The Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Iatrogenic aspiration pneumonia (AP), often caused by incorrect drenching and ‎feeding with inappropriate bottles, is a frequent condition that can lead to sudden death ‎depending on the amount of aspirated fluid. The evaluation of clinical scores‎ and blood ‎gas analytes may provide valuable insights into the complications that may arise due to AP in later ‎stages. In this study, the AP Group consisted of ‎23 Holstein breed calves aged 1-14 days, ‎which developed clinical signs such as cough, nasal and/or ocular discharge, and respiratory ‎distress after forced feeding with inappropriate bottles. The Control Group consisted of 11 healthy calves with similar characteristics. Clinical examinations, Calf ‎Health Score (CHS) evaluations, and venous blood gas analysis were performed. Based on anamnesis, calves with AP were classified as either Acute or Chronic AP. In clinical ‎examination, heart and respiratory rates were higher in the Acute AP Group compared to the ‎other groups (P<0.001). Total CHS was higher in the AP Group than that in the Control ‎Group (P<0.001). The pH, sO2, Cl and Hb levels of the AP Group were lower, and K and ‎lactate levels were higher compared to the Control Group (P<0.031). Among all groups, ‎the pCO2 levels were highest in the Acute AP Group (P<0.001). The Na level of the Chronic ‎AP Group was lower than that of the Control Group (P<0.05). The hematocrit level was ‎lowest in the Chronic AP Group (P<0.016). These findings suggest that venous blood samples can be effectively used to classify the course of AP ‎in neonatal calves; significant alterations in venous blood gas, electrolyte levels, and CHS can ‎be observed in affected animals; sO2 and pCO2 levels are particularly important in ‎distinguishing between acute and chronic cases of AP; and clinical and laboratory findings may ‎be similar to those observed in healthy animals in chronic cases depending on the body’s ability ‎to compensate or tolerate the disease.

The aim of this study was ‎the‎ discrimination of Salmonella‎‎ isolated from chicken and their feed ‎and drinking water for the epidemiological control of salmonellosis. Totally, 289 samples, ‎including 217 chicken cloaca swabs, 46 water, and 26 feed samples were collected from five ‎different farms in Karbala governorate, Iraq. Conventional bacteriology tests, API 20E, Vitek 2, ‎and serology were used for bacterial identification. Random amplified polymorphic ‎DNA (RAPD)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied to analyze the genetic relationships ‎among Salmonella‎‎ isolates. The isolation rate of Salmonella‎‎ spp. was 21.1% (61/289). While the ‎water samples constituted the highest rate (30.4%), a rate of 21.7% was reported for the cloaca ‎swabs, with no isolate at all from chicken feed. Vitek 2 was able to identify some isolates to the ‎serotype level, such as S. Enteritidis, S. Paratyphi B, and S. Paratyphi C. However, the isolates ‎were diagnosed as S. enterica by API 20E, and as S. enterica subsp. arizonae through serology. ‎Analyzing the samples by the RAPD-PCR assay showed the presence of genetically different ‎Salmonella‎‎ spp. Dendrograms created by the GelJ software successfully delineated the genetic ‎relationships. Therefore, RAPD-PCR can be used as a surrogate tool for the fast, reliable, and ‎accurate detection of Salmonella‎‎ in epidemiological surveys when compared with other ‎biochemical-based identification methods.

Lymphoma is a cancer arising from B or T lymphocytes that are central immune system ‎components. It is one of the three most common cancers encountered in the canine; ‎lymphoma affects middle-aged to older dogs and usually stems from lymphatic tissues, ‎such as lymph nodes, lymphoid tissue, or spleen. Despite the advance in the management of ‎canine lymphoma, a better understanding of the subtype and tumor aggressiveness is still ‎crucial for improved clinical diagnosis to differentiate malignancy from hyperplastic ‎conditions and to improve decision-making around treating and what treatment type to use. ‎This study aimed to evaluate a potential novel biomarker related to iron metabolism, ‎embryonic haemoglobin (HBE), for early diagnosis. Archived samples in combination with ‎prospective samples collected from dogs with and without lymphoma were used in this ‎study for the retrospective analyses of this tumor based on the same biomarker amplified by ‎real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The HBE mRNA was aberrantly expressed ‎in canine B and T cell lymphoma compared to the normal lymph node tissue and ‎hyperplastic lymph nodes. In conclusion, this study identified a novel potential biomarker for improving lymphoma ‎diagnosis and treatment in dogs. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to ‎confirm the suitability of this biomarker for canine lymphoma diagnosis.

This study aimed to determine the effect of an ethanolic extract of Salvia hispanica‎ (Sh) seeds on ‎osteoporosis induced by methylprednisolone (MP) in female rabbits by assessing the bone ‎mineral density (BMD), serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, and parathyroid ‎hormone, as well as histopathological changes in the femur bone. Fifty female rabbits ‎‎(Lepus cuniculus) averaging 1800±125 g and 8±1.4 months old were used in this study. ‎They were randomly allocated to five groups of 10 rabbits each. The negative control group ‎received only subcutaneous normal saline (1 mL/kg BW). The positive control group received MP subcutaneously at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg BW per ‎day for 30 days, followed by oral normal saline (1 mL/kg BW) per day for two months. ‎Group 3 received MP followed by oral administration of Sh seed ethanolic extract at a dose of 600 mg/kg BW per day for two months. Group 4 received MP followed by oral administration of alendronate (Ale) at a dose ‎of 3.6 mg/kg weekly for two months. Group 5 received MP ‎followed by Ale and then Sh seed ethanolic extract. The study continued until one ‎week after the cessation of the treatments. The results showed that the BMD and serum ‎concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D significantly decreased (P<0.05), ‎while serum concentrations of parathyroid hormone significantly increased (P<0.05) in the ‎positive control and alendronate groups compared with the negative control group after two ‎months of treatment and after one week of withdrawal. However, the administration of Sh methanolic extract to the animals in the three treatment groups ‎ameliorated these parameters and reverted them to normal values. Histopathological ‎analysis of the femur bone head revealed abnormal bone morphology in the positive control ‎group, while Sh extract treatment preserved the normal histology in the other ‎groups. These findings concluded to that Sh seeds ethanolic extract has the ‎potential to prevent bone loss induced by chronic glucocorticoid therapy and may have ‎significant implications for the treatment of osteoporosis.

In the treatment of COVID-19, the antiviral medication Favipiravir has proven to be quite successful. Its metabolism is mediated by the enzymes aldehyde oxidase (AO) and xanthine oxidase (XO). This research investigated the potential drug-drug interaction between
favipiravir and amlodipine in hypertensive rabbits. Twenty local adult male rabbits (aged between 10 and 12 months and weighing between 2 and 2.5 kg) were induced with hypertension by 20 mg/kg BW of desoxycorticosterone acetate subcutaneously for three
weeks and then divided randomly into two groups of ten. The first group received a single oral dose of 40 mg/kg BW of favipiravir, while the second group received 5 mg/kg of amlodipine orally for 14 consecutive days to inhibit AO before receiving a single oral dose of 40 mg/kg BW of favipiravir. Blood samples were collected from the marginal ear vein at 15, 30, 45 min, and 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 36, 48, and 72 h. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the concentration of favipiravir in the
plasma. The results showed that co-administration of amlodipine prolonged the time taken for favipiravir (Tmax) to reach maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and decreased its elimination half-life, while increasing the area under the curve (AUC). Amlodipine also
prolonged the elimination of favipiravir by reducing the clearance per unit time (Cl/f).
Additionally, hypertension potentiated the effect of amlodipine on the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of favipiravir. In conclusion, concomitant use of favipiravir with other drugs that affect AO enzyme activity may alter the pharmacokinetic
profile of the drug. Therefore, adjusting the dose of favipiravir administered to hypertensive patients receiving amlodipine is recommended.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum‎, one of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), is found in various foods, ‎‎including dairy products, meat, and vegetables, and most of these bacteria offer beneficial ‎‎effects to humans and animals as potential probiotics with broad-spectrum antimicrobial ‎‎activities. The aim of this study was evaluating the antibacterial efficacy of L. ‎plantarum‎ ‎against ‎some foodborne bacteria isolated from dairy products. This research involved 34 dairy ‎products, ‎including local and imported milk, cheese, and yogurt sold locally in Baghdad ‎province, Iraq, during May ‎‎2022. For the isolation of L. ‎plantarum‎, a special medium called ‎MRS (de Man Rogosa and ‎Sharpe) was applied. Colonies were purified and identified by routine ‎bacteriological methods, ‎Vitek2 system, and confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ‎targeting the ‎16S rRNA‎ ‎gene followed by the amplicon sequencing. Other aerobic bacteria ‎contaminating dairy products ‎were also isolated onto sterile selective media specific for each ‎microorganism, and the isolates ‎were identified by routine diagnostics tests followed by ‎verification with Vitek2 system. Then, ‎the culture supernatant of L. ‎plantarum‎ was tested for its ‎antagonistic activity toward foodborne ‎bacteria by the use of agar well diffusion assay. The ‎findings showed the isolation of 2 L. ‎plantarum‎‎, 3 Pseudomonas aeruginosa‎, 4 Escherichia coli, ‎one isolate of Bacillus subtilis, and ‎another Staphylococcus hominis. The filtered supernatant of ‎L. ‎plantarum‎ was significantly ‎efficient in inhibiting the growth of the above bacteria. Each of E. ‎coli and B. subtilis‎ revealed ‎zones of inhibition of 36 and 38 mm in diameter, respectively, ‎while P. aeruginosa‎ and S. ‎hominis had inhibition zones diameters of 27 and 29 mm, ‎respectively. This suggests that the L. ‎plantarum‎‎ supernatant possesses a broad-spectrum ‎activity against foodborne bacteria. To ‎conclude, locally made dairy products can hold different ‎contaminating bacteria, which can be ‎eliminated by using probiotics, such as L. ‎plantarum‎, to ‎avoid foodborne diseases onset‎.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Theileria equi‎ infection in racing ‎horses in ‎‎Baghdad governorate, utilizing clinical signs, microscopic examination, molecular ‎assays, and ‎hematological ‎tests to identify significant differences between infected and non-‎infected horses. Between ‎January and ‎December 2021, a total of 160 racing horses from three ‎locations in Baghdad governorate (Al-‎Amiriya ‎Equestrian Club, Arabian horses in Alzwraa ‎Zoo, and Iraqi Equestrian School) were randomly ‎selected for ‎examination. Microscopic ‎examination of blood smears revealed 11 positive samples for ‎Theileria equi‎ ‎‎(6.875%), while ‎the results of the polymerase chain reaction assay targeting the 18S ‎ribosomal RNA gene ‎‎confirmed 26 positives (16.25%). Sequenced amplicons and phylogenetic tree analysis ‎‎revealed a genetic ‎similarity of 93.03–‎100% and 94-100% site coverage compared to many ‎global ‎countries' isolates. ‎Interestingly, only 16 (61.5%) of the 26 infected horses showed ‎mild to subclinical ‎symptoms or were ‎carriers of the disease without tick infestation. ‎Hematological blood parameters ‎showed non-significant ‎differences between infected and ‎non-infected horses, except for a decrease in ‎packed cell volume (PCV) ‎and hemoglobin (Hb) ‎concentration, which caused anemia in 12 horses among ‎the 26 molecularly positive ‎cases ‎‎(46.15%). Of these cases, 6 horses (23.08%) had normocytic ‎normochromic anemia, while 3 ‎‎(11.54%) ‎cases each had normocytic hypochromic and microcytic ‎hypochromic anemia. ‎Notably, young horses (two ‎years old) were more susceptible to infection (odds ratio ‎‎15.4) ‎than those over six years old. Additionally, ‎sex and breed did not show any significant ‎correlation ‎with equine theileriosis. In conclusion, this study ‎detected Theileria equi‎ infection ‎in young racing horses in ‎Baghdad. Clinically, most infected cases showed ‎mild to ‎asymptomatic signs accompanied by anemia. ‎Molecular investigation revealed high genetic ‎‎similarity to isolates reported globally. These findings ‎highlight the importance of ‎implementing measures ‎to control and prevent the spread of Theileria equi‎ in ‎racing horses in ‎Baghdad and other regions. Further ‎studies are warranted to better understand the ‎‎epidemiology, pathogenesis, and risk factors associated ‎with equine theileriosis‎.

Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is an acute contagious upper respiratory tract infection of ‎chickens and other birds, caused by Gallid herpesvirus1 (GaHV-1), which has economic ‎importance in the poultry industry. There was no scientific data about the incidence of the ‎disease in broiler farms in Sulaymaniyah province/Iraq. Therefore, this study aimed to ‎investigate ILTV infection in broiler farms in that region. Clinically infected birds from 89 ‎broiler flocks that had respiratory distress, coughing, gasping, tracheal rales, nasal ocular ‎discharge, and congested trachea with purulent exudate, hemorrhagic tracheitis with/or without ‎necrotic changes were investigated. The DNA was extracted from the pooled samples, ‎including tracheal secretion, trachea, and lung tissue. Primers specific to the thymidine kinase ‎gene (tdk) of ILTV- were used in PCR to detect the virus. A phylogenic tree was generated to ‎track the virus’s origin. The study revealed that the rate of infection with ILTV among broiler ‎farms was 2.2% (2/89) in the region. The sequencing analysis showed that the ILTV isolated in ‎the area was closely related to the reported strains in the United States and Brazil (MN643591.1 ‎and S83714.1); and had a sequence identity of 98.27% to the taxon ‎JQ217378.1. In conclusion, the study reported that one of the causes of the respiratory viral ‎infection in broiler flocks even at younger ages was related to ILTV. Partially sequenced tdk ‎gene of the virus showed that the circulated serovar in the region had some nucleotides and ‎amino acids differences with the worldwide reported serovars. This should be taken into ‎consideration in the poultry industry by doing further investigation‎.

Physiological status and litter size can indeed have a significant impact on ewes' ‎hematological parameters, which are essential indicators of their health. Therefore, this study ‎examined the hematological profiles of ewes during pregnancy with single and twins in the ‎Awassi ewes. The present study involved 232 ewes in good health and at sexual maturity. ‎Among them, 123 ewes had single pregnancies, while 109 ewes had twin pregnancies. The age ‎range of the ewes included in the study was between 3.5 and 4.5 years. Hematological tests ‎were conducted on the sheep's blood samples promptly following collection. The findings ‎demonstrated variations in hematological parameters among pregnant ewes, with differences ‎based on litter size. Ewes carrying twin pregnancies exhibited significantly higher levels of ‎red blood corpuscular, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin ‎concentration during pregnancy. In comparison to single-pregnant ewes, Awassi ewes with ‎twin pregnancies displayed elevated counts of white blood cells, lymphocytes, granulocytes, ‎and granulocyte percentage compared to ewes with single pregnancies. Awassi ewes with twin ‎pregnancies also exhibited a strong positive correlation with the leukocytes and erythrocytes ‎constituents. In conclusion, these findings indicate that litter size significantly influences ‎hematological parameters, highlighting the importance of considering the physiological status ‎and litter size as indicators of ewes' health. The findings have practical implications in sheep ‎breeding and reproduction, as they can be utilized to enhance the diagnosis, prognosis, and ‎treatment of related conditions‎.

Peafowl are a species of bird for which there is limited scientific research, despite the ‎importance of the respiratory system on bird health. This study aimed to provide a detailed ‎anatomical examination and comparative description of the lungs in adult male and female ‎indigenous peafowl (Pavo cristatus) to further our understanding of the respiratory system in ‎this species. Sixteen healthy adult peafowl (8 peacocks and 8 peahens) were obtained from ‎commercial markets in Dyalla, and Baghdad, Iraq. The birds had a mean live weight of 3.5±0.59 kg for females ‎and 3.0±0.39 kg for males. After being anesthetized, the birds were sacrificed by cutting off major ‎blood vessels in the neck. Subsequently, the lungs were carefully dissected and examined to ‎identify their shape, color, position, dimensions, and overall structure. Detailed photographs of ‎the lungs were taken, and various measurements were recorded for each lung in male and ‎female peafowl. The lungs of the peafowl were found to have an elongated, triangular shape, ‎extending from the first to the sixth vertebral ribs. Each lung exhibited two borders (medial and ‎lateral) and three surfaces (vertebral, costal or dorsal, and septal). Notably, the lateral border ‎and dorsal surface of each lung had four deep grooves resulting from the embedding of the ‎second to fifth ribs, which led to the division of the lung into five lobes in both peacocks and ‎peahens. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first scientific research on the ‎anatomical features of the lungs in indigenous peafowl. The findings from this study contribute ‎to a better understanding of the lung structure in this bird species, which can be valuable for ‎future studies on avian respiratory physiology and health.

Tannins have been demonstrated to inhibit the growth of several chicken illnesses in vitro.
The complex compositions of tannins make it difficult for microorganisms to develop bacterial resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of condensed tannins (CT) extracts on metabolic profile of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR). The experimental groups were divided into three groups:control (no CT added), high in procyanidins (PC-CT) group, and high in prodelphinidins (PDCT) group, with exposure times of 0, 10, and 24 h. APEC was observed to respond to CT extracted from Tilia flowers (high PC-CT) and black locust leaves (high PD-CT). The levels of amino acids including lysine, leucine, glutamate, phenylalanine, and pyroglutamate were increased with the high PD-CT treatment; however, no significant differences were observed between the PC-CT group and the control. Treatment of APEC culture with high PD-CT also led to a significant decrease in the level of lactate. Thus, high PD-CT affected these metabolisms and could be exploited to control the proliferation of APEC in poultry, thereby improving their health and performance.

E. coli‎‎ O157:H7, is one of the main causes of diarrhea and the most prevalent bacterial ‎infection that causes serious illnesses. This research was conducted to investigate the effect of Capparis ‎spinosa fruit ultrasonic extract against resistant E. coli‎‎ O157:H7 was isolated from stools of calves ‎that were suffering from diarrhea; the bacteria were identified by the Vitek 2 system and a latex agglutination ‎test. C. spinosa‎‎‎ was extracted by ultrasonic waves water bath. The phytochemicals were carried out on C. ‎spinosa fruit extract to detect the secondary metabolites. The MIC of the extract was calculated with ‎concentrations of 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800 and 25600 51200 µg/mL by microdilution method ‎‎(checkerboard). While using a field-emission scanning electron microscope to observe the morphological ‎alterations in E. coli‎‎ O157:H7 sample. The findings of this study revealed that the extract contains some ‎biologically active compounds like alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, glycosides, tannins, cumarines, saponins, ‎quinones, and amino acids. That extract of C. spinosa‎‎‎ had a MIC of 6400 µg/mL and had a perfect action ‎against E. coli‎‎. O157:H7 by forming vacuoles within the cells and that internal content had seeped out as pore ‎formation. This finding could potentially provide an explanation for the traditional utilization of ‎this plant material as an antibacterial agent‎‎.