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Seventy six high and low producer cows were selected to determine the composition of the blood and milk parameters, and their interrelationships to determine the indices which could be useful to improve the milk yield. The highest mean blood concentrations were found in high producer cows. Mean values for blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum protein (SPtn), creatinine, triglycerides (TGs), cholesterol, and beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHB) were 25.10 mg dL(-1), 10.15 g dL(-1), 0.81, 62.30, 177.10 and 0.16 mmol L(-1), and for macro-minerals including SCa, SMg, serum in-organic phosphorus (SIP), SNa and SK were 3.85, 2.66, 4.63, 108.00 and 4.34 mmol L(-1), respectively. The highest concentrations for milk parameters, were observed in the high producers, and were significant only for MCa, MIP and MMg. Mean values for milk urea nitrogen (MUN), milk protein (MPtn) and lactose were 19.90 mg dL(-1), 0.39 g dL(-1), and 4.12% and for macro-minerals, 13.24, 3.88, 11.03, 73.30 and 16.90 mmol L(-1), respectively. There were significant positive correlations between the blood and milk parameters except for creatinine/BHB, TGs/cholesterol and MNa/MK which were not significant. The correlations between the blood parameters were greater than in the milk parameters. Creatinine and SPtn, MUN and MPtn were the main parameters in that the relationships between MPtn with BUN, SPtn and creatinine were more noticeable than others. The regression analysis showed that BUN with the SIP and creatinine, MPtn with the BUN and creatinine and MUN with the SIP and SMg were the appropriate parameters in improvement studies related to the milk yield. In conclusion, BUN, SPtn, MUN and MPtn concentrations are the most effective indices for predicting the preferred milk yield.

The effects of supplementing a basal diet (CTR) with raw garlic (GAR) or garlic oil (GO) on rumen fermentation were evaluated. Monensin (MON, 33 mg/kg DM) was used as positive control. Four ruminally fistulated sheep were used in three experiments arranged as 4 × 4 Latin squares with a 28-day period. Experiments 1 and 2 differed in the dose of GAR (75 versus 100 g/kg DM) and GO (500 versus 750 mg/kg DM) included in the basal diet while experiment 3 was designed to compare the two doses of each additive. The results revealed that dry matter intake and rumen fluid pH were not affected by additives although organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibility were slightly depressed by GO but not by GAR supplementation. MON had a similar depressing effect but was restricted mainly to ADF digestibility. Ruminal protozoa population was reduced by MON supplementation and to lesser extent by GAR100 and GO in a dose-independent manner. This effect was reflected in a lower rumen ammonia concentration. Total volatile fatty acid concentrations were not affected by any of the additives. However, individual VFAs were significantly altered by MON and to lesser extent by GAR and GO (P

In autumn 2009, 87 blood samples (28 male and 59 female) were taken, via jugular vein puncture using a heparinised venoject, from Makuii sheep in a preserved herd. The samples were divided into four age groups. Blood samples were transferred to a laboratory on ice, and the serum samples were separated from whole blood by centrifugation. Concentration of zinc and copper was measured in the serum by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean ± SE of zinc and copper was 8.34 ± 1.07 and 12.32 ± 0.28 μmol/l, respectively. Zinc values were less than the normal expected range (P

Daily variations in milk urea, protein and lactose concentrations and their interrelationships were investigated in 36 and 40 moderate and high milk producer cows, respectively. Milk samples were collected from the morning and afternoon milking yield for up to one week from Holstein dairy cows in Urmia, Iran. The overall mean milk urea nitrogen (MUN), milk protein and lactose concentrations were 19.7 mg/dL, 3.6 g/dL and 4.13 g/dL, respectively. Daily mean concentrations for the milk parameters revealed the highest concentrations for MUN and milk protein in the afternoon and morning milking, respectively. Milk lactose was constant for both milking yields. Significant differences (p

The association between heart and plasma homocysteine, malondialdehyde status and whole blood and plasma selenium concentration were studied in lambs affected with the cardiac ( n = 17) and the skeletal muscle ( n = 28) form of nutritional muscular dystrophy and the results were compared with those in healthy lambs ( n = 50). In the selenium-deficient lambs, the levels of plasma and heart tissue homocysteine were higher ( P P P P P P

Odds ratio was used to evaluate relationship between sepsis in cattle less than 1 year old and mastitis in cows and erythrocyte glutathione peroxides (GSH-PX) activity as an indicator of selenium status. Data were from 178 blood samples collected from referred cases to Urmia University, Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Low activity of GSH-PX was significantly associated with higher odds of developing sepsis (P=0.005) in young cattle and mastitis (P=0.044) in adult cows. The odds ratios for the low activity of GSH-PX on incidence of sepsis and mastitis were 4.74 and 3.95, respectively. Selenium deficiency was associated with sepsis in young cattle and mastitis in cows, i.e., cattle with low activity of erythrocyte GSH-PX were at increased risk of sepsis and mastitis.

Haemoglobinuria occurred in 12 river buffaloes in West Azerbaijan, Iran. The affected buffaloes were aged 5 to 10 years. All the affected buffaloes had been recently calved. Intervals from calving to onset of signs ranged from 12 to 52 days (mean±SEM, 27.2±3.3). The occurrence was not associated with season. Physical examination revealed significant increase in heart and respiratory rates and decrease in rectal temperature and ruminal motility. All 12 affected buffaloes were hypophosphataemic. The comparison showed that the serum inorganic phosphorus level in clinically normal buffaloes was four times greater than that of the affected buffaloes. It was hypothesized that hypophosphataemia was strongly associated with haemoglobinuria in buffaloes that affected multiparous females in a few weeks after calving. Our data indicate that the term “post-parturient haemoglobinuria” may be appropriate for this buffalo syndrome.

Measurement of haematological parameters provides valuable information for evaluation of health status of man and animals, but due to lack of reference values for avian blood profiles, it is not widely used in poultry. This study has contributed to the current knowledge on avian blood profiles, or more specifically demonstrated leukograms and haemograms of four main broiler strains (Ross, Cobb, Arbor-Acres, and Arian) during 8 weeks husbandry period. Blood samples were collected from chickens at different age (1 to 56 days old) with 7-day sampling intervals. Total numbers of RBC and WBC, PCV, Hb, MCV, MCH, MCHC, ESR, together with absolute count of heterophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils as well as H / L ratio were determined. One-way ANOVA, Wilcoxon, Spearman correlation and Kruskal-Wallis H tests from SPSS11 were used for statistical analysis of the results. This study showed that age affects significantly (P

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of intravenous infusion of a soybean-based lipid emulsion on some blood energy-related metabolites and insulin sensitivity indexes in sheep. Four clinically healthy ewes were assigned into a 2-treatment, 2-period cross-over design. Either normal saline (NS) or lipid emulsion (LE) was intravenously introduced at a rate of 0.025 mL·kg(-1) min(-1) for 6 h. The concentrations of blood nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate, triglyceride, cholesterol, urea, creatinine, cortisol, glucose, and insulin were measured at different time points. After 6 h, intravenous glucose tolerance test was performed. Lipid infusion elicited an increase (P0.05) in the NEFA, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and triglyceride concentrations compared with the baseline value and NS infusion. Infusion of NS did not influence blood glucose concentration; however, LE infusion increased plasma glucose concentration (P0.05). At time point 12 h, serum insulin concentrations were increased (P0.05) in NS treatment; however, such an increase was not observed in the LE treatment. Insulin sensitivity index for the LE infusion was lower (P0.05) than that for the NS treatment. The glucose effectiveness was not (P0.05) different among treatments. In the LE treatment, acute-phase insulin responses increased (P0.05) and disposition index decreased (P0.001) compared with NS treatment. The results showed that experimentally induced NEFA in blood could cause insulin resistance in sheep. The current model could be used to evaluate the pathogenesis of conditions associated with increased lipid mobilization and insulin resistance.

Several biomarkers have been used to evaluate selenium (Se) status in livestock. However, there is no report on the potential usefulness of the Se indices of platelets in diagnosis of Se deficiency in large animals. In the current study, Se concentration and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in platelets of 38 healthy and 142 Se-deficient ewes were assessed, and their correlation with plasma Se concentration, plasma GPx activity, whole blood Se concentration, and erythrocyte GPx activity was determined. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the optimal cutoff values of Se concentration and GPx activity of the platelets and to summarize the diagnostic performance of these biomarkers. In Se-deficient ewes, consistent with other indices, Se concentration and GPx activity in platelets were significantly lower than those of the healthy ewes. There was a positive significant correlation between Se concentration and GPx activity in platelets with plasma Se concentration, whole blood Se concentration, and erythrocyte GPx activity. Based on the ROC curve analysis, the best cutoff value to predict inadequate plasma selenium concentration was ≤0.0055 attogram/platelet for the platelet Se concentration, with a sensitivity of 100.0 %, specificity of 92.4 %, and AUC of 0.94. For platelet GPx activity, the cutoff value was ≤203.6 U/g protein with a sensitivity of 97.4 %, specificity of 77.7 %, and AUC of 0.90. The results of this study suggested that the platelet Se concentration and GPx activity can be considered a reliable and valid intermediate-term surrogate parameter in assessment of dietary Se intake in sheep.

Objective(s): The current study was aimed to determine the bioactive constituents and biological effects of the Crataegus monogyna ethanolic extracts from bark, leaves and berries on hypercholesterolemia. Materials and Methods: Oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, quercetin and lupeol concentrations were quantified by HPLC. Total phenol content and radical scavenging activity of extracts were also measured. The hypocholesterolemic, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective effects of the extracts were examined in hypercholesterolemic rats and compared with orlistat. Results: The highest phenol content, oleanolic acid, quercetin and lupeol levels and free radical scavenging potency were found in the bark extract, and the highest ursolic acid level was found in the berries extract. Orlistat and extracts significantly (P

This study is designated to assess the effect of the severity of Babesia ovis infection on sialic acid concentration in blood sera in naturally infected sheep. Infected animals (diseased group) comprised 38 Iranian fat-tailed sheep, about 1–3 years old, naturally infected with B. ovis, divided into four subgroups with respect to parasitemia rates (low 0.1–0.3 %, moderate 0.4–0.9 %, high 1–2.5 %, and very high >2.5 %). The parasitological diagnosis was confirmed using PCR analysis. As a control group, ten clinically healthy sheep reared under the same management and environmental conditions were also sampled. Hematological parameters and the concentrations of total sialic acid (TSA), lipid-bound sialic acid (LBSA), and protein-bound sialic acid (PBSA) were measured in both groups. Compared to controls, sialic acid concentrations showed significant increase (p < 0.05) in infected sheep. Parasitemia rate was positively correlated with sialic acid concentrations. This study demonstrated that B. ovis infection induced marked and persistent elevations of serum sialic acid concentrations. It seems that increase of serum sialic acid concentrations during parasitemia alter receptor-ligand interactions, which are known to play important role in immune response. Furthermore, sialic acid would indirectly inhibit the action of leukocytes and consequently promote the evasion of the immune response and persistence of the parasite in the host. This factor could influence the parasite-host cell adhesion, but further detailed biochemical investigations are needed to precisely explain the exact role of sialic acid in invasion process of the parasite to the host cells.

Safranal is one of the major components of saffron and has many biological effects such as antioxidant property. The present study investigated the effects of safranal on sciatic nerve function after induction of crush injury. We also used of vitamin E as a reference potent antioxidant agent. In anesthetized rats, right sciatic nerve was crushed using a small haemostatic forceps. Functional recovery was assessed using sciatic functional index (SFI). Acetone spray and von Frey filament tests were used for neuropathic pain assay. Histopathological changes including severities of Wallerian degeneration of sciatic nerve and gastrocnemius muscle atrophy were investigated by light microscopy. Blood levels of malodialdehyde (MDA) were also measured. The SFI values were accelerated, cold and mechanical allodynia were suppressed, the severities of Wallerian degeneration and muscular atrophy were improved, and the increased MDA level was reversed with 10 consecutive days intraperitoneal injections of 0.2 and 0.8 mg/kg of safranal and 100 mg/kg of vitamin E. It is concluded that safranal and vitamin E produced same improving effects on crushed-injured sciatic nerve functions. Inhibition of oxidative stress pathway may be involved in improving effects of safranal and vitamin E on functions and histopathology of an injured peripheral nerve.

Objective—To compare time to loss of consciousness (LOC) and effective maintenance of anesthesia following intraosseous (IO) and IV administration of propofol in rabbits. Design—Evaluation study. Animals—24 New Zealand White rabbits. Procedures—Rabbits were selected to receive IO (n = 6) or IV (6) bolus administration of 1% propofol (12.5 mg/kg [5.67 mg/lb]) only or an identical bolus of propofol IO (6) or IV (6) followed by a constant rate infusion (CRI; 1 mg/kg/min [0.45 mg/lb/min]) by the same route for 30 minutes. Physiologic variables were monitored at predetermined time points; time to LOC and durations of anesthesia and recovery were recorded. Results—Following IO and IV bolus administration, mean time to LOC was 11.50 and 7.83 seconds, respectively; changes in heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation (as measured by pulse oximetry), and mean arterial blood pressure values were evident, but findings did not differ between groups. For the IO- and IV-CRI groups, propofol-associated changes in heart rate, oxygen saturation, and mean arterial blood pressure values were similar, and although mean arterial blood pressure decreased significantly from baseline, values remained > 60 mm Hg; respiratory rate decreased significantly during CRI in both groups, but remained higher in the IO-CRI group. Anesthesia and recovery time did not differ between the IO- and IV-CRI groups. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In all evaluated aspects of anesthesia, IO administration of propofol was as effective as IV administration in rabbits. Results suggested that total IO anesthesia can be performed in rabbits with limited vascular access.

Bakhtyar Tartibian1, Behzad Hajizadeh Maleki1, Asghar Abbasi2, Mehdi Eghbali3, Siamak Asri-Rezaei3 and Hinnak Northoff4 1Department of Cellular and Molecular Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Science, Urmia University, Urmia 2Institute of Sport Science, University of Tuebingen 3Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia 4Institute of Clinical and Experimental Transfusion Medicine (IKET), University of Tuebingen 1,3Iran 2,4Germany

This study aimed to assess lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in goats naturally infected with Babesia ovis. Red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, packed cell volume (PCV), malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) activities and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined in 15 goats naturally infected with B. ovis as well as same number of healthy goats. The parasitological diagnosis was confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis by amplifying a partial 18S rRNA gene sequence of B. ovis. Percentage of parasitemia varied from 0.01 to 1%. The activities of erythrocyte GSH-Px, SOD, CAT and TAC were significantly lower (p

The present study aimed to assess antioxidant status and oxidative stress in sheep naturally infected with Babesia ovis. Red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, packed cell volume (PCV), piroplasm parasitemia percentage, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) activities and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined in 52 sheep naturally infected with B. ovis as well as same number of healthy sheep in West-Azerbaijan province, Iran. Microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained peripheral blood smears revealed B. ovis infection. The parasitological diagnosis was confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis by amplifying a partial small subunit ribosomal RNA (ssu rRNA) gene sequence of B. ovis of 52 diseased sheep, 18 (34.61%), 11 (21.15%), 16 (30.76%) and 7 (13.48%) had1%, 1-2%, 2-3% and3% parasitemia, respectively. Compared to controls, the activities of erythrocyte GSH-Px, SOD, TAC and CAT showed a significant decrease, whereas the concentration of MDA in erythrocytes of infected sheep increased significantly. Parasitemia rate was positively correlated with MDA and negatively correlated with PCV, SOD, CAT, GSH-Px and TAC. Also, MDA was negatively correlated with PCV, SOD, catalase, GSH-Px and TAC. The study demonstrated that B. ovis plays an important role in the occurrence of oxidative damage to RBCs and anemia in ovine babesiosis.

Occurrence of anemia in suckling dairy calves up to 4 months old with regard to age and sex susceptibility was investigated in Urmia, Iran. From 25 dairy herds, 164 calves including 97 females and 67 males were selected. Five ml jugular vein blood was collected from calves into 2 ml with EDTA and 3 ml without EDTA tubes. Blood parameters were evaluated for hematocrit (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), erythrocytes (RBC), leucocytes (WBC), total plasma protein, iron (Fe), total iron banding capacity (TIBC), neutrophils, lymphocytes, MCV, MCH, and MCHC. Anemia was classified according to the PCV values, over 24%, 20-23.99%, 12-19.99% and less than 12% as normal, mild, moderate and severe anemia. The percentage of anemia in calves was 17.7% including 14% mild and 3.7% was moderate anemia (P