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Sarcocystis is the most common intracellular cyst-forming protozoan that infects the cardiac, smooth and striated muscles of animals and humans. This parasite has a significant economic, veterinary and medical impact in many regions of the world. The current study aimed to identify Sarcocystis species in domestic sheep and domestic goats slaughtered at the slaughterhouses of Duhok province in Iraq, from May 2021 to June 2022 by using molecular study. A total of 250 tissue samples collected from 147 sheep and 103 goats' different organs (79 esophagi, 105 skeletal muscles and 66 hearts) were examined for detection of sarcocysts through microscopic examination of fresh muscle tissues. Consequently, the isolated zoitocysts of sarcocysts and/or their fragments from each infected host were further used for molecular identification. Overall, 98.32% of the examined sheep and 98.06% of the examined goats were microscopically found to be positive for Sarcocystis species. Molecular identification of Sarcocystis spp. isolates based on analysis of the 18S rRNA gene sequences revealed the existence of S. tenella in both sheep and goats and S. capracanis in goats only. Alignment and phylogenetic analysis of the isolates in this study showed a very close relationship and close matching with other Sarcocystis DNA sequences which were available in the GenBank database. Results of the phylogenetic analysis showed sequences of S. tenella as a monophyletic cluster to the sequences of S. capracanis. As the 18S rRNA sequences of S. tenella and S. capracanis showed high similarity with each other, further molecular studies based on the cox1 and ITS1 regions are required for the exact characterization of species identified in the present study. Due to cross-infection and high incidence of Sarcocystis spp. in both sheep and goats in the world and in Iraq, development of disease control and prevention measures would be essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research study the histological composition of venom gland and aculus sting (sting organ) in Scorpio maurus the sting organ in the scorpions body are in last metasoma segment and composed two portion are vesicular portion (venom gland) have variety seta and trichobothrium and the aculus portion was curved shape and sharp, so in the histological result displayed as paired oval sacs in simple or folded cell layers surrounded by contractile muscles and covered with cuticle constituting exocuticle and endocuticle superposition between itself and the secretary epithelium composed from a sheath of skeletal striated muscles that covers the base to apex. Although the measurement of scorpion venom apparatus and length of every segments has been described so the aim of this study was to further characterize the venom gland and aculus sting in the family scorpionidea in Iraq and will be helpful to solve the scorpion sting related by Scorpio maurus are considered as the dangerous scorpions and will constitute a basis for future research on this species and their poisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was design to estimate the cholesterol and heme concentration in striated muscles of Iraqi cow and sheep. This components from diets were implicated in the premature death in Iraq. 40 males of cows and sheep from slaughter of Wassit were divided into eight groups according to three parameter: type of muscle (cardiac, skeletal muscles), age (young, adult) and species of animal (cow, sheep). Cardiac muscle samples taken from heart ventricle; whereas, skeletal muscles samples taken from vastuslateralis muscles.Cholesterol and heme concentrations estimated spectrophotometrically. The results showed significantly differences (p-value ≤ 0.05) between cardiac and skeletal muscle for both cholesterol (6.387, 3.378 mg/dl) and heme (2.495, 1.179 mg/gm). Age and species of animals had also effect on chemical component of striated muscles. Since, cholesterol concentration in cardiac and skeletal muscles for both young and adults was (6.8, 3, 8.4, 3.3 mg/dl) and (4.9, 2.7, 5.4, 4.4 mg/dl) as well as heme concentration was (2, 0.8, 2.4, 1.4 mg/gm) and (2.7, 1.1, 2.8, 1.4 mg/gm) in cow and sheep, respectively. Current study concluded that skeletal muscles (meat) was healthier diet to consume than cardiac muscles (heart). Furthermore, meat of young cow was less pathologic and best for human intake due to posses less amount of cholesterol and heme comparing with other animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]