Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Sciences

The morphological and histological features of the lymphoglandular complex of ten adult local breed dogs were studied. The dogs were hunted in cages and put in the animal house of Veterinary Medicine College / University of Baghdad. The dogs that were hunted and kept under supervision were then anesthetized, and slaughter was done to collect the samples of caecum. For the histological study, the abdominal region opened, and the cecum was identified and extirpated out properly, then washed with normal saline and immersed inadequate 10% neutral buffered formalin fixative for 72 hours at room temperature. After fixation, the specimens were washed with tap water and processed using routine histological techniques. Morphologically, the mucosa of the cecum had openings of the lymphoglandular complex that were randomly distributed and appeared as a rounded elevation at the upper caecum folds of the mucosal surface and in all portions of the caecum. Histologically, the lymphoglandular complexes in the tunica submucosa appeared rounded or oval in shape, which is closely related to the profound aspect of the muscularis mucosa, and they scarcely conquered the whole thickness of the submucosal layer. In the studied dogs, there were no cortical and medullary zones of the lymphoid structure of the lymphoglandular complex, and they didn’t have germinal centers. The conclusion of the current results represents that the lymphoglandular complex has a different structure from other lymphoid organs, which have a cortex and medulla in addition to germinal centers.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of replacing antibiotics with microencap-sulated Minthostachys verticillata essential oil (M-Mv-EO) as a phytogenic feed additive (PFA) on growth performance, liver and intestinal histological changes, se-rum biochemical parameters, genotoxic activity, and cecal microorganisms in broiler chickens. The Mv-EO was microencapsulated using spray-dried wall material (WM) consisting of Gum Arabic, Maltodextrin, and Whey Protein Concentrate (1:1:1, w/w/w). Forty-eight Cobb broilers aging one-day-old were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (three replicates per treatment) and fed with a basal diet (CON), a diet supplemented with antibiotics (Bacitracin zinc salt, 7.5 mg/kg) (BZS), a diet sup-plemented with M-Mv-EO at a concentration of 100 mg/kg, or a diet supplemented with WM only (CON-WM). The results showed that the microcapsules obtained by spray drying remained stable without modifying the composition of Mv-EO. Dietary supplementation with M-Mv-EO increased weight gain and feed intake and improved the feed conversion ratio (FCR; P<0.05) compared to the CON, CON-WM, and BZS groups. Furthermore, M-Mv-EO supplementation did not cause histological changes in the small intestine or the liver. M-Mv-EO supplementation reduced total cholester-ol levels and demonstrated non-cytogenotoxic effects in a bone marrow micronucleus test. Moreover, supplementation with M-Mv-EO promoted the growth of Lactobacil-lus spp., Enterobacteria, and total aerobic bacterial proliferation compared to the BZS group (P<0.05). These findings suggest that M-Mv-EO as a PFA, at a concentration of 100 mg/kg, could replace antibiotics in broiler chicken diets with comparable growth performance and health parameters.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) stands out as the primary microorganism transmitted through food, having a variety of virulence factors, including uidA, Stx1, Stx2, and Rfb, which can cause food poisoning in people. One serotype of the bacterial species E. coli that is well-known for its capacity to generate a toxin similar to Shiga is E. coli O157:H7. It is a source of illness, frequently linked to foodborne infections brought on by consuming tainted and uncooked food, like raw milk and undercooked ground beef. Basturma is a traditional meat product crafted to preserve meat in Iraq. Forty-five samples of locally produced Basturma were collected from a variety of local stores across different regions in Mosul city. The study period extended from April 2023 to June 2023. The results of our study showed that the classical microbiology methods and PCR methods concurred in identifying E. coli in local Basturma samples at a rate of 6 out of 45 (13.4%). All E. coli isolates were found to possess the specific-species uidA gene (100%), with a molecular weight of 623 bp. The PCR analysis further revealed that 1 out of 6 isolates (16.7%) carried the Stx1 gene with a molecular weight of347 bp, while none of the E. coli isolates harbored the Stx2 and rfb genes. All isolates from Basturma were not E. coli O157:H7. There is a high similarity between E. coli isolated from Bab Al-Tob and Ras Al-Jada. Furthermore, the E. coli isolated showed a close relationship with E. coli isolated from different countries in the world.

Abortion results from a Toxoplasma gondii infection in both humans and mammalian animals, causing substantial losses in terms of quality-adjusted life years and financial consequences. The incidence of toxoplasmosis in the current study of aborted women and sheep was determined using serological, immunological, and molecular assays. Blood samples were taken from sheep that appeared to be healthy and from women who had aborted in the governorates of Alexandria and El-Beheira on the west coast of Egypt. The specific immunogenetic bands in the crude tachyzoite antigens from both RH and local T. gondii strains were characterized using SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting assays. An indirect ELISA was performed to detect the prevalence in aborted women and sheep. The confirmatory molecular identification of toxoplasmosis was adopted using conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR). The results revealed that the two RH and local T. gondii antigens showed extensive electrophoretic similarity and identified two common immunogenic bands (67 and 58 kDa) with naturally infected human and sheep sera with T. gondii. The rate of toxoplasmosis seroprevalence recorded by ELISA in aborted women was 60.8% (76/125), while in sheep, it was 67.3% (66/98). Verified PCR results of toxoplasmosis in aborted women and sheep revealed the expected positive bands, 194 bp and 161 bp, using B1 and Tox-9 & Tox-11 gene primers, respectively. This study concluded that the higher T. gondii prevalence might be responsible for abortion and economic losses in humans and sheep in our studied region. These findings reinforce the necessity of more epidemiological studies on toxoplasmosis and public health education initiatives.

Minocycline is a second-generation tetracycline that has a variety of nonantimicrobial properties. This study aimed to assess the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of minocycline in chicks. The median lethal dose and median analgesic dose of minocycline were determined using the up-and-down method; the analgesic effects over time were evaluated using the electrostimulation device; the acute analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using the formalin test; and the chronic anti-inflammatory activity of minocycline was determined using the cotton pellet test. The median lethal dose and median analgesic dose of minocycline were 1278 and 74 mg/kg, respectively. Minocycline 150 and 300 mg/kg orally produced significant analgesia in a dose-dependent manner, and the peak of analgesia was observed at two hours and continued for more than eight hours after treatment. In the formalin test, minocycline 150 and 300 mg/kg amended the pain by increasing the onset and decreasing the frequency of raising the right foot in comparison to the control. The formalin test demonstrated the anti-inflammatory activity of minocycline by inhibiting the percentage of inflammation compared to the control by 43 and 66%, respectively. Minocycline 150 and 300 mg/kg suppressed chronic inflammation persuaded by cotton pellet test, and the inhibition percentages in wet and dry cotton pellets were 14 and 18%, and 30 and 44%, respectively. In conclusion, minocycline has analgesic effects on acute pain and anti-inflammatory effects on acute and chronic inflammation in chicks.

Hemoplasmosis is a worldwide disease that infects sheep. It is induced by hemotropic mycoplasma, a widespread zoonotic disease that can result in mild to severe destruction of erythrocytes, jaundice, and inadequate mass growth in mammals. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of conventional polymerase chain (c-PCR) in comparison to microscopic examination (ME) of blood smears stained with the RAL 555 rapid stain kit and tick samples from areas located in Mosul City, Iraq, for estimating the distribution of ovine hemoplasma (OH) in sheep. In the period between July 2024 and January 2025, three hundred sheep were selected from different areas of Mosul to have their blood samples taken. The total number of cases of OH was 79.6% (239 of 300) on microscopic examination and 80.3% (241 of 300) using c-PCR. The infestation rate of hard ticks on sheep was 66.6%, and two species of hard ticks, Rhipicephalus turanicus and Rh. sanguineus, were microscopically identified and classified, with Rhipicephalus turanicus being significantly more common. The concordance between the blood smear examination by microscopy and the c-PCR methodology is nearly flawless, as indicated by a Kappa value of 0.979. The c-PCR approach demonstrates great sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy at 99.1, 100, and 96.3%, respectively, in comparison to the ME method. It was concluded from this study that sheep hemoplasmosis is prevalent in sheep in Mosul, Iraq, diagnosed in blood and ticks parasitizing sheep, and that conventional PCR and microscopy are more effective methods for detecting sheep infected with hemoplasmosis.

The current study aims to understand the dynamics of the masticatory muscles during closure and opening actions and assess the functional architecture of the various chewing muscles in camels. Twelve healthy adult camel heads of different sexes and ages (2-3 years) from the typical slaughterhouses in Iraq and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A comparative anatomical examination and masticatory muscle linear measurements were performed on the head of the slaughtered camel. These included the masseter, temporalis, pterygoideus, and digastricus muscles. This study included recording the values of each fiber length, weight of the muscle, the mass of muscle, volume of muscle, density, Physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA), force, maximum isometric force, torque, and kinetic energy of the masticatory muscles. According to this study, the masseter and temporalis muscles closed the camel's jaw, while the digastricus and pterygoideus muscles opened the mandible. This study showed that the group of muscles that closed the jaw had greater PCSA values, maximum isometric force, force, torque, and kinetic energy than those that opened the mandible. It is believed that jaw closure is regarded as the muscles' heightened activity that closes the jaw. This study proved that each muscle has its own physical characteristics that differ from others.

Investigating the sources of Pestivirus, family Flaviviridae, and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infections is important in the epidemiology and control efficacy of this disease in large and small ruminants. This work is a preliminary attempt to investigate the prevalence of BVDV in buffalo by conducting a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in Nineveh province, Iraq. From November 2024 to the end of January 2025, a total of 158 blood samples were collected from buffaloes in 7 farms in various areas of Nineveh province, and from both sexes, different management, sole and interspecies rear, and no vaccination background against the disease. The molecular outcome objective 5’ UTR gene region revealed a 7.59% total prevalence of BVDV, with a significantly higher prevalence of BVDV in buffaloes aged more than 5 years. Further, no statistical variability among buffaloes' sex, management, and study areas. Six procuring sequences in the current work are bookmarked in the GenBank database under identity numbers. Furthermore, the local sequences referenced were similar to those of Iran, Iraq, Mexico, China, and the USA (96.07%-100% identity). In conclusion, the bovine viral diarrhea virus was recorded in this work for the first time in Nineveh province, although the disease was reported earlier in cattle and sheep. Attention should be given to the role of buffalo in transmission and maintaining the virus. Hence, precise detection and differentiation of Pestivirus are crucial requirements for the elimination and evacuation efforts of BVDV in the animal population.

Our study aimed to evaluate the immune response of 7 types of bivalent inactivated vaccines. 225 chicks were distributed into 9 groups, groups from 1 to 7; vaccinated on 1 day with different doses of these vaccines against Newcastle Disease Virus-Avian Influenza Virus-H9N2 subcutaneously according to the direction of producers as follows: G1 vaccinated by PRO-VACTM AINK. G2 immunized by Poul Shot® flu H9N2+ ND. G3 received QVAC ND-H9. G4 injected with MEFLUVACTM H9ND7. G5 was immunized with CEVAC® NEW FLU H9 K. G6 received Nobilis N9H2+ND P. G7 was vaccinated with Gallimune. G8 was considered as the positive control group, while G9 was a negative control group. Subsequently, all groups of the experiment except (G9) were vaccinated by eye drop with the live attenuated vaccine (Nobilis® ND Clone-30) at 1 and 14-day-old chicks. The results of the ELISA and HI tests of antibodies titer to ND antigen have varied between groups, and the high titer was observed in G3 and G2 at 28 and 35 days. The lowest and highest titers were detected in G6 and G4 when these titers were measured by general and specific ELISA for AI. Most of the vaccinated groups (G1 to G7) revealed high to moderate expression of CD19 memory B-cells by immunohistochemical staining. In conclusion, most of the tested vaccines in this research gave a sufficient number of antibodies to ND antigen, whereas, in contrast to the AI antigen, many of these vaccines demonstrated a weak antibody response, except with the G6 vaccine.

Mycotoxin contamination in broiler chicken feed negatively impacts health, growth, and feed efficiency. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of zeolite additives in enhancing growth performance and reducing mortality in broiler chickens exposed to mycotoxins. A systematic review was conducted, analysing relevant studies published between 1970 and 2025, sourced from databases such as BASE, JSTOR, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus. Of the 169 identified articles, 13 met the inclusion criteria, covering 70 experiments. Publication bias was evaluated using Egger’s test, and a random-effects model Hedges (g’) was applied to calculate effect sizes. Zeolite supplementation significantly improved average daily gain (ADG), daily feed intake (DFI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in mycotoxin-exposed broiler chickens, with effect sizes consistently exceeding g’ > 0.8 (P<0.01). Aflatoxin, aflatoxin B1, and ochratoxin A exhibited the highest responsiveness to zeolite. Improvements were observed across all rearing phases, particularly during the starter and finisher stages. Clinoptilolite-based zeolite significantly reduced FCR and mortality rates (g’ > |0.8|, P<0.05); however, overall mortality rates remained largely unchanged. These findings indicate that zeolite supplementation, particularly clinoptilolite, represents a viable dietary strategy for mitigating mycotoxin exposure in poultry production systems by enhancing growth performance and alleviating mycotoxin-related adverse effects.

Trypanosomiasis is a global disease that infects different types of animals, including cattle. Trypanosoma evansi is a zoonotic parasite that mostly affects cattle, and it causes a significant economic loss in the livestock industry in Iraq. This study aimed to determine the infection rate of Trypanosoma spp. in cattle in Mosul city, Iraq, using microscopic examination of buffy coat smear and PCR technique, further phylogenetic analysis of the strains detected in this study. One hundred and twenty-five cattle, ages 1-5 years, were investigated for the existence of trypomastigotes. The results presented that 22 (17.6%) and 27 (21.6%) of the study animals were positive for T. evansi using microscopic examination and PCR techniques, respectively. PCR technique results are considered the gold standard for comparing infected and non-infected cattle. Demonstrating a significant presence of the disease in this cattle group. The parasitemia of T. evansi was determined to be at 2.2%, indicating the parasite’s prevalence in the affected cattle population. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis was performed to assess the genetic relationships of two strains of Trypanosoma evansi from the infected cattle. These strains are extremely similar (99.60% - 100%) to those pathogen sequences that are recorded in the NCBI GenBank of different countries, such as Thailand, the Philippines, and Taiwan. In conclusion, according to the results, T. evansi is common among cattle in Mosul, Iraq, and these results may be useful for future research and beneficial management of T. evansi in the study region.

This work was dedicated to the influence of oily and macerated Al-Zahdi date palm seed extracts (DPSE) on AKT and PTEN genes expression in testicular tissues and their relation to apoptosis. Sixty (30 mature and 30 immature) male albino rats were used for this study after being divided into six subgroups for each. Two subgroups were daily dosed with oily DPSE using two doses (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) orally via micropipette over two successive months. Similarly, the other two subgroups were dosed with macerated DPSE, while the control received tap water. Expression of AKT and PTEN genes extracted from testis tissue was detected using the Preb Total RNA Extraction Kit. The Bcl-2 marker was tested using immunohistochemical staining to evaluate the incidence and spreading of the anti-apoptotic protein within the testis. Results revealed a significantly high expression of mRNA associated with both studied genes of both mature and immature rats treated with oily and macerated DPSE in comparison to control, with significant elevation of AKT level in oily treated rats, particularly with 4 hundred doses. Immunohistochemical results corroborated the genetic results as demonstrating a distinct presence of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 in testicular cells, with greater clarity observed in mature testis, especially those treated with 400 mg/kg B. W. The study concluded that date palm seed extract acts as a natural stimulator for AKT in testicular tissue, which in turn contributes to prolonging the lifespan of testicular cells. Bcl-2 expression is present in testicular cells, with greater evidence in mature ones that received 400 mg/Kg.B.W.

Dirofilariasis, a heartworm disease, is an emerging anthropozoonosis that poses serious and imminent health risks to animals, in addition to affecting their quality of life and leading to death if not treated appropriately. Humans can also be infected through culicid vectors. Diagnosis is often performed by identifying microfilariae or by detecting antigens in blood samples. Therefore, the objective of this study was to diagnose animals positive for D. immitis using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique. Forty-nine dog samples were used for the agent research from veterinary clinics and laboratories located in Belém do Pará, Brazil, in 2022, of which 33% were positive for D. immitis, with a higher occurrence in males. However, there was no difference in infection when considering the sex of the animals. Considering that the state of Pará has a hot and humid climate, and some cities are bathed by rivers, it can be concluded that the general prevalence in dogs detected by PCR in this study was higher than expected and that this location can be considered an endemic area, and this is due to the presence of the mosquito species that are vectors of D. immitis being very frequent in this region.

Lion's mane (Helicium erinaceus) is a highly medicinal fungus with diverse bioactive molecules that have been proven to be beneficial in neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, the current study’s objective was to probe the potential function of this mushroom in the protection of the brain, and we screened its effect on testes in metronidazole-induced toxicity. Adult male Albino Wistar rats were divided into four groups, each containing six animals. In the control group, rats were administered distilled water; the second group was given metronidazole at a dose of 500mg/kg body weight; the third and fourth groups were administered Lion’s mane at 1 and 1.5g/kg, respectively. Two hours later, metronidazole was given at a dose of 500mg/kg. Metronidazole and Lion’s mane were given orally for 40 consecutive days. Results of open field test showed significant neurobehavioral alterations in Lion’s mane-treated rats. Lion's mane at 1g/kg mitigated histological damage in the brain and preserved testosterone levels, whereas 1.5g/kg showed adverse effects on the testes. All treated groups showed relatively same intensity for expression of both p53 and Bcl-2 proteins. Notably, p53 expression was more intense at 1.5g/kg, while Bcl-2 expressed intensively at 1g/kg. We conclude from the current study that Lion’s mane, at low doses, acts as a protective herb against metronidazole toxicity, exhibits an improvement of the histological changes, and exerts anti-apoptosis characteristics.

Staphylococcus (S.) aureus is a major microorganism that causes a subclinical inflammation of the mammary glands in animals. The current study aimed to isolate and identify coagulase-negative Staphylococcus aureus (CNSA) in non-clinical inflammation of the mammary glands and to detect the nuc, mecA, clfA, clfB, coa, and 16S rRNA genes, along with constructing a phylogenetic tree. Samples of the non-clinical milk of sixty sheep were gathered from various regions. The standard bacteriological methods were used to isolate and identify the CNSA isolates, while the PCR method was utilized to confirm and find the specific genes. Based on the results, the occurrence rate of CNSA was initiated in sheep asymptomatic mastitis at a proportion of 11.7 (7/60), and a high prevalence of CNSA in non-clinical inflammation of the mammary glands of sheep was 20% (3/15) in the Al-Nimrod district. Nevertheless, Hawe Al-Kaneisa doesn't have any isolated CNSA. The results of the PCR method showed that all CNSA isolates possessed the nuc gene 100 (7/7). Additionally, all isolates were methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative S. aureus, which has the mec A gene 100%, and they possessed the clfA, clfB, and 16S rRNA genes 100%. No one in CNSA has the coa gene. In addition, this study showed that only one of the gene profiles was 100%. According to the 16S rRNA gene, seven unique strains of S. aureus sequences have been registered in GenBank. The phylogenetic tree showed the relationship between the CNSA isolated in this study and the relationship with the CNSA isolates worldwide.

Primary Localized Cutaneous Amyloidosis (PLCA) is a relatively rare chronic condition considered by amyloid deposition in the dermis without accompanying deposits in internal organs. This study was designed to determine the role of zinc oxide nanoparticles in reducing the development of experimentally induced amyloidosis lesions in male rats. Forty male rats aged two months were used in this research, randomly divided into four groups, with 10 animals in each group. The Control group (group I) and (Group II) Rat intraperitoneally (IP) inoculated with a dose of ZnO-NPs 5 mg/kg (Group III): Rat IP inoculated with 3.0 ml of sodium caseinate solution (8%) (Group IV): Rat IP injected sodium caseinate with nano zinc oxide (ZnO-NPs). The injection protocol was four days of injection and one day of rest for 60 days. The results showed a significant increase in the level of serum amyloid A and Creative protein in Group III when compared with the group of rats, Group IV, but it did not reach its normal levels when compared with Group I. The results of the gross examination showed the presence of pathological lesions such as alopecia, skin thickening, and redness in Group III, while the pathological changes were less severe in Group IV. Histopathological examination of the skin showed infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cells in the dermis and subcutaneous layers and around the sweat glands, with congestion of the blood vessels and the presence of edema between the muscle fibers, Zenker's necrosis, atrophy of myocytes, and the deposition of a homogeneous protein substance between the collagen fibers and the muscle fibers and around the blood vessels in G3 after 25 days of experiment lesions were more severe after 60 days of treatment. Histological sections of the skin showed a clear improvement, as represented by the slight infiltration of inflammatory cells with little protein deposition in group IV. The results of the histochemistry examination of the skin samples of the different groups showed a positive reaction to amyloid, with varying intensity depending on the treatment period and the type of substance. This study showed that zinc oxide plays a role in reducing the advance of amyloidosis lesions.

In veterinary medicine, laparoscopic nephrectomy for dogs and cats has become the most acceptable scientific trend over traditional open surgery as a result of its great benefits. Unilateral nephrectomy would impact some hormonal and ultrasonic features as a sequel or even as a compensatory mechanism. To ensure these expected outcomes, this work has been planned using sixteen local breed adult cats as an experimental model. A baseline sample of blood and sonography examinations were performed prior to surgery, then a complete unilateral laparoscopic excision of the left kidney was achieved for all cats. The assessment following excision was accomplished using ultrasonographic and biochemical results of erythropoietin and vitamin D3 concentrations on days 15, 30, and 60 following excisions. The follow-up examinations proved the safety of the laparoscopic nephrectomy, while ultrasonographic examination showed the presence of a clear and gradual compensatory increase in the size and the measured dimensions of the remaining kidney since the second week after excision until the end of the study in all experimental cats compared with preoperative values. Besides, the biochemical findings of erythropoietin and vitamin D3 values revealed the presence of a significant gradual compensatory increase in their concentrations from the fourth week after excision until the 60 days. In conclusion, unilateral nephrectomy is highly associated with the presence of ultrasonic and biochemical compensatory mechanisms exhibited by the enlargement of the remaining kidney's size and the elevation in erythropoietin and vitamin D3 concentrations.

This study was designed to investigate the bursa of Fabricius (BF) morphometric and effects of glutathione peroxidase enzyme (GPX-1) in infectious bursal disease vaccinated (IBDV) broiler supplemented with selenium-nanomaterials (Se-NPs). Ninety-six one-day-old of the Ross 308 broilers were assigned into E1, E2, E3, and E4 of 24 chicks each; those of E1 served as control, E2 vaccinated with an intermediate strain of IBD at 12 and 20 days old through the eye drop, E3 received a mix of Se-NPs and the vaccine, and E4 was supplemented with Se-NPs 0.3 mg/kg. At 19, 26, and 42 days of age, the diameters of the bursa of Fabricius were measured, and liver tissue was sampled to determine the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of the Glutathione peroxidase enzyme. Results indicated that group E4 (selenium-Nanoparticles group) significantly increased the bursal morphometric at 26 days old, and E3 increased the morphometric of the bursa Fabricius at 42 days old, as well as supplementation of Se-NPs significantly up-regulated RT-PCR of GPX-1 at 26 and 42 days old. The highest gene expression was in the selenium-nanoparticle group at 26 and 42 days old, in contrast to the other groups. Based on this finding, it can be concluded that nanomaterials improved the morphology of immune organs and enzyme peroxidase activity in vaccinated broilers with the Gumboro vaccine.

The current research aimed to expand on the morphometry, radiology and histochemistry of the internal olfactory bones in 12 camels' skulls in both genders collected from local slaughterhouses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The camel skull was elongated and had a pyramid shape with a base and apex. The bones of the nose were comparatively short, with a short middle and a long lateral process, and serrated rostro-medially. The posterior opening of the nasal cavity was opened caudally and separated into 2 partitions by vomer bone which had a length between 14.33±0.33-18.66±0.33cm. The cavum nasi (CN) comprised 3 turbinates: the dorsal one trimming with a skinny process, totaling 12.76±0.43-13.90±0.20 cm, the ventral was well established, with a total length between 13.6±0.20-17.63±0.08 cm, the middle was ventro-caudal and located rostrally to the ethmoidal turbinate. The longitudinal and transverse axes of ethmoidal bone were between 3.46±0.14-4.7±0.40 cm and 3.66±0.24-3.73±0.23 cm respectively. CN had also four nasal meatuses or passages: dorsal, middle ventral, and a common meatus. The ventral portion that was shaped by a semi-channel formed a sulcus vomeris. Histological records specify that rostral, caudal, and ethmoidal turbinates chiefly have a sensory purpose, whereas the middle turbinate contributes to mucosal defense. The morphometrical, radiological and histochemical information of the nasal region presented in this research will enhance the understanding of nasal cavity patterns that may significantly influence osteoarcheology and also provide information for comparative researches that can be utilized for application in clinical veterinary practices and even in zooarchaeology.

The swamp buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) are the important livestock that used for draught, meat production and cultural tradition ceremony in Indonesia. This study was aimed to characterize the wildtype and spotted buffaloes based on inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Total of twenty-two buffaloes (13 wildtype and nine spotted) were used for the experimental animals. Two ISSR primers (P01, P02) and three RAPD primers (SRILLS-2, SRILLS-5, SRILLS-6) were assessed to discriminate two types of buffalo. Results showed that the ISSR primers had a higher of polymorphic informative content (PIC) value than RAPD primers. Therefore, P01 had the highest of polymorphic informative content (PIC) value (0.412) and SRILLS-5 as the lowest (0.063). The Shannon’s diversity index (I) value in both technics were >1.00 and indicating a various fragments size resulted in each primer. However, the RAPD technique can discriminate two types of buffalo better than ISSR technique. In the pool animals, haplotype one of SRILLS-6 (16 heads) was more frequent than other haplotypes and followed by and haplotype two of P02 (14 heads). Despite this, two types of swamp buffalo in the present study also can be discriminated with combination of ISSR and RAPD technics accurately. In conclusion, the ISSR and RAPD primers in the present study can be used as the genetic markers to differentiate swamp buffaloes of Indonesia.

Muscle regulatory factors MYF5, MYH7, and MYOG are essential for muscle growth and development; thus, they are considered applicant genes for meat production traits in chickens. This study investigated the levels of glycogen and the expression of MYF5, MYH7, and MYOG genes in the pectoralis major muscle in broiler chickens. Fresh specimens were collected from the pectoralis major muscle for this study. Special stains were employed for identifying the histological structure and glycogen content in the pectoralis major muscle. The highest mean of the muscle fiber area, thickness of the connective tissue layers, and muscle bundle area was recorded at 38 days. The muscle fibers of the pectoralis major showed a progressive increase in PAS staining intensity from 7 to 21 days old, followed by a decline at 38 days old. qPCR was employed to estimate the mRNA concentrations of MYF5, MYH7, and MYOG in the muscle fibers in the pectoralis major muscle. In fact, the expression at 7 days exhibited that the highest average expression was detected in MYF5, whereas at 21 days, it revealed that there were no significant changes in gene expression. On the other hand, the expression at 38 days exposed that the highest average expression was detected in MYOG. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the essential function of muscle regulatory factors in the growth and development of the pectoralis major muscle in broiler chickens. The analysis showed a strong correlation between gene expression at various growth stages and the development of muscle fibers.

Consumer demands for meat and meat products have increased over the last years; Therefore, meat yields were improved using biotechnology. Gene modification techniques have been applied for these purposes using transgenic plants. The goal of this study is to investigate the presence of genetically modified additives in meat and meat products sold in local markets in Mosul city; DNA extraction of meat samples was screened for the presence of common regulatory genes represented by Cauliflower mosaic virus P-35S promoter and the Agrobacterium nopaline synthase T-nos terminator as well as the specific target Roundup Ready soybean gene (RR) using polymerase chain reaction assay to amplify sequences of these elements. The results displayed the existence of Roundup-ready soybean gene in processed meat products sold in Mosul city market 73%, especially in beef and poultry luncheon compared to sausage and mortadella with high prevalence in imported poultry meat 41.67% in comparison to other types of meat. The results also revealed that 58.33% of poultry luncheon and 50% of beef mortadella were positive for the presence of the 35S promoter gene, while only 3 (%4.69) of processed meat samples showed positive results for the presence of the nos terminator gene. Phylogenetic analysis revealed genetic diversity compared to global genes of transgenic plants recorded in Genebank. According to the results, the application of a monitoring system to detect genetically modified additives in meat products is recommended to protect consumer health.

Foodborne pathogens are an international health problem, especially Staphylococcus (S.) aureus, which is considered one of the most important foodborne pathogens. The study aimed to isolate and identify the S. aureus bacteria from the meat of slaughtered animals in Mosul abattoirs during the period from August 26 to November 20, 2024. The conventional microbiology diagnosis for S. aureus in the meat of slaughtered animals in Mosul abattoir reveals isolation of 131/270, with a total isolation rate reaching 48.5% from all meat samples. For the purpose of further analysis to detect the enterotoxin genes, the isolates that were previously confirmed as S. aureus by using specific Nuc gene, PCR was applied to 46 random isolates to identify S. enterotoxins (sea, seb, sec, sed, sef, and Tsst genes) which gave a positive result for Sea, seb, sec, and Tsst genes with molecular weight 219, 478, 257 and 559 bp, respectively, except the seD and seE gene are not detected in this study, moreover some isolates carrying either one or more than one of enterotoxins genes. From the results of this study, we believe that meat contamination in the abattoirs may come from poor sanitation practices in slaughterhouses that could expose the consumers to meat-borne infections and food poisoning. It could be recommended that activities in the abattoir should be monitored and regulated by the government and sanitation agencies to ensure that approved and acceptable standards are adhered to reduce contamination of meat that gets to final consumers.

Besnoitia besnoiti (Bb)has become an important cause of severe commercial losses in endemic zones globally. The seroprevalence of this organism in Iraq is underreported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of bovine besnoitiosis (BB) in Mosul city, Iraq. A cross-sectional study was done from April 2024 to February 2025 on 20 farms. A total of 300 sera were collected from animals aged 1 to 7 years and examined using a commercially available indirect enzyme immune sorbent assay (ELISA). The probable risk factors investigated were age, sex, breed origin, herd size, and season. The overall prevalence of BB was 23% (69/300; 95% Confidence interval (CI)= 17.9 to 29.1). During spring, older animals (≥ 5 years old) and herds with imported breeds showed greater seroprevalences of antibodies against Bb, whereas a lower prevalence rate in animals with ≤ 1 year old. Univariable analysis showed that cattle aged ≥5 years, imported breeds, and those sampled in spring were significantly more likely to be seropositive. In a multivariable regression analysis, the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of seropositivity was 6.0 times higher for animals ≥ 5 years old and 4.0 times higher for spring compared to younger animals and other times of year. Imported animals were 3.1 times more likely to be seropositive than native breeds. This study provides the first seroepidemiological studies on B. besnoiti in Mosul city, Iraq. Older animals, imported breeds, and spring represented considerable risk factors for infection. These findings are crucial in guiding future surveillance and control actions for BB in the region.

Hydatidosis is a widespread parasitic disease caused by larval stage protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus. The present study investigated the effect of protoscoleces after exposure to alpha particles on the expression of immune response-related genes in rats. This study observed gene expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 in rats infected with hydatid cysts. In this study, six groups of male albino rats were used; some groups were injected intraperitoneally, with protoscoleces exposed to alpha particles for either 1 or 1.5 hours, while the control group received protoscoleces. After four to five, the rats were euthanized. The levels of gene activity for markers like TNF-α, IL‐6, and IL‐10 were examined in different organs of rats at time intervals. The results showed that alpha particle exposure led to significant changes in the expression of these cytokines depending on both dose and duration of exposure. The expression of alpha particles after 1 and 1.5 hours resulted in notable changes in IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α gene expression in rats, especially after four months, where the injection of irradiated protoscoleces led to an increase in TNF-α expression. The exposure to alpha particles influenced the inflammatory response at both the transcriptional and functional levels. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to alpha particles demonstrated a dose-dependent effect, which enhances gene expression changes.