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Background: Extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) has been described in Escherichia coli strains that have been isolated from humans and animals; it has induced a main concern with antibiotic resistance in serious bacterial infections. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the frequency of ESBL-producing E. coli (EPE) strains in meat and intestinal contents of turkey, and to compare the antibiotic resistance profile between EPE and non-EPE strains. Methods: Totally, 70 and 110 E. coli strains were isolated from turkey meat and turkey intestinal content samples, respectively. To determine EPE strains, double disc synergy test was applied by that 20 and 22 EPE strains were finally identified in meats and intestinal contents of the turkeys, respectively. Antibiotic susceptibility was exerted using disc diffusion method. Escherichia coli isolates were then characterized for virulence genes (stx-1 and stx-2) and ESBL genes (TEM, SHV, and CTX-M). Results: None of the E. coli strains harbored stx genes. The EPE strains in comparison with non-EPE strains were significantly more resistant to ciprofloxacin (47.6 vs 26.5%), tetracycline (80.9 vs 67.3%), ampicillin (47.6 vs 22.4%), penicillin (23.8 vs 10.2%), ceftazidime (57.1 vs 16.3%), ceftriaxone (38.1 vs 18.4%), and cefotaxime (47.6 vs 8.2%). The majority of EPE strains carried CTX-M gene. SHV showed the lowest frequency and it was not detected in EPE strains isolated from the intestinal contents. In this study, 75% of TEM-producing E. coli strains and 33% of SHV-producing E. coli strains were resistant to ampicillin. In addition, 41.7% of TEM-producing E. coli strains were resistant to penicillin, and 76.9% of CTX-producing E. coli were resistant to cefotaxime. Furthermore, 4.7% of EPE strains isolated from turkey meat were imipenem resistant. Conclusion: The resistance to cefotaxime and imipenem in EPE strains induces a concern in growing antibiotic resistance against broad spectrum antibiotics in E. coli strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antibacterial effect of Thyme species was relatively approved but the effect of this plant on bacterial population of intestine in chickens and consequently on bacterial load of chicken meat following administration of thyme was not investigated. For evaluation of thyme effect on growth indices, microbial contamination of meat and microbial population of cecal content, 180 broiler chicks were divided into 4 equal groups with 3 replicates and were reared until 42 days. Chickens in different groups were treated with different doses of thyme (0, 0.25, 0.50 and 1 percent) in diets. The weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion rate were calculated weekly. In the end of 42 days old, all chickens were slaughtered. The population of Escherichia coli per gram of cecal contents and contamination of meat with Escherichia coli were assayed. The data showed that supplement of 0. 5 and 1 percent of thyme to diet elevated weight gain and decreased feed conversion rate. Furthermore, addition of 0.5 and 1 percent of thyme to diet can decrease microbial population of cecal content and meat. In conclusion, the addition of thyme to diet may improve growth rate and hygienic parameters in chicken meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revue de Médecine Vétérinaire is the property of Ecole Nationale Veterinaire de Toulouse and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Enterohepatic Helicobacter species, including H. pullorum, are increasingly recognized as microbial pathogens in humans and animals. Tissue samples comprising 100 muscle, liver and heart (each of them) was collected from seven slaughterhouses in Isfahan province, central of Iran. Furthermore, 100 cecal contents were sampled from 100 broiler chickens which did not have gross pathologic signs suggestive of the disease. DNA was extracted from muscle and liver tissues and PCR was carried out for identification of H. pullorum 16S rRNA gene in the samples. The results showed that the H. pullorum genome was detected in 2 of the 100 (2%) liver samples and in none of muscle or heart samples. The positive samples collected from two different slaughterhouses out of seven slaughterhouses. In this study, 11 out of the 100 cecal content samples (11%) from apparently healthy broiler chickens were found positive for H. pullorum. This study represents that chickens seem to be a source of H. pullorum infection and serve as reservoirs for the H. pullorum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research which examined the occurrence of chicken anaemia virus (CAV) in sparrow thymuses in Iran. Topics covered include the signs and lesions of CAV such as stunting and increased mortality, the high incidence of the CAV infection found in sparrows using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the characteristics of black spot of neonatal canaries. It cites the possible role of sparrows in transmission of the virus to growing chickens.

Background: Aquatic leech invade mucosal membrane and causes anemia. Until now, there is not any commercial effective drug for controlling of this parasite. In this experimental study, investigated the effect of some chemical and herbal drugs against leech (Limnatis nilotica). Methods: Methanolic extract of Artemisia kermanensis and Artemisia spp and hydroalcoholic extracts of Scrophularia deserti, Quercus brantii and Achillea spp was prepared. . Each drugs was tested in one group with 9 replicates. Each leech preserve in one separated jar and drugs were added to each jar. Albendazole used as commercial anti-parasite and distilled water was used as negative control. The movement and respond of each Leech was recorded for 720 minutes. Also, the leeches were monitored for paralysis and death in this duration. Results: In this study, leeches receiving albendazol (600mg) died at 138 min after exposure with albendazol. But exposure with methanolic extracts of Artemisia kermanensis (600 mg), Artemisia spp (600 mg) and hydroalcoholic extracts of Quercus brantii (600 mg), Achillea spp (600 mg) and Scrophularia deserti (600 mg) have no effect on liviability of leeches. Methanolic extract of Artemisia kermanensis with doses of 1800 and 2400 mg, caused death in leeches after 720, 635 and 188 minutes, respectively. Also, methanolic extracts of Arthemisia spp with doses of 1200, 1800 and 2400 mg, caused death in leeches after 720 , 600 and 601 minutes, respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the herbal drugs that used in this study with compare to albendazole have no considering effect on Limniatis nilotica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which determined the presence of Chicken anemia virus (CAV) in broiler chickens. The experiment was conducted in Isfahan, Iran where the thymuses of some 240 chickens were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for identifying viral infection. Researchers were able to confirm a 73.33 percent positive prevalence of CAV. The article also describes the discovery and isolation of the CAV in Japan, and explains how the disease is vertically acquired by 10- to 14-day old chicks.

Differential diagnosis of dementia remains a challenge in neurology due to symptom overlap across etiologies, yet it is crucial for formulating early, personalized management strategies. Here, we present an artificial intelligence (AI) model that harnesses a broad array of data, including demographics, individual and family medical history, medication use, neuropsychological assessments, functional evaluations and multimodal neuroimaging, to identify the etiologies contributing to dementia in individuals. The study, drawing on 51,269 participants across 9 independent, geographically diverse datasets, facilitated the identification of 10 distinct dementia etiologies. It aligns diagnoses with similar management strategies, ensuring robust predictions even with incomplete data. Our model achieved a microaveraged area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.94 in classifying individuals with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Also, the microaveraged AUROC was 0.96 in differentiating the dementia etiologies. Our model demonstrated proficiency in addressing mixed dementia cases, with a mean AUROC of 0.78 for two co-occurring pathologies. In a randomly selected subset of 100 cases, the AUROC of neurologist assessments augmented by our AI model exceeded neurologist-only evaluations by 26.25%. Furthermore, our model predictions aligned with biomarker evidence and its associations with different proteinopathies were substantiated through postmortem findings. Our framework has the potential to be integrated as a screening tool for dementia in clinical settings and drug trials. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm its ability to improve patient care., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Machine learning (ML) has emerged as the predominant computational paradigm for analyzing large-scale datasets across diverse domains. The assessment of dataset quality stands as a pivotal precursor to the successful deployment of ML models. In this study, we introduce DREAMER (Data REAdiness for MachinE learning Research), an algorithmic framework leveraging supervised and unsupervised machine learning techniques to autonomously evaluate the suitability of tabular datasets for ML model development. DREAMER is openly accessible as a tool on GitHub and Docker, facilitating its adoption and further refinement within the research community.., Results: The proposed model in this study was applied to three distinct tabular datasets, resulting in notable enhancements in their quality with respect to readiness for ML tasks, as assessed through established data quality metrics. Our findings demonstrate the efficacy of the framework in substantially augmenting the original dataset quality, achieved through the elimination of extraneous features and rows. This refinement yielded improved accuracy across both supervised and unsupervised learning methodologies., Conclusion: Our software presents an automated framework for data readiness, aimed at enhancing the integrity of raw datasets to facilitate robust utilization within ML pipelines. Through our proposed framework, we streamline the original dataset, resulting in enhanced accuracy and efficiency within the associated ML algorithms., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In this study, totally, 295 cloacal swabs were collected from apparently healthy (195 swabs) and enteric (100 swabs) pet birds. After identification of Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains, to determining the E. coli producing extensive-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) (EPE) strains, double disc synergy test was applied. TEM, CTX and SHV genes were detected in strains known as EPE phenotypically. The results showed that the detection rate of EPE strains in enteric birds is higher than apparently healthy birds (25.6 vs. 16.2%). The CTX gene was the highest ESBL gene. The SHV gene was not detected in any of E. coli strains. Furthermore, the ceftazidime and cefotaxime resistant E. coli strains were contained in the CTX gene. By considering the possibility of transmitting these genes along with other resistance genes to other bacteria, it can be stated that pet birds can be the source of transmission of resistance genes to human.

Environmental pollution and exposure to toxic metals such as cadmium (Cd) can cause severe and chronic diseases and have significant side effects on vital organs. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of pomegranate peel on biochemical factors and lipid peroxidation in intoxication by Cd in Japanese quail. Two hundred seventy quails in different groups were fed diets containing Cd and pomegranate peel from 6 to 35 days old. Then, serum biochemical parameters were assessed, including liver enzymes, urea, and thiobarbituric acid. In the quails, Cd significantly increased MDA, urea, and AST ( P  < 0.05). Adding pomegranate peel at 1.5 and 2% levels decreased these parameters significantly ( P  < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary enrichment using pomegranate peel reduced the adverse effects of Cd by improving lipid peroxidation, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and urea in Japanese quail.

The gastrointestinal form of Isospora is well described in Passeriformes , but there are few reports of the visceral form of Isospora . Therefore, to evaluate the visceral form of Isospora in canaries with "black spot" syndrome, gastrointestinal contents were prepared from 50 canaries that were lost and appeared with black spot under the skin of the abdomen. At the same time, tissue samples were collected from visceral tissues. After preparing the samples, the oocysts were counted in the digestive contents. A total of 7 canaries out of 50 canaries showed oocysts in their feces. Following the identification of infected birds, histopathological sections were prepared from their visceral tissues. Visceral tissues included the heart, liver, and intestine. Inflammation and hyperemia were seen in the microscopic view of the heart, but no developing stage of parasites was seen. The liver showed inflammation as well as the asexual reproductive stage of the parasite. The asexual reproductive stage of the parasite was also observed in the intestine. Therefore, Isospora seems to be involved in the syndrome of black spot in canaries by causing gastrointestinal and visceral lesions., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© Indian Society for Parasitology 2023, Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Background: Probiotics and phytase are commonly used as dietary supplements in poultry diets. Phytase is involved in the release of phosphorus in plant grain ingredient of poultry feed, while probiotics provide beneficial organisms to the gastrointestinal tract., Objective: The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of both commercial probiotic and phytase on chicken performance and biochemical indices., Methods: A total of 300 chicks were divided into 4 groups that fed the basal diet, diet containing probiotic (Protexin®), Phytase (Meriphyze 5000®), and probiotic plus phytase all over the growing period. The growth indices were measured weekly, analysed at the 21 and 42 days of age. At 42 days of age, blood samples were collected from all chickens. The concentration of liver enzymes, lipid profiles and antioxidant status were measured in blood samples., Results: The results showed that the weight gain and feed intake were significantly higher in chickens received phytase alone or phytase in combination with probiotic. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) significantly lower in all supplemented chickens in comparison with control chickens (p < 0.05). Although the addition of probiotic or phytase to chicken diet showed an extent variation in biochemical and antioxidant indices, the addition of phytase plus probiotic showed a significantly increase of blood total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), super oxide dismutase (SOD), catalysis (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) level, while decrease triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHL), aspartate transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in comparison to control chickens. The supplementation of chicken diet with probiotic, phytase or probiotic plus phytase did not effect on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)., Conclusions: The simultaneous supplementation of probiotics and phytases seems to have a positive effect on growth indices in broilers, but they can cause changes in the serum biochemical profile, which sometimes lead to interference and do not always act synergistically., (© 2023 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Today, in response to consumer demand and market trends, the development of new packaging with better performance such as intelligent packaging has become more important. This packaging system is able to perform intelligent functions to increase shelf life, increase safety and improve product quality., Objectives: Recently, various types of packaging systems are available for meat products, especially cooked, fresh and processed meats. But because meat products are very perishable, monitoring their quality and safety in the supply chain is very important. This systematic article briefly reviews some of the recent data about the application of intelligent packaging in meat products., Methods: The search was conducted in Google Scholar, Science Direct, Elsevier, Springer, Scopus, and PubMed, from April 1996 to April 2021 using a different combination of the following keyword: intelligent packaging, and meat., Results: The results showed that the intelligent packaging presents several benefits compared to traditional packaging (e.g., antimicrobial, antioxidant, and shelf life extension) at the industrial processing level. Thus, these systems have been applied to improve the shelf life and textural properties of meat and meat products., Conclusions: It is necessary to control the number of intelligent compounds that are included in the packaging as they clearly influence the quality and nutritional properties as well as the final cost of the food products., (© 2022 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Anti-microbial resistant genes could be passed to human via the food chain or by direct contact with infected birds. To evaluate tetracycline resistance genes in the feces of companion birds suspected to enteritis, 100 fecal samples were collected from diarrheic companion birds in Isfahan province, Iran. The presence of Escherichia coli was examined by bacteriological, biochemical, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. The presence of genes associated with resistance to tetracycline ( tetA , tetB , tetC , tetD , tetE , tetG , tetK , tetL , tetM , tetO and tetS genes) was examined using a multiplex PCR. The results showed that in enteric birds, 43.00% of fecal samples contained E. coli . In 26 resistant E. coli, 11, 12 and 3 strains contained tetA (42.30%), tetB (46.15) and tetA plus tetB (11.53%) resistant genes, respectively. In conclusion, E. coli isolates from the enteric problem of companion birds contained tetracycline resistant genes that may transfer to human and pose a risk for antibiotic effectiveness in the treatment of infectious diseases in human., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 Urmia University. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objective: Recent advances in the genetic causes of ALS reveals that about 10% of ALS patients have a genetic origin and that more than 30 genes are likely to contribute to this disease. However, four genes are more frequently associated with ALS: C9ORF72, TARDBP, SOD1, and FUS. The relationship between genetic factors and ALS progression rate is not clear. In this study, we carried out a causal analysis of ALS disease with a genetics perspective in order to assess the contribution of the four mentioned genes to the progression rate of ALS., Methods: In this work, we applied a novel causal learning model to the CRESLA dataset which is a longitudinal clinical dataset of ALS patients including genetic information of such patients. This study aims to discover the relationship between four mentioned genes and ALS progression rate from a causation perspective using machine learning and probabilistic methods., Results: The results indicate a meaningful association between genetic factors and ALS progression rate with causality viewpoint. Our findings revealed that causal relationships between ALSFRS-R items associated with bulbar regions have the strongest association with genetic factors, especially C9ORF72; and other three genes have the greatest contribution to the respiratory ALSFRS-R items with a causation point of view., Conclusions: The findings revealed that genetic factors have a significant causal effect on the rate of ALS progression. Since C9ORF72 patients have higher proportion compared to those carrying other three gene mutations in the CRESLA cohort, we need a large multi-centric study to better analyze SOD1, TARDBP and FUS contribution to the ALS clinical progression. We conclude that causal associations between ALSFRS-R clinical factors is a suitable predictor for designing a prognostic model of ALS., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors report no competing interests for this study., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Coccidiosis is the most common enteric parasitic disease in poultry that is caused by different species of Eimeria. Some chemical drugs were utilized for the control of this infection but drug residue and resistance-induced concerns in chicken consumers., Objective: The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of pomegranate peel extract (PPEx) on the control of coccidiosis in chickens., Methods: Totally, 300 broiler chicks were divided into 10 groups and 5 groups challenged with a mixture of common Eimeria of 21 days old in Iran. Five days after the challenge, as soon as clinical signs appeared, the oocyte per gram (OPG) of faeces was measured, and chickens were treated with 100, 200 and 400 ppm PPEx (for 7 days) and toltrazuril (for 2 days) in separate groups. Another five groups were only treated with these compounds without challenge. All challenged and non-challenged have a control group. The OPG was measured in the final treatment in chickens. At 35 days of age, all chickens were euthanized and the intestinal and liver samples were collected in 10% formalin for histopathological examination. The growth indices were recorded and analysed all over the growing period, weekly., Results: The results revealed that the addition of PPEx especially in 400 ppm can reduce the intestinal lesions and OPG but in this dose, the growth indices can influence negatively, while the administration of toltrazuril with the best effect on OPG and intestinal lesions, no effect on growth indices in challenged chickens. Also, supplementation of 400 ppm PPEx can induce injuries in the liver while the lower dose has no effect on liver tissue., Conclusion: It is necessary for finding effective ingredients in PPEx and preparation of serial dilution for access to optimal dose with best anti-coccidial effect and lowest negative effect on growth indices in chickens., (© 2022 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Thymol and carvacrol as natural essential oils and phenol compounds are components derived from some medicinal plants, such as thyme and oregano species., Objectives: The increasing demands in organic and healthy meat and egg consumption in human society have made it necessary to consider alternative natural compounds for the replacement of chemical compounds in poultry production. The chemical compounds can remain in meat and eggs and cause complications in human health. Therefore, these natural compounds can be fed with a higher safety in poultry production with specific effects. In this regard, the role of thymol and carvacrol as natural compounds in the poultry production has been discussed in the review., Methods: In this study, by searching for keywords related to thymol and carvacrol in poultry production in Google Scholar database, the articles related to different aspects of the biological effects of these two phytogenes in poultry production were selected and analyzed., Results: A review of previous studies has shown that thymol and carvacrol possess a wide range of biological activities, including antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, modulating of immunity response and regulating of the gut microbial population. Also, in meat type chickens can promote growth and influence feed utilization. The beneficial effect of this compound was evaluated in hepatic toxicity and demonstrated as a hepatoprotective compound in chickens. Furthermore, these compounds can affect the behavior of layers and influence egg composition, eggshell thickness, and the sensory quality of eggs., Conclusion: It seems that with the increasing demand for healthy protein products, these compounds can be used to improve performance as a substitute alternative for chemical compounds in healthy poultry farms., (© 2021 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The study aimed to examine the effect of simultaneous application of florfenicol and lasalocid on the performance and vital organ function of chickens. For this, 300 chicks were divided into four groups. Group one to three received florfenicol, lasalocid and lasalocid plus florfenicol, respectively. Group four as the control group received a basic diet without lasalocid or florfenicol. Lasalocid was used from 7 to 35 days old, continuously. Florfenicol was used at 21 days old for 5 days. The growth indices were measured at the end of each week. The chickens were euthanized at the ages of 28 and 35 days old after collecting blood samples with and without anticoagulants. The liver, heart, muscle, kidney and sciatic nerve were collected in formalin 10% for histopathological examination. The blood and serum samples were used to determine clinical pathologic and hematologic indices. The ratio of internal organs to body weight and ratio of the right ventricle to the total ventricles (RV/TV) of the heart was measured. Results showed, the use of lasalocid decreased feed conversion rate and triglyceride, and increased total protein. Simultaneous administration of lasalocid and florfenicol affected histopathology of the liver and heart and significantly increased creatine phosphokinase, uric acid and the ratio of RV/TV of heart. The eosinophil percentage in the chickens who received florfenicol plus lasalocid was significantly higher than chickens who received florfenicol alone (p < 0.05). In conclusion, it seems that simultaneous administration of the florfenicol and lasalocid induces side-effects especially on cardiac function and it is not recommended., (© 2021 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Probiotics and phytogenics in the poultry diet have many positive effects on productivity. The combination of these feed additives has not been studied., Objective: This study was designed for evaluation of synergistic effects of protexin (P) and Gunnera (Gundelia tournefortii L.) extract (GX) on growth, biochemical, hematological and antioxidant status of broiler chickens., Methods: Totally, 300 chicks were divided into 4 groups that fed the basal diet, diet containing P, GX, and GX plus P (GX-P) in all over the growing period. At 42 days of age, blood samples were collected from all chickens. The concentration of aspartate transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), haematological parameters, and humeral antibody against Newcastle disease vaccine was measured., Results: The Results showed that the feed conversion ratio in chickens fed GX-P was significantly lower than others. Also, in chickens fed GX or GX-P, the TG and CHL concentration was significantly lower and GPx and TAC concentration was significantly higher than others, while chickens that received P or GX-P showed higher haemoglobin and TP concentration. The antibody response was significantly higher in chickens fed P. The ALT, AST, ALP, and SOD concentration did not show any significant difference in all chickens., Conclusion: Continuous utilization of P along with GX in broiler diets can induce synergist effect on feed efficacy and antioxidant status, lowering lipid profiles with no effect on liver function in chickens., (© 2021 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Pet birds have close contact to human and resistant bacteria can transfer from birds to intestinal flora of human., Aims: This study was carried out to determine the tetracycline resistance genes in Escherichia coli strains associated with enteric problem in pet birds., Methods: Totally, 295 cloacal swabs were collected from 195 healthy and 100 diarrheic pet birds in Isfahan province, Iran. The presence of E. coli was identified by conventional bacteriological, biochemical, and molecular examinations. The presence of tetracycline resistance genes ( tetA , tetB , tetC , tetD , tetE , tetG , tetK , tetL , tetM , tetO , and tetS genes) were examined using three multiplex PCR., Results: The results showed that 18.9% and 43% of cloacal samples of healthy and diarrheic pet birds contained E. coli , respectively. The mean percentage of E. coli isolated from cloacal samples of diarrheic birds was significantly higher than the healthy birds (46.6 vs 23.1%). In healthy birds, out of 37 E. coli isolates, 10 isolates were resistant to tetracycline, harboring tetA and tetB genes (3 tetA vs 7 tetB ), but in the diarrheic birds, of 26 resistance E. coli , 11, 12, and 3 strains contained tetA (42.3%), tetB (46.15), and tetA + tetB (11.53%) genes. The percentage of tet genes were significantly higher in diarrheic birds than healthy birds (58.9 vs 24.0%)., Conclusion: Both resistant genes of tet A and tet B were detected in E. coli isolates that are related with efflux pump activity. These genes can be transferred between Gram-negative bacteria and they have the potential ability to be transferred to the environment and human flora., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

There is an evidence that ginger enhance semen quality via improving different sperm parameters mainly count, viability, motility, morphology and DNA integrity. According to research results in various species, ginger seems to have strong antioxidant properties (due to the presence of active phenolic compounds) and androgenic activity. Ginger improves semen quality and increases fertility of sperm by disrupting the production of free radicals, dissolving oxidative chain reactions, reducing oxidative stress and altering the levels of gonadotropin hormones (LH, FSH) and sex hormones (such as testosterone). The antioxidant and androgenic properties of ginger give a sperm with normal morphological structure (head, middle and tail) and more integrated chromatin. The rate of DNA failure and damage to the mitochondrial genome in these cells is minimal and they have the most progressive motility, the highest viability and the best fertility. Therefore, the use of the ginger significantly improves the biological parameters of sperm (number, total motility, survival rate and normal morphology) and also increases all specialized fertility indicators of sperm. Tacking account of lacking literature and possibility of toxicity and adverse effect of ginger on vital organ, further clinical trial especially on evaluating the safety and clinical effect must be considered. Also, dose and duration of consumption by monitoring of health indicators and biochemical changes in all species such as human, animal and poultry must be applied., (© 2021 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Context: Aflatoxins as potent mycotoxins can influence vital parameters in chickens. Turmeric was used in decreasing toxic effect of mycotoxins on vital organs, traditionally., Objective: The study compared the protective effect of turmeric and Mycoad(TR) in broilers exposed to aflatoxin., Materials and Methods: Chickens (270) were divided into six groups. The chickens were fed a basal diet, turmeric extract (5 mg/kg diet), Mycoad(TR) (25 mg/kg diet), productive aflatoxin (3 mg/kg diet), aflatoxin plus turmeric extract (3 versus 5 mg/kg diet), and aflatoxin plus Mycoad(TR) (3 versus 25 mg/kg diet) in basal diet. At 28 d old, we determined plasma concentration of total protein, albumin, triglyceride, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), calcium, potassium, phosphorous, uric acid, aspartate transferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Furthermore, liver and kidney were sampled for pathological examination., Results: Chickens fed turmeric with aflatoxin had significant lower ALT, AST, and uric acid than chickens fed aflatoxin (11.4 ± 0.79, 228 ± 9, and 6 ± 0.4 versus 17.2 ± 1.7, 283 ± 5, and 7.7 ± 0.1) whereas, total protein, calcium, and HDL values in chickens fed aflatoxin plus turmeric increased significantly (2.66 ± 0.16, 8.4 ± 0.2, and 920 ± 4.1 versus 1.7 ± 0.17, 7 ± 0.2, and 690 ± 4.8). Pathological examination revealed severe congestion, degeneration, and necrosis in liver and kidney in chickens that received aflatoxin., Discussion and Conclusion: The study showed that turmeric may provide protection against the toxic effects of aflatoxin on liver and kidney.

Despite chicken being the main natural host for chicken anaemia virus (CAV), other birds may be infected by this virus too. In this study we examined chickens, turkeys, and quails for serological and molecular detection of CAV in Iran. For this study, we used 375 sera and thymus samples from broiler chickens, 100 sera and blood samples from turkeys, and 250 thymus samples from quails. The sample were collected from all over Iran between 2009 and 2010. Serum samples were examined using ELISA. DNA was extracted from thymus and blood samples and was analysed for the presence of the VP2 gene of CAV by polymerase chain reaction. Results showed that 69.07% of chickens were positive for antibody to CAV. In chickens, 58.4% were positive for CAV VP2 gene. The prevalence of CAV infection in quails was 15%, based on CAV VP2 gene detection. In turkey flocks, all turkeys (100%) were negative with respect to detection of VP2 CAV gene and CAV antibodies. It was concluded that, for the span of the time considered in this study, CAV has circulated in broiler chickens and quails throughout Iran.

The pathogenicity of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strains is, in large part, due to shiga toxin (Stx) genes (Stx1 and Stx2) and/or intimin (eae) gene. The purpose of this study was to analyze the role of domestic canaries (Serinus canaria domestica) as a reservoir of Stx and intimin producing strains of E. coli. For this study, a total of 50 cloacal swabs were collected from 50 healthy domestic canaries. Cloacal swabs were cultured and tested using standard methods of microbiology. After primary identification of E. coli, DNA was extracted and polymerase chain reaction was performed using specific primers for Stx1, Stx2 and eae genes. In this study, three of 50 samples were found to be Stx2 positive. In the present study, nine (18%) of 50 canaries tested were positive for eae gene. Only 2% of total canaries tested were positive for simultaneous Stx and eae genes. By considering the presence of Stx genes in E. coli isolated from cloacal contents of canary, this hypothesis expressed that the canaries may be the carriers of virulence genes that can risk human health. Canary was considered to be a reservoir of Stx and intimin genes and make these birds important vehicles for the spread of zoonosis infection., (© The Author(s) 2012.)

This experiment is designed to investigate the positive effects of commercial nanosilver compound on blood parameters in experimental aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens. For this, 270 one-day-old broiler chickens were randomly divided into six treatment groups with three replicates. The experimental groups were group A: chickens fed with basal diet; group B: chickens fed with 3 ppm productive aflatoxin in basal diet; groups of C, D, E and F received Mycoad (2.5 g/kg diet), Mycoad (2.5 g/kg diet) + productive aflatoxin (3 ppm), Nanocid (2500 ppm), and Nanocid (2500 ppm) + productive aflatoxin (3 ppm) in basal diet, respectively. Results revealed that some of the blood parameters such as mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration lymphocytes, neutrophils, basophils, monocytes, and eosinophils percentage were not affected in this experiment; whereas, hemoglobin percentage and white blood cell (WBC) count in all the groups fed with 3 ppm aflatoxin except nanocid + aflatoxin decreased significantly (p < 0.05). There are no significant differences between the groups that received nanocid + aflatoxin and mycoad + aflatoxin in hemoglobin percentage and WBC count parameters. The red blood cell count and hematocrit in chickens received aflatoxin were significantly lower than other groups (p < 0.05). Therefore, this study suggests that nanocid similar as mycoad can be useful in reducing the adverse effects of aflatoxin on blood parameters in chickens affected with aflatoxicosis.

In recent years, some outbreaks of skin lesions suspected to be avian pox were observed in the backyard poultry in different parts of western areas in Iran. Consequently, 328 backyard poultries with suspected signs of avian pox virus infection were sampled. All birds showed nodular lesions on unfeathered head skin and/or fibronecrotic lesions on mucus membrane of the oral cavity and upper respiratory tract. For histopathological analysis, the sections of tissue samples from cutaneous lesions of examined birds were stained with H&E method. For PCR, after DNA extraction a 578-bp fragment of avian pox virus from 4b core protein gene was amplified. Results showed 217 and 265 out of 328 (66.1 and 80.7%, respectively) samples were positive for avian pox virus on histopathological and PCR examination, respectively. In this study, the samples that had intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies on pathologic examination were PCR positive. This study revealed that PCR is a valuable tool for identification of an avian pox virus and that the frequency of pox infection in backyard poultry in western areas of Iran is high.

Aflatoxicosis is a cause of economic losses in broiler production. In this study, the effect of one commercial nanocompound, Nanocid (Nano Nasb Pars Co., Iran) was evaluated in reduction of aflatoxin effects on the growth and performance indices in broiler chickens suffering from experimental aflatoxicosis. For this, a total of 300 one-day-old broiler chicks (Ross strain) were randomly divided into 4 groups with 3 replicates of 15 chicks in each separated pen during the 28-day experiment. Treatment groups including group A: chickens fed basal diet, group B: chickens fed 3 ppm productive aflatoxin in basal diet, group C: chickens fed basal diet plus 2500 ppm Nanocid, and group D: chickens fed 3 ppm productive aflatoxin and 2500 ppm Nanocid, in basal diet. Data on body weight, body weight gain (BWG), feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded at weekly intervals. Also cumulative data were assessed. Results showed, although supplement of Nanocid to conventional diet had no effect on performance but addition of Nanocid to diet containing 3 ppm aflatoxin increased significantly the cumulative BWG, cumulative feed consumption and decreased FCR in the last 2 weeks of experimental period. The improvement in these performance indices by supplement of Nanocid to diet containing aflatoxin showed the ability of Nanocid to diminish the inhibitory effects of aflatoxin.