Al-Anbar Journal of Veterinary Sciences

This study is a part of research series, carried out in our laboratory at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Mosul University, Iraq, aimed to explore the capability of Toxoplasma gondii for induction an oxidative stress status at different hosts and tissues. In present study, we deal with the placentae of ewes naturally infected with T. gondii at Mosul area, Iraq. The oxidative status have been estimated via the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), a major products of lipid peroxidation, glutathione GSH) and, superoxide dismutase (SOD) as an antioxidant, in placental homogenates. In comparison with non infected placentae, results of this study indicate a significant elevation in MDA levels concomitant with a significant reduction in GSH and SOD levels in placentae of infected ewes. Histopathologic alterations of infected placentae have been mentioned too. In conclusion, this study provide further evidence on the capability of T. gondii to induce an oxidative stress status in infected host. Moreover, this oxidation status as well as the pathological changes seen in infected placentae may be the primitive cause for the abortion in infected ewes. Our future goal will be on the antioxidant status of T.gondii infected ewes.

This study was designed to evaluate the physiological effects of garlic oil in hepatotoxicity induced by intubation of CCl4in both sex rabbits. Thirty local domestic rabbits were used and divided randomly into three groups each of which contain ten animals, the 1st group was served as control, received no treatment, the 2nd group were received carbon tetra chloride (CCl4) at a single dose of 1.5 ml/kg/B.W orally to induce hepatotoxicity, and the 3rd group received garlic oil at a dose of 1ml/kg/B.W intraperitonealy in one hour before administration of CCl4 in a same dose and manner like that of the 2nd group, while the garlic oil treatment continues for three days. Liver functions were assessed by estimating serum alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total serum bilirubin & total serum protein with histopathological examination after 72 hours of induction. The results revealed that the use of garlic oil produced significant reduction in the level of these enzymes except level of total serum protein that elevated, and greatly reverted the tissue of the liver to normal state, so the use of garlic oil possess hepatoprotective activity by restoring the normal hepatic functions and potentiating the bio- defense system of the liver against hepatotoxicity produced by CCl4 administration.

The study was conducted on 40 calves during summer season as aclinical cases in Al- Azragia district which is a village of Fallojah city, Al- Anbar province. 37 calves are Friesian breed and 3 are native breed.
Diagnosis depends on lymph smear stained with Giemsa taken from mother cows and the calves and the presence of koch blue bodies in the lymphotes. 30 Friesian calves are injected with Butalex (Buparvaquone) at the rate of 2.5 mg/ B.W, IM at the neck region during the incubation period (7- 10 days) at 5- 6 days old of Theileria annulata infection 10 calves served as a control group. 7 of them are died, which are Friesian, after 14- 25 days from symptoms appeared. 3 calves, which are native breeds, are suffer from moderate to severe clinical symptoms but they remain alive. This is revealed the efficiency of Butalex at the rate of 2.5 mg/k.g. B.W.

This study was designed to investigate the prophylactic effect of alcoholic extract of black currant on some physiological parameters related with liver disease in male rats treated with H2O2 and methionine overload. Fifty adult male rats were divided randomly into five equal groups and were treated as following for 42 days: Rats in the first group (C) received normal tap water and considered as a control group; the second group (T 1) received 0.5% H2O2 in drinking water, while rats of the third group (T 2) were intubated daily with 100 mg/kg B.W. of methionine; animals in the fourth group (T3) received orally 60mg/kg B.W. of alcoholic extract of black currant plus 0.5% H2O2 in drinking water and rats in the fifth group (T 4) intubated daily with methionine plus alcoholic extract of black currant orally. Fasting blood samples were collected at 0, 21, and 42 days of experiment to study the following parameters: serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate amino transferase (AST), total cholesterol (TC) and total serum protein (TSP). Furthermore sections of liver were assessed for histological studies. The results revealed that administration of 0.5%H2O2 in drinking water (T1) and oral intubation of methionine(T 2) for 42 days caused significant increase (P< 0.05) in serum ALT, AST, ALP and TC with significant decrease (P< 0.05) in TSP concentration as compared to other groups, on the other hand the animals treated with 0.5%H2O2 plus 60mg/kg alcoholic extract of black currant (T3) showed significant decline in level of ALT, AST, ALP and TC concentrations with significant elevation in TSP concentration comparing to (T 1) and control group. The results also showed that oral intubation of alcoholic extract of black currant plus methionine (T4) significantly decrease (P<0.05) the serum concentrations of ALT, AST, ALP and TC with significant elevation of TSP concentration comparing to methionine group (T 2) and control group. Histological studies revealed the treatment of animals with H2O2 or methionine initiated hepatic damage. While alcoholic extract of black currant showed mild regression of lesion. It seems that alcoholic extract of black currant exert protective actions against H2O2 and methionine overload induced oxidative stress and change in some biological markers related to liver disease.

The study have been done to know the most popular poultry diseases that have been received by the consultant bureau, College of Veterinary Medicine/ University of Anbar during the period from 2/1/2008 to 31/12/2008.
Diagnosis of the cases have been done according to clinical signs, post- mortem examination, laboratory investigation and the response to various therapeutic agent.
The result showed that bacterial diseases are the most prevalent one 45.57%, then the viral diseases 37.29%, this is followed by nutritional diseases 7.59% then parasitic diseases 6.74% and finally other miscellanous diseases 2.7% as aflatoxicosis, fatty liver, urate deposition and flip over (sudden death syndrom).
Also it have been shown that Enrosol and ciprofloxacine gave the best result in treating bacterial diseases, where as toltrazuril gave the best result in treating coccidiosis.
The study recommends to re-evaluate the efficient doses and strains for various viral diseases due to failure in the application of vaccination programes.

The study was conducted on the presence of Cysticercus fasciolaris in white mice. One handered and fifty (150) white mice were obtained and sacrificed, and examined grossly for presence of cysts in their internal organs, the cysts were examined parasitologicaly and pathologically.
The results showed that (7.33%, 11 mice) have 1-3 cysts (3-6 mm) in diameter at the liver parenchyma, incision made on the cyst to obtain the larvae that have been defined after staining as having characteristics corresponding to the cysticercus fasciolaris of the adult parasite taenia taeniaeformis which inhabited the small intestine of the domestic cats, histopathological examination showed a cyst composed of two layer enclose the larvae and compressing on the adjacent hepatocytes.

The reproductive efficiency was estimated from records of 104 Friesian and 48 crossbreed [Friesian X Sharabi (native breed)] cows. Functional traits interm of reproductive efficiency as well as age at first calving were studied with relation with milk production in both breeds. The trends of the average milk production and reproductive efficiency at different age groups at first calving were estimated. Likewise, the average reproductive efficiency and age at first calving at different groups of milk production were determined. With increase in milk production there were decrease in reproductive efficiency and age at first calving. When the average milk production was related with age at first calving in both Friesian and crossbreed there are an increase in reproductive efficiency with increase age at first calving while milk production decreased. There were significant difference (P<0.05) in average milk production and age at first calving between Friesian and crossbreed, while the difference was not significant for average reproductive efficiency, they were 84.04% and 83.17% respectively for Friesian and crossbreed.
The Pearson correlation coefficient as well as partial correlation coefficient between milk production and age at first calving was negative and significant in both breeds. Likewise, between milk production and reproductive efficiency was negative in both breeds and significant in Friesian only. On other hand, Pearson correlation and partial correlation coefficients between reproductive efficiency and age at first calving were positive and significant in both breeds.
It can be concluded that for improving efficiency in Friesian and crossbreed cattle, it is necessary that functional traits interims of reproductive efficiency and age at first calving deserve primary consideration beside milk production into national breeding programmers.

Five groups of rats were given five different diets for 4 weeks after one week adaptation with standard casein. These diets include: casein diet as a control group (C), cooked rice ( R), cooked rice with 1% exogenous cholesterol (RC), oat meal (O), and oat meal with 1% exogenous cholesterol (OC) (Different analysis was determined on animals of these groups at the end of the experiment). The rats weights at the end of experiment showed that weight gain of control group rats was significantly higher (p≤0.01) than other groups but there were no differences among other groups.
The concentration of serum total cholesterol for (O) group (64.6 mg/100 ml) and that of (R) group (67.7 mg/100 ml) were significantly lower (p≤0.01) than those of other groups and the control group was the highest one in all groups (112.42 mg/100 ml).
The results also showed significant differences among mean relative weights of Liver, spleen and heart of different groups. The highest and lowest values of mean relative weight of rat's liver, spleen and heart in experimental groups were : (O) group (3.87) and R group (3.29) for liver, (R) group (0.48) and (O) group (0.38) for spleen, both RC and R groups (0.37) and (O) group (0.33) for heart respectively.
The (R) and (O) diets significantly lowered the total fat content (24.0, 26.16 mg/kg respectively) while (O) diet lowered the cholesterol content (1.36 mg/kg) of the liver compared to the control diet (51.9 and 2.47 mg/kg for total fat and cholesterol respectively).
For bile acid content in the feces, there were significant differences (p≤0.01) among the different groups; (OC) group showed the highest (10.4 mg/gm of feces) and the control group showed the lowest value (1.4 mg/gm of feces).

The study showed that the seminal vesicle in ram and buck posses folded mucous membrane. Its type classified as a simple columnar epithelium with basal cells in between which characterized by spherical tends to ovoid nuclei. The gland was classified as tubuloalveolar gland and sometime compound tubular gland according to the section of the gland. The capsule of the gland formed from loose connective tissue (collagen and smooth muscle fibers) giving positive reaction with masson’s trichromestain.
The bulbourethral gland have secretory units in different shapes and sizes. In histological section appeared alveolar, saccular or tubular shape, for this reason the gland classified as tubuloalveolar gland. The capsule of bulbourethral gland composed of dense connective tissue involves collagen, elastic, smooth muscle and striated muscle fibers. The capsule send septi which invaded in between the secretary units and continuous with lamina properia of submucosa and dividing the gland to tubules. The prostate gland is disseminated type in ram and buck generally (no body of gland). The glandular tissue part distributed around the pelvic urethra embedded in the wall of pelvic urethra. The prostate gland distinguished histologically as a tubuloalveolar type. These alveoli lining by simple columnar epithelium, the histological section showing the lining epithelium of the prostate gland duct changed to pseudostratified columnar epithelium. The histological results revealed the myoepithelial cells surrounding the alveoli of prostate gland. The gland secretion is seromucoid secretion which give positive reaction with PAS stain. The histological section the glandular part of vas deference ampullae classified as branched tubular lumen due to many folds of lining epithelium projected inside the tubular lumen of glandular tissue of ampullae. The section of the glands showed narrow and wide tubules lining simple columnar epithelium and pseudostratified columnar epithelium characterized by rounded nuclei.
It was concluded from this study that there was no histological difference between the accessory sex glands of rams and bucks.

This study was conducted to explore the ability of mulberry( Morus albas L.) cold and boild crud equeous extract as antioxidant and antiatherogenic in rabbit after exposure to 0.5% H2O2 in drinking water for 30 days.
The results illustrated capability of 0.5%H2O2 to initiate oxidative stress via significant increase in malondialdihyde (MDA) level in heart and liver concomitant with significant decrees in Glutathione (GSH) in addition to decreas in high density lipoprotein-c HDL and increase in low density lipoprotein-c (LDL-c) in serum of treated rabbits. While rabbit treated with H2O2 associated with mulberry leaves (cold and boild aqueous crud extract) showed a significant increase in GSH concentration of liver and heart tissue as well as increase in HDL-c, decrees in LDL-c and atherogenic index. Histologically, heart, aorta showed less reduction in lipid vacuol and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cell in media toward intima, but it is not reach to normal picture in rabbit treated with mulberry (Morus albas L.) while liver sections showed some vacuolar degeneration

The present study researched to know the species of parasite affected sheep at Mosul and Akra areas, in addition to study the pathological lesions in some tissues. Results of this study illustrated that clinical signs of infected animals showed emaciation, sunken eye, and diarrhea, due to infection with Schistosoma bovis which was identified based on the morphology of the adults. Histopathological findings of tissues of infected sheep particularly lymph node, revealed lymphadenitis, while in mesentery cross section of adult parasites in lumen of vein associated with thrombophelebitis has been seen, liver also showed minute granulomas around central vein.

This study was conducted to compare three techniques of intestinal anastomosis in dogs. Twenty four healthy adult dogs were used. Animals were divided into three equal groups. First group (control group) in which single– layer by cross mattress interrupted suture technique was used to approximate all layers of intestine. While in second and third groups, similar fasion as in first group, but the site of anastomosis was covered by free omentum and pedicle omentum respectively. The radiological and histopathological examinations at the periods of 15 and 30 days postoperation revealed that the third group showed lowest mean of degree of anastomotic stenosis (28.5%), while, the highest mean of degree of stenosis was found in the second group (49.6%). The biopsy examination revealed that simple adhesions in the first and second group, while no adhesions were observed in third group. The histopathological examination showed that the healing in the third group occurred by the first intention healing, while in other groups associated with fibrous tissue formation. Altimately there were no significant differences of bursting pressure in between three groups at (15) and (30) days postoperation.

Dreissena polymorpha mussel were collected from Al-Kadesia lake - Haditha /Al- Anbar Governorate-Iraq. The animals were exposed for 2, 4, 6 and 8 days to 16 mg zinc/l of water. The soft tissue was analyzed for the effect of zinc on total protein components and activity of six enzymes (using colorimetric and/or electrophoretic methods).
Zinc was found to cause (a) Change in the intensity of some esterase patterns and increase of total protein by increasing the exposure time to zinc (b) Increase in the activity of the enzymes, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase(GOT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH ) and decrease in the activity of acid phosphatase (ACP) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) with increase of exposure time. These changes may be useful as an earlier indicator for water pollution with zinc.

Breeding records totaling 68844 inseminations at AL-Nasir dairy farm (50 Km South-East of Baghdad) were analyzed to study the interactions between breeding systems and productive status of females with the month and year of breeding and their effects on conception rate (CR) and services per conception (SPC). Data were collected for 10 years from January 1, 1997 to December 31, 2006. Total number of services for lactating (M), dry (D) and virgin heifers (H) and overall means of CR and SPC were 52236, 4503, 12105, 41.65% and 2.61 respectively. In general, CR were not affected significantly (P < 0.01) by the interactions of the month x breeding system except for the month of November and December which differed significantly (P < 0.01) than artificial insemination (AI) of June and September and both AI and natural service (NS) for August. Highest values of CR for AI and NS were in December and November and lowest values were in August, but CR of AI in August (14.85%) differed significantly (P < 0.01) than CR of NS (34.25%) in the same month which indicate a choice of breeding for the hot months of the year. Interactions of productive status of female x month of the year showed that hot months had pronounced effects on CR of M cows but lesser and no effects on CR of D and H respectively. Calculated average CR of hot months (June to September) for M, D, and H were 21.09%, 30.17%, and 56.38%, respectively. Interactions of breeding system x year of breeding revealed overall improvements of CR with successive years for both AI and NS. However, this appeared to be related to improvements in CR of M and D but not in CR of H due to increasing rate of culling of multiparous females. Interactions of breeding system x year of breeding and their effects on SPC indicated general improvements with successive years for both AI and NS. Additionally, interactions of productive status x year of breeding also showed improvement in SPC of M and D but not in SPC of H which again confirm that increasing culling rate of older cows with lower reproductive efficiency led to improvements in SPC with successive years.