Al-Anbar Journal of Veterinary Sciences

This review was conducted to give an overview of the current state of knowledge on Sarcocystis infectivity, pathogenicity, and transmissibility here, based on our current understanding virulence. Sarcocystis species are parasitic protozoa. Sarcocystis is about 220 species that may be found all over the world. Heteroxen and protozoan parasites Sarcocystis spp. develop cysts in intermediate hosts' tissues and are thrown out as sporocysts with definitive hosts. Herbivores, which are their intermediate hosts, have cysts in their hearts, oesophagus, diaphragms, tongues, jaws, and other skeletal muscles. In general, canid-transmitted Sarcocystis spp. are more pathogenic than felid-transmitted Sarcocystis spp. Fever, anemia, weight loss, decreased wool quality and milk output, and abortion are all signs of intermediate hosts.

The study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Theileriosis in sheep in Baghdad city, as well as study the effect of age, sex, and months in the infection rate by examination of 180 of blood samples collected during the period from the beginning of October 2020 to the end of March 2021. All samples were examined by microscopic examination, and 100 blood samples collected randomly from total 180 were molecular detection by using conventional PCR. The total infection rate of the microscopic infection was 33.33%(60/180). The result showed a significant difference (P<0.05) between two different ages of animals that infected with Theileria spp and the adult sheep(>1y), which recorded the higher 50% (50/100), while the lower infection rate 12.5% (10/80) was among the young sheep(6mns-1y). concerning sex and months, there was no significant difference between female and male ,also among study months. The conventional PCR technique was used in the molecular study; 70(70%) out of 100 blood samples were selected randomly from 180 sheep. PCR products of teen were selected randomly for DNA analysis to obtain the partial nucleotides sequence of 18S ribosomal RNA gene . The PCR product was processed as a wave-like shape at (1104bp) after that sequences were recorded in NCBI with No.1 (MW735685.1), No.2(MW735686.1), No.3 (MW735687.1), No.5 (MW735689.1), No.7 (MW735691.1),No.8 (MW735692.1), No.10 (MW735694.1) for Theileria ovis and No.1 No.4 (MW735688.1), No.6 (MW735690.1), No.9 (MW735693.1) for Theileria lestoquardi

The current study was conducted to demonstrate the histological feature of the pyloric region of the abomasum in local buffalos and to focus on the distribution of different types of carbohydrates in the pylorus wall, where digestion has a great impact on animal production and economical outcome. Six samples of abomasum were collected from adult healthy local buffalos from the Mosul abattoir. then the pylorus region samples were sectioned from the pylorus, histologically processed, and stained with hematoxylin & eosin stain, Masson’s trichrome, periodic acid Schiff and alcian blue. The histological findings of the pyloric region revealed that the mucosal wall of pylorus has depressions called gastric pits, these pits occupied the most of lamina propria receiving the mucus secretion of pyloric glands, which appeared short, tortuous, tubular in the anterior part of the pylorus, and became longer, straight in the middle part of the pylorus. The submucosa is characterized by the presence of lymphatic nodules. The histochemical findings revealed the presence of neutral and acidic (mixed) glycoprotein in the pyloric region, where acidic glycoprotein was found in terminal pyloric glands, while neutral glycoprotein was present mainly in gastric pits. The mid gland of the anterior part is distinguished by neutral glycoprotein, where as the acidic glycoprotein was evident in the mid gland of the middle part of the pylorus. The surface epithelium is characterized by the presence of both neutral and acidic types of glycoprotein. Furthermore, glycogen is present in both gastric pits in the caudal part and terminal pyloric glands of the anterior part. Glycosaminoglycans were predominant at the terminal part of pyloric glands and present in little amounts in the middle part and absent in gastric pits. In conclusion presence of acidic glycoprotein in pyloric glands confirm the presence of mucus neck cells due to their acidic secretion, while the presence of neutral glycoprotein mainly in gastric pits indicates the formation of the mucosal gastric barrier.

The current study was conducted to find out the different species of blood parasites that infect pet birds (Melopsittacus undulatus, Carduelis chloris and Carduelis carduelis) and to know the infection rates with these parasites and their relationship with the sex of the bird, by examining (62) blood samples collected from three species of different pet birds in the Erbil city, of both sexes, during October 2019 to July 2021. The current study showed that pet birds were infected with Haemosporidian parasites with a total percentage of 35.48%, and the highest percentage was in the Eurasian goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) with 41.17%, followed by the greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) with 31.25%, and the lowest rate was in the budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) by 25%. Also, the study showed that the infection rate of Plasmodium spp. and Haemoproteus spp. was 77.27%, and 45.45% respectively. It was noted that there were no significant differences in the infection rates with blood parasites between males and females. While significant differences were recorded in the infection rates with species of blood parasites according to different types of infection, as the single infection recorded the highest infection rate of 77.27%, while the double infection was lower with a rate of 22.72%.

This study was designed to investigate the synergistic effect of adding Tribulus terrestris with vitamin E to the feeding of domestic male rabbits on some biochemical and physiological traits. Where the experiment was conducted in the animal house at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. University of Baghdad, for 60 days from January until the end of February 2022. The experiment was carried out using 28 domestic rabbits 3 to 4 months of age, were divided into four groups, all animals were fed the same traditional feed mixture - the first control group T1, the 2nd group T2 received (Tribulus terrestris) , 3rd group T3 received Tribulus terrestris with vitamin E and 4th group T4 only received vitamin E. The dose of Tribulus terrestris was 1 g /animal /daily while the dose of vitamin E was 60 mg/ animal/daily for 8 weeks. The results are shown the addition Tribulus terrestris with or without vitamin E increased significantly (P<0.05) in hemoglobin levels also hematocrit while non-significant deffernces in leukocytes, erythrocytes count and glucose concentration, while that the total protein, albumin and globulin increased significantly (P<0.05) in rabbits as compare with control group. From results concluded that the Tribulus terrestris plant and vitamin E have a positive effect on some blood traits and serum proteins.

This study was conducted to explore the antibody titers and antibiotic sensitivity of salmonella organisms isolated from pigeons and their surrounding in Nineveh governorate during the period from November 2021 to March 2022. Thirty out of 83 positive Salmonella spp. isolated from 400 pigeons and 150 samples of their environment in a previous study (unpublished data) were subjected to an antibiogram sensitivity test. Nearly half of the isolates (n=16) were tested for ß- lactamase production. Seroprevalence of 92 blood samples collected from the same pigeons (69/adults and 23/squabs) were used for the estimation of S. enteritides antibody titers. The antibiogram profile of tested Salmonella spp. revealed high resistance (73.33%) to Ciprofloxacin followed by Colistin (70%), Florphenicol (66.6%), Sulphamethoxazole-Trimethoprim (60%), Lincomycin and Amoxicillin (46.6), Spiramycin and Doxycycline (40%), Tetracycline (36.66%), Levofloxacin and Enrofloxacin (33.33%), Phosphomycin (26.6%), Norfloxacin (23.3%), Cephalexin, Neomycin and Gentamycin 16.66%. Beta-lactmase producing Salmonella spp. revealed that 3 isolates out of 13(18.75%) were positive by acidimetric, 7/16(43.75%) using extended spectrum ß -lactmase and 6/16(37.5%) in extended spectrum ß -lactmase type ampC methods. Antibody titers to S. enteritides naturally exposed pigeons obtained by Indirect ELISA revealed a significant (P≤0.ooo1) difference between adults and squabs mean titers. In conclusion, pigeons are considered one of the Salmonella spp. sources that may aid in the cross-contamination of Salmonella spp. from pigeons to the surroundings, humans or animals.

Infectious bronchitis is an acute extremely infectious respiratory illness caused by the avian gamma-corona virus. Infection with the infectious bronchitis virus predisposes the bird to secondary bacterial infection, worsening the situation. The infection causes severe morbidity and variable mortality in broilers, as well as a significant decrease in the layer production of eggs. This study was conducted to evaluate the pathological changes that occur in natural infection with the infectious bronchitis virus. Samples were collected from clinical cases submitted for necropsy at local veterinary clinics in Anbar province, Iraq. Tissues for molecular detection included tracheas, lungs, and kidneys. Samples confirmed infection by PCR used in the histopathological study. Histopathological sections from samples that tested positive showed variable lesions from one farm to another. In some cases, there was mild heterophilic infiltration and some times accompanied by deciliation and sometimes accompanied by subepithelial edema. In more severe cases there was congestion of blood vessels along heterophilic infiltration along with desquamation of the epithelial layers. The histopathological section in a lung of infected birds showed inflammatory cells infiltration consisting mainly of heterophils in the interstitial tissue. In some samples, there was extensive hemorrhage filling the atrial lumen and infiltration of eosinophils and heterophils along with interstitial hemorrhage. From this study, we concluded that viruses circulating in Iraq causes more pulmonary lesions when compared to lesions in the trachea.

This study aimed to evaluate good manufacturing practices in food safety of ten different restaurants in the Al-Karkh area of Baghdad, Iraq. Forty samples collected from were collected from knives, food cutting boards, tables, hands and nails workers in restaurants. In addition. 70 food handlers were selected. Through structured interviews, information on the checklist for Good Manufacturing Practices in Food Safety, Food handlers' general checklist for good hygiene, and Personal Hygiene Checklist were collected. The overall viable bacterial count before Good Hygiene Practices was significantly higher (P<0.05) than the total bacterial counts after Good Hygiene Practices. The highest viable bacterial counts before Good Hygiene Practices were recorded by food cutting boards (4.03±0.20) log10 cfu/cm2, while (3.90±0.23, 3.51±0.18, 3.00±0.18) log10 cfu/cm2 from tables, hands and nails of workers and knives respectively. Although the results showed a non-significant difference in the viable bacterial counts after Good Hygiene Practices from 10 restaurants collected from the AL-Karkh area. The percentages were (100%) after the training and lecture about Good Hygiene Practices to all checklist points except special basins for washing hands was (90%). However, the results of the General Information of food handlers of Good Hygiene checklist and Personal Hygiene Checklist showed that there were significant differences (P≤0.05) between the self-reported attitudes of food handlers before the one-week training and after Good Hygiene Practices.

The physiological parameters and blood biochemical parameters of wild Chukar partridges in the Sulaymaniyah Governorate of the Kurdistan Region-Iraq were measured in this study. During this research, 27 healthy Alectoris chukar partridges (9 males, 18 females), 8–12 months, were captured in the mountains of Penjwin district in the east of Sulaimani City from March to July 2022. Physiological parameters, including weight, heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and cloacal temperature (CT), were recorded for each partridge. Blood samples were collected from the jugular or wing vein to determine the serum biochemical parameters such as alanine transaminase levels, aspartate transaminase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, gamma-glutamyl transferase, total proteins, albumin, globulin, glucose, and total bilirubin. The males were significantly larger in weight (498.7 g) than the females (446.5 g). However, no significant differences were observed in the physiological parameters' values between the sexes. Also, the serum biochemical parameters showed no sex-related differences between the sexes, except that the alanine transaminase level was significantly higher in the males (p < 0.05). The birds were released to their natural habitat after the studies were conducted. As a pioneer work, these physiological and serum biochemistry values may serve as a reference range of Chukar partridge in diagnostic procedures for both physiological and pathological conditions.

This experiment aimed to study the protective effects of vitamin D3 on hepatic cells injured by Diclofenac. Twenty-one male rats, 8 to 12 weeks of age and in weight from 180 to 220 grams, were housed in a standard, pathogen-free environment in the “College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Fallujah,” given unrestricted access to standard rat water and food. Then the rats were divided into 3 groups (each group containing 7 rats): G1 control group (IM injection of distill water for 7 days), G2 Diclofenac only (7-day course of a 10 mg/kg IM injection of diclofenac), G3 received intramuscular injections of VD3 three times per week at a dose of 1000 IU/Kg, then a 7-day course of a 10 mg/kg IM injection of diclofenac. Liver histological sections of the normal control (G1) showed no histopathological changes, while the histopathological sections of the liver of G2 exhibit hydropic degeneration, blood vessels congestion and inflammatory cell infiltration, Liver sections of G3 presented blood vessels congestion and mild inflammatory cell infiltration. This study concluded that VD3 can decrease the liver damage caused by diclofenac