundance of resistant germs. Also, using antibacterial drugs, we would like to note the need for optimal scientific use of these drugs and to give attention to the period in which it takes the medicine to withdraw from the animal body before milking animals or slaughtering it, so that the bacterial resistance does not develop against these drugs in the future.

The recent study was designed to estimate the effect of season on dogs' semen parameters in mature and pubertal males, before and after hormonal adding and precede the sperms viability after collection. Twenty local dogs were divided into two equal groups the first one aged between 2-3 years which represent the mature dogs group, and the second group aged 9-12 months which considered as newly pubertal males. This study was done in dogs cages in College of Veterinary Medicine – University of Baghdad from 1/2/2015 to 1/2/2016. The semen was collected by using artificial vagina twice weekly. The physical examination (semen volume, colour, odour, debris and pH) and also the microscopical examination (mass motility, individual motility, sperm numbers, viability and deformities) and precede both the viability of sperms every hour till ceased of individual motility and the effect of adding of oxytocin and prostaglandine f2α. The herein study indicated that there were a significant decrease in sperms mass motility, individual motility, sperms numbers and viability during summer season, nevertheless, the deformities increased significantly during the summer in both males groups. The deformities show significant differences between mature and pubertal males. The individual motility indicated an increase after hormonal adding to the semen, the individual motility also ceased after 12 hrs from collection in all seasons. This study concluded that the male dogs could breed during the different seasons of the year, and the summer season had negative effect on male reproductive fertility. The hormonal adding lead to increase the individual motility also the maximum period of survival of the sperms after collection not extended more than 12 hrs.