Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research

This study was planned to evaluate the adaptive and innate immune responses by preparing and evaluating the immunizing and protective efficacy of an inactivated whole gram-negative bacteria and their crude antigens with natural adjuvant Nigella sativa (N.S) oil compared with Freund’s adjuvant (FA) then detected differential and total white blood cell count to each group in addition to cytokines responses to humoral and cellular immune responses determined by ELISA.
Results of this study showed that the total leukocyte count was increased in all adjuvant groups compared with a control group and the leukocyte differential count was performed and the result indicated that the lymphocyte was increased in the group of N.S. oil adjuvant, and it was statistically significant in N. S. adjuvant with killed bacteria (G4). In contrast, monocyte percentage has increased in the two groups of Freund's vaccine adjuvant.
Concerning adaptive immune responses, Freund's vaccine adjuvant directs the immunity toward cell-mediated immunity, on the other hand, the N. S. vaccine adjuvant directs the immunity toward humoral immunity as revealed by the results of ratio of IFN-γ /IL-4.
In conclusion, the uses of N. S. vaccine adjuvant directed the immunity toward TH2 responses, on the other hand, Freund's vaccine adjuvants guide the immunity toward TH1 immune responses.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a gram-negative bacterium that has economic and public health importance. E. coli strains have been classified into pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains. The pathogenic strains of E. coli can cause colibacillosis, which is a common bacterial disease in the poultry industry and the poultry farms in the region. The objective of the study was to investigate the prevalence of E. coli, its serotypes (O1, O2, O18 and O78) and their antimicrobial susceptibility in the colibacillosis cases in Sulaymaniyah province using culture, antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular approaches. A total of 86 broiler farms were investigated from November 2021 to June 2022. From each farm, samples (liver and heart) were taken from 3-5 broilers colibacillosis cases. The results showed that the colonies that had metallic-green sheen morphologies were positive for E. coli (62/86; 72.1%), in which only 23/62 (37.1%) of the isolates were positive for O2 (7/62; 11.3%), O18 (14/62; 22.6%), and O78 (2/62; 3.2%). While O1 was undetectable in the investigated colibacillosis cases. O18 was predominantly (7/86; 8.1%) detected among 20-30 days-old chickens and followed by O2 (4/86; 4.7%) in 10-20 days-old chickens. The results showed that the majorities of the detected E. coli in colibacillosis cases were isolated from the imported chick from Iran (30; 34.9%) and Netherlands (28; 32.6%). In conclusion, the results showed that the majorites of the colibacillosis cases in the region were caused by E. coli. The E. coli and its serotypes (O2, O18 and O78) had high prevalence in the region.

Infectious avian, including Newcastle disease (ND), are a major concern in poultry husbandry. The primary method of preventing viral infections is immunization by vaccines to produce neutralizing antibodies. In the first ten days of life, chicks are protected by maternally derived antibodies (MDA). This study aimed to; evaluate and reveal the strength and importance of maternal immunity against ND in the bird’s life and to compare it with the acquired immunity by measurement of antibody titers with Elisa test. Total number of 150-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) with a history of vaccination of parent against ND, were reared to achieve the study, serum samples were also taken from vaccinated layers with ND to complete the current study. Commercial Elisa kit was used to determine the titers of antibodies against NDV in broilers and layers. The results showed that the chicks have high levels of maternal antibodies at day old with an average titer of 1287. The levels of maternal antibodies declined over time, and by day 31, the average titer was 90.8 in the unvaccinated group. The vaccinated group had higher levels of antibodies on day 31 (21 days after vaccination), with an average titer of 370.4. However, MDA levels on the first day of life were still higher than the levels of acquired antibodies because MDA interfered with the development of acquired immunity after vaccination. This study concluded that maternal immunity is important for providing early protection against ND, and recommended that the chicks must be tested to measure the antibody levels before vaccination to avoid interference between MDA and acquired antibodies.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) has been reported sporadically in Iraq during the last four decades, until 2022, when an aggressive outbreak hits several provinces. Two human cases have been reported in Al-Husseiniya District / Karbala Province (June and July 2022). Tick control on animals, backyards, and barns to reduce human CCHF cases. On October 2, 2022, an 8-day tick control campaign was organized in 65 villages in Al-Husseiniya district to apply pesticides to approximately 25,000 animals (cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats) and spray over 300,000 square meters of backyards and barns. In parallel, a public awareness campaign was carried out by distributing brochures to breeder families. Following the tick control campaign (from October to December 2022), there were no cases reported in Al-Husseiniya district/Karbala Province by the Ministry of Health (MoH). While for the same period, six cases were reported in the surrounding districts. About 912 families of animal breeders benefited from the campaign and were therefore protected from the risk of CCHF by reducing the tick population on their animals. The expense for treating each animal head and spraying one square meter of barns was $0.005, equivalent to 88 Iraqi dinars. Spraying backyards, treating animals with pesticides, and increasing farmer knowledge can all lower the risk of CCHF in people. Nevertheless, more research is still required to determine which pesticides—such as biological, immunological, and integrated pest management, ovicidel pesticide —are the most successful. The study recommends the need to seek assistance from non-employed veterinarians in the future to contain and control (CCHF) disease, based on the success of this experiment.

Fascioliasis represents an ignored zoonotic disease that results from liver flukes that belong to the genus Fasciola spp. It results in substantial financial damages in the cattle sector.
In the current investigation, liver flukes were taken from cattle in two places: the Basrah abattoir and the Aljazeera region. The flukes were found on a buffalo and a cow. The nuclear marker genes were used to identify the species and learn about the past of Fasciola spp. spread.
From a total number of examined Buffalo (11) and Cow ( 11), the infected with Fasciola spp. were in Buffalo (2) and in Cow (9), and the percentage of infection was 18% and 81%, respectively.
The PCR results showed that all examined samples by PCR were found as gigantic Fasciola, with an identity of 100% according to GenBank. In our current study, we isolated Fasciola spp. Two worms from sheep and PCR were done, and it was observed that it is F. gigantica. This indicates that the distribution of the parasite is emerging from the host specificity, which means it must be molecularly done in detail studies in all types of cattle, not only in Basrah city but all over Iraq.

The current study, we investigated the effect of capsaicin alone or combined with metformin on induced polycystic ovary syndrome in rat adult females. The total number of animals was used (70). The study was divided into two experiments: The first experiment was to induce polycystic ovary syndrome in (50) animals were divided as follows: GI (n= 10) (CMC) served as a control group. The reminder (n = 40) GII were given Letrozole 1 mg\kg. The duration of this experiment continued (21 day). At the end of experiment, (n=10) females that received letrozole were scarified and considered as (PCOS subgroup). The GI (n=10) CMC were also scarified to ensured PCOS accrued. For histochemical analysis, the ovaries of female rats were isolated and fixed in a formalin solution 10%. In a second experiment, the reminder of female rats from first experiments GII (PCOS group n=30) divided into three subgroups (10 animals/subgroup: (Capsaicin + letrozole) subgroup, was given 0.5 mg/kg of capsaicin, (metformin) subgroup was given metformin 9 mg\ kg and (metformin + capsaicin + letrozole) subgroup. The remainder of the total number of animals studied (n = 20) (PCOS not induced) were divided into (10 animals/subgroup) (alcohol subgroup) as control group that was given 0.5 ml from alcohol and (capsaicin) without induction of polycystic ovary syndrome as a positive control subgroup, was given capsaicin (0.5 mg/ kg). The second experiment continued for 21-days after the end of the experiment. All animals were sacrificed and the ovaries were removed, fixed (10% buffered formalin), and prepared for histochemical study using Mallory's trichrome stain. The study, we recorded multiple cysts, bleeding and mucin in the PCOS subgroup compared with the CMC group. Histochemical examinations of the treated subgroups with capsaicin alone or with metformin showed an improvement in ovarian tissue, disappearance of cysts and bleeding compared with the control groups and the PCOS subgroup. We thought that capsaicin alone or in combination with metformin showed an improvement in ovarian tissue.

This study aimed to revel the protective properties of vitamin E on liver injury induced by pregbalin (biochemical and histopathological study) in rabbits. Twenty-four local male rabbits were used in this experimental study under suitable condition of feed and temperature. Rabbits classified into three group: each group 8 rabbits. Group one (control group) received distal water orally daily for 14 days, Group two (pregbalin group) received orally pregbalin 3mg/kg dissolved in normal saline daily for 14 days, Third group received vitamin E (α-tocopherol) 800 IU orally followed in 3 hours by 3 mg/kg of pregbalin dissolved in normal saline daily for 14 days. The biochemical results showed no significant differences in control group, the ALP, GPT and GOT showed significant increase in second pregbalin group. The third group showed significant decrease in ALP and GOT but the GPT showed slightly increase above normal value in control group. The histopathological results showed normal liver histology in control group, second pregbalin group showed infiltration of inflammatory cells specially leukocytes, dilation of blood sinusoids, portal area and central vein in addition to presence of activated kupffer cells. Third group received vitamin E followed by pregbalin showed relatively normal tissue appearance of liver including and similar to control group.

This study aimed to record the clinical manifestations of the cats infected with FPV, and to evaluate the hemato-biochemical parameters alterations in clinically and subclinically infected cats. A total of 70 cats out of 100 cats were positive for FPV using conventional polymerase chain reaction technique. Further 15 clinically healthy cats that were negative for the laboratory tests served as control group. Careful clinical examination for all cats and blood samples were collected from all cats for hematological examination and estimation of some serum biochemistry parameters. Results showed that the prevalence of FPV was 76.1% and 57.6% in clinically and subclinically infected cats, respectively. Clinically infected cats were suffering from fever, anorexia, depression, congestion or pale and/or icteric mucous membranes, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and different degrees of dehydration. Also, oro-nasal and ocular lesions with nervous signs in some cats. A significantly increased of body temperature, respiratory rate and heart rate in clinically infected cats compared to the control group. The hemogram of the clinically infected cats showed significant decrease in TECs, HB, PCV, PLTs, MCH, and MCHC with significant increase in MCV reflecting the macrocytic hypochromic anemia, along with significant decrease in TLCs in clinically infected cats compared to the control group. Serum biochemistry analysis revealed a significant decrease in TP, while there was a significant increase in AST, ALT, TB, creatinine, and urea in clinically infected cats compared to the control group. Furthermore, no significant changes in the hemato-biochemical parameters between the subclinically infected cats and the control group.

In industrial food production, food preservatives like sodium nitrite are used more frequently. The use of some food preservatives has been linked to teratogenic and carcinogenic effects. In order to investigate the effects of food additives such as sorbitol and natural antioxidant substances on rats forty adult male albino rats, approximately one month and a half were divided into four groups as follows, Group 1 serves as control group supplement with (Nacl 0.9% normal saline).Group 2 received a sodium nitrite supplement (30 mg/kg BW), group 3 supplemented initially with sodium nitrite and glutathione and group 4 supplemented with glutathione (6.42 mg/kg BW). A variety of parameters were measured, including the number of red and white blood cells (RBCs & WBCs), hemoglobin (Hb) level, hematocrit (Hct) value, glucose level, and serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase (ALT & AST) activity analysis. The results clearly showed that (RBCs), (Hb) concentration, and (Hct) value of rats treated with sodium nitrite for two months exhibit significant decrease when compared to the control and treated groups, rats given with either glutathione alone or glutathione plus sodium nitrite showed significant decrease in their serum glucose levels and there was discernible elevation in the serum activity of AST and ALT in rats treated with glutathione alone. Rats treated with sodium nitrite showed a substantial decrease (P< 0.05) in AST activity after 2months when compared with the control group, whereas significant increase (P< 0.05) in ALT activity were detected after 2months . These results indicate the harmful effects of using artificial supplements and colorings and also prove the improving effect of glutathione. Due to the potentially harmful effects of food additives, it is advised that the use of S. N. as an additive be kept to a minimum. Gluathione, on the other hand, can prevent toxic effects.