The Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Feed losses in broiler farms are negatively affecting the health and growth of broiler and ‎thus reducing profitability. This study aimed to estimate feed loss in small-scale broiler ‎farms using two modified conventional feeders, Trough and Tube feeders, and two ‎different feed forms, Mash and Pellet. The experiment was carried out using non-modified ‎feeders and modified by attaching a 4×4 cm protective net to Trough feeder and reducing ‎length from 6 cm to 4 cm to Tube feeder. Results showed a very slight effect of feeder type ‎on feed loss for the benefit of the Trough feeder. The feed losses were significantly noted ‎‎(from 3.91% to 1.84% before and after modification, respectively) when feeding Mashed ‎feed with Trough feeder. Similarly, it was significantly reduced from 8.17% to 2.10% ‎before and after modification, respectively, when fed Pelleted feed with Trough feeder. ‎However, the feed loss decreased as the older the broiler chicken gets (losses reduced ‎from 9.93% in the 4th week to 2.39% in the 7th week). Feed loss was significantly ‎increased when feeding pellet feed (loss=10.76%) as compared to mashed feed (feed ‎loss=2.60%). The feed conversion ratios (FCR) were 1.93 and 1.88 when Trough and ‎Tube feeder types were used, respectively. The feed losses were reduced from 7.32% to ‎‎0.75% and 6.04% to 1.97% for modified Tube and Trough feeders, respectively. In ‎conclusion, feed loss was decreased as the broiler age increased, and the loss rate was ‎higher using Pellet feed compared to Mash feed. Summing up, modified feeder by itself had ‎no significant effect on feed loss, even though feed loss was substantially reduced, and FCR ‎was improved‎‎‎.‎

Ovine and caprine babesiosis is a significant tick-borne disease affecting small ruminants, ‎causing economic losses and health challenges in endemic regions such as northern Iraq. ‎This study aimed to determine the prevalence, molecular characteristics, and associated ‎risk factors of Babesia spp. infections in small ruminants in Erbil Province, Iraq. A total of ‎‎235 animals (125 sheep and 110 goats) were clinically examined and sampled between ‎October 2024 and March 2025. Blood smears were screened microscopically, and DNA ‎was extracted from the blood sample collected for molecular detection. PCR targeting the ‎‎18S rRNA gene of Babesia spp., B. ovis, and B. motasi was carried out using the extracted ‎DNA from the blood samples. Microscopic examination results revealed infection rates to ‎be 16.8% in sheep and 8.2% in goats, while PCR-based detection showed notably higher ‎prevalence, 28.8% and 12.7%, respectively. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of B. ‎ovis isolates confirmed strong genetic similarity with regional strains from Turkey, Iran, ‎and Iraq. Additionally, the presence of B. ovis sequences clustering with those from non-‎ruminant hosts (e.g., rabbits and horses) was observed. Notably, Babesia motasi was not ‎detected in any of the examined samples. Risk factor analysis demonstrated significant ‎associations between infection and tick infestation, lack of acaricide use, and prior ‎exposure to ticks. Specifically, tick-infested animals exhibited markedly higher infection ‎rates, with odds ratios of 9.93 for sheep and 4.16 for goats. However, no statistically ‎significant differences were observed concerning sex, age, or grazing system. These ‎findings underscore the continued threat of Babesia infections among small ruminants in ‎northern Iraq and highlight the need for improved tick control strategies to mitigate ‎disease transmission‎‎‎.‎

Chlamydia abortus is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes chlamydiosis, a zoonotic ‎disease leading to abortions and stillbirths in livestock and posing significant public ‎health risks. With rising antimicrobial resistance and limited treatment efficacy, there is a ‎pressing need for novel, targeted therapeutics to mitigate its economic and zoonotic ‎impact. This study employed a subtractive genomics approach to analyze the complete ‎proteome of C. abortus (strain DSM 27085 / S26/3), aiming to identify essential, non-host ‎homologous proteins involved in unique bacterial metabolic pathways. Out of 932 ‎proteins, five integral membrane proteins YidC, YajC, SecY, CAB503, and CAB746 were ‎selected based on their essentiality, pathogen-specific roles, and absence of host ‎homology. Anti-target screening confirmed no similarity to host proteins, ensuring ‎minimal off-target effects. Antigenicity prediction (VaxiJen > 0.4) identified YidC, YajC, ‎SecY, and CAB503 as strong vaccine candidates, while CAB746 exhibited variable ‎antigenicity across species. Conservancy analysis showed YidC and YajC were highly ‎conserved across C. abortus strains, while the others displayed strain-specific variations. ‎Domain analysis revealed conserved motifs (e.g., IPR002208 in SecY) and transmembrane ‎regions, supporting their structural and immunological relevance. In conclusion, YidC, ‎YajC, SecY, CAB503, and CAB746 represent promising drug and vaccine targets. Their ‎bacterial specificity, immunogenicity, and safety profile warrant further experimental ‎validation to support targeted interventions against chlamydiosis

Canine parvoviral enteritis (CPE) is a common viral disease in puppies that frequently ‎results in severe gastrointestinal, hematological, and cardiac effects. This study aimed to ‎look into the relationship between red blood cells parameters and ECG abnormalities, ‎pointing out a potential connection between hematological changes and cardiac ‎involvement in CPE. A total of 32 dogs of different breeds were incorporated in the data ‎collected from animal hospital and classified into two main groups: 25 puppies with ‎parvoviral enteritis and 7 healthy controls. The diseased group was divided into three ‎subgroups based on ages and status of vaccination. Group 1: Eight puppies without ‎vaccinations under 3 months of age; Group 2: Nine puppies without vaccinations over 3 ‎months of age; Group 3: Eight puppies that had received vaccine but tested positive for ‎parvovirus. Group I had microcytic hypochromic anemia and a significantly reduced ‎hematocrit (%). Group I higher heart rate and shorter QT interval on the ECG were ‎connected to red blood cell indices such as MCV, RDW, and MCH. Significant correlations ‎were also established between the PR interval and RDW and between the QT/QTc ‎interval and RDW, MCV, and MCH. In conclusion, this study revealed that hematological ‎changes associated with canine parvoviral enteritis—especially changes in red blood cell ‎indices such as RDW, MCV, and MCH—are strongly connected with electrocardiographic ‎alterations. These results put forward that the change of these blood parameters could be ‎created to variations in cardiac electrical activity during CPE. Accurate treatment ‎strategies and monitoring of severity may be aided by an understanding of these links. ‎Further studies are required to clarify the clinical usefulness of these hematological ‎parameters as potential biomarkers in systemic viral infections‎‎‎.‎

Pasteurella is a major bacterial pathogen causing respiratory signs due to pneumonia and ‎septicemia that usually affects young animals and humans, leading to significant economic ‎losses. it is responsible for highly contagious infections in animals, leading to high ‎mortality and consequently financial losses for the breeders. The aim of the study was the ‎rapid detection of Pasteurella infection outbreak. This study examined a specific outbreak ‎of pasteurellosis in a sheep flock in Egypt based on clinical and postmortem diagnoses, ‎molecular detection using universal and specific primers, as well as the histopathological ‎examination to demonstrate the pathological changes on internal organs. The results ‎revealed that 15 of 70 animals (21.4%)—primarily lambs under one year—died suddenly ‎with mild respiratory signs. Postmortem examination revealed congested, consolidated ‎lungs and liver lesions. Bacteriological culturing showed characteristic non-hemolytic ‎colonies on the blood agar, and the Gram’s staining confirmed bipolar coccobacilli. PCR ‎targeting the 16S rRNA gene and SYBR Green real-time PCR targeting the KMT1 gene ‎identified Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida) in 8/10 samples. Septicemic ‎bronchopneumonia and hepatic degeneration highlight the importance of ‎histopathological investigation align with molecular assays for accurate diagnosis of P. ‎multocida infection in sheep‎‎‎.‎

Humanin (HN), a mitochondrial-derived peptide with cytoprotective functions, has not ‎been thoroughly investigated in the bull gonad. This study characterized the ‎developmental localization of HN in the bull testis and its relationship with hormonal ‎status, oxidative stress, and key miRNAs. An age dependent HN expression pattern was ‎seen by immunofluorescence examinations of testicular tissues from pre-pubertal, ‎puberty, mature, and aged bulls. So that, pre-pubertal and aged groups showed faint HN ‎immunoreactivity, pubertal animals showed moderate immunoreactivity, and mature ‎adults showed the most intense immune response (P ≤ 0.0001). In contrast to this, miR-‎‎202-5p and miR-21 had their highest expression levels during pre-pubertal, pubertal, and ‎mature testes and a significant decrease in aged bulls (P ≤ 0.0001). Despite the contrasting ‎developmental trends observed at the group level, a correlation analysis involving all ‎individual animals (n = 40) demonstrated a robust positive association between HN and ‎miR-202-5p levels (r = 0.8196, P < 0.001). This finding implies a close regulatory ‎connection between these molecules that functions throughout various developmental ‎stages. Quantitatively, HN levels was correlated positively with serum testosterone (r = ‎‎0.5852, P < 0.01) and the antioxidant enzyme SOD (r = 0.8208, P < 0.001), and negatively ‎with the oxidative stress marker MDA (r = - 0.7140, P < 0.001). The current findings show ‎the first developmentally-specific HN expression in the bull testis, which is linked to peak ‎reproductive maturity, hormonal balance, and redox homeostasis. The correlation with ‎miR-202-5p suggests that there is a potential new regulatory network, and that HN is a ‎crucial peptide for testicular function and aging. The results of this study could facilitate ‎additional investigations into the distribution of HN throughout gonadal development, ‎ultimately enhancing the reproductive efficiency of livestock‎‎‎.‎

Atmospheric pressure corona discharge (APCD), ultraviolet C with ozone (UVC w/ O3), and
plasma treated water (PTW) have lately been spotlighted in the food industry as non￾thermal techniques (NTTs) for detoxifying mycotoxins, due to their unique features. The
efficiency of these techniques in detoxifying aflatoxin B1 (Afla B1), ochratoxin A (Ochra A),
and fumonisin B1 (Fum B1) in feeds of poultry and their effects on quality of feed were
inspected. Samples of feed were subjected to APCD, UVC w/ O3, and PTW for 10, 20, and 60
min. Mycotoxin concentrations were determined by competitive enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and outcomes were verified by high-performance liquid
chromatography (HPLC). Standard analytical methods were adopted for analyzing feed
components and determining peroxide values (PVs). Subjecting samples to APCD, UVC w/
O3, and PTW for 10 min resulted in degradation of Afla B1 to levels of 46.6, 38.9, and 28.9%,
Ochra A to 49.8, 35.9, and 29.9%, and Fum B1 to 58.6, 42.6, and 35.9%, respectively, for 20
min to Afla B1 levels of 57.7, 46.6, and 32.9%, Ochra A 68.9, 45.3, and 38.5%, and Fum B1
75.7, 49.9, and 41.6%, respectively, for 60 min to Afla B1 levels of 83.2, 65.7, and 33.8%,
Ochra A 84.2, 73.6, and 40.7%, and Fum B1 84.8, 71.2, and 43.4%, respectively. The main
conclusion of the study is that APCD and UVC w/ O3 can be adopted to efficiently degrade
Afla B1, Ochra A, and Fum B1 in feed while maintaining its quality. According to their impact
on feed quality, techniques can be ranked as follows: APCD > UVC w/ O3 > PTW.