Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Sciences

The study was designed to investigate the subchronic toxic effect of
cadmium chloride administered orally on alanine aminotransfearase (ALT),
aspartate aminotransfearase (AST) activity and certain tissues in adult male
rabbits. The animals were randomly divided into 3 groups (6 animals lgroup).
The first and second groups were administered cadmium chloride (30 and 60
mg/kg respectively). The third group was given distilled water and served as a
control. All groups were treated daily by gavage needle for a period of eight
weeks. The results demonstrated that cadmium chloride(30 and 60 mg/kg) caused
a significant increase in alanine aminotransfearase activity in treated animals, while a significant increase in aspartate aminotransfearase activity was reported
only in animals administered cadmium chloride at a dose of 60 mg/kg.
Histologically, cadmium-treated groups showed lesions in liver and kidney.
These lesions were more severe in animals treated with 60 mg cadmium chloride
than those treated with 30 mg cadmium chloride.

The present paper reported induction of amyloidosis by intraperitoneal
injection of Salmonella typhi in white mice. The study was on young mice of 5–6
weeks old, after two weeks acclimatization period, mice were injected
intrapritoneally with 0.25 ml of S. typhi suspension containing 2.5 x 108
bacterial
cells and sacrificed daily for 28 days.
The amyloid was systemic, secondary in character and organs mostly
affected were spleen, kidney and liver, respectively.
It appeared that this is the first report remarks the induction of systemic
secondary amyloidosis by intra peritoneal injection of Salmonella typhi in young
white mice.

To explore the various constituents of the trachea of the local awasi sheep
and black goat, gross anatomical, histological and morphometrical studies had
been carried out.
The study revealed that the average length of the trachea is directly
proportional to the number of tracheal rings and it was also noticed that the
length, diameter and wall thickness of the trachea of the sheep were greater than
those of black goat. These parameters decreased gradually toward the posterior
third of the trachea in both species. The free dorsal ends of the tracheal rings of
the sheep overlapping each other at the cranial third, but they gradually move a
part at the mid – third, and they become again very close to each other and run
side to side dorsally to forming a dorsal crest at the caudal third. However, the
two free ends of tracheal rings of the goat remain considerably apart throughout
the entire length of the trachea forming a (U) shaped configuration. The
cartilaginous rings were so oriented that they disposed one beside the other at the
ventral and lateral aspects of the tracheal wall. But they overlapping each other at
the dorso – lateral aspect of the tracheal wall in both species. Three main cells
were detected in the surface epithelium of the trachea of both species (ciliated
columnar cells, basal cells and goblet cells), another cell type was restricted to the
posterior third of the trachea of both species. The tracheal glands were found to be
compound, mixed tubulo – acinar type. The majority of the secretory units were
mucous, the others were serous. Most of the tracheal glands occupied the
triangular area between the successive tracheal rings particularly at the medial
side of the ventral aspect of the trachea. The density of the tracheal glands
decreased gradually anterio – coudally in the both studied species. The percentage
of goblet cells in the trachea of sheep was greater than that of goat, and decreased
gradually toward the lungs in both species.

Ninety eight samples of feed commodities (wheat, soybean and corn ) were
collected during the period 2000–2004 from various broiler farms showed
clinical signs of ochratoxicosis. Feed samples were divided into two equal parts,
one for mycological study, for detection of feed commodities contamination with
A. ochracous, and the other part for ochratoxin analysis using Enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay. Mycological results showed that wheat samples show the
higher percentage of contamination with A. ochraceus (73%) with log 10 CFU/gm
of 2.77. Toxicological analysis shows that wheat samples had the highest rate of
ochratoxin contamination (86%) followed by soybean (76%) and then corn
samples (70%). Ochratoxin levels in all feed samples were ranged from < 100 ppb
to 400 ppb. The importance of ochratoxin in poultry health was discussed.

Brucella abortus was isolated and identified from aborted lambs in the
Governorate of Sulaimani /Said-Sadic district. The blood agar, candle jar and
37°C incubator were successfully used. Microbiological and biochemical tests
were used for identification of the isolates. Although previous incidence of
brucellosis prevalence has been reported serologically in the area but the present
study could represent the first attempt for B. abortus isolation, with local available
facilities in the Governorate of Sulaimani.

The aim of this work was to explore the different types of carbohydrates
histochemically in the trachea of local Awase sheep and to compare it with that of
the local black goat. Ten tracheas from each sheep and goat were used for this
study. Different histochemical methods were used to explore types and locations
of carbohydrates in trachea’s wall of both animals. It was observed that the
amount of mucus secreted from the anterior third of trachea was comparatively
greater than that of the middle and posterior thirds due to its higher content of tracheal glands and goblet cells. The carbohydrate histochemistry of different
constituents of the trachea showed that there was no noticeable difference between
the two studied species. However, the glycogen was found in a greater amount in
goat's trachea in comparison to sheep. The goblet cells and the mucous secretory
units of the trachea showed a considerable amount of carboxylated glycoprotein
together with a little amount of other forms of carbohydrates. The mucus that
covers the lumen of the trachea contained almost all the carbohydrate substances
with the exception of neutral glycoproteins. Chondrocytes contain glycogen,
sulphated and neutral glycoproteins but didn't show any form of GAGs, whereas,
the territorial matrix of the cartilage contains a mixture of carboxylated and
sulphated GAGs with the predominance of the latter, but glycoproteins could not
be detected. The interterritorial matrix contained mainly carboxylated
glycosaminoglycans together with a little amount of glycoproteins. The columnar
cells and the basal surface epithelial cells showed no reaction to any form of
carbohydrates.

This study was done for the detection of capsulated Staphylococcus aureus
strains which were isolated from bovine & buffaloes Mastitis. 23 (57.5 %) & 8
(53 %) strains of these bacteria were isolated, 6 (26 %) & 2 (13.3 %) were capsule
producing strains, and that 9 (39.1 %) & 4 (26.6 %) were slime producing
strains, respectively. An increase in the number of capsules and slim producing
strains was observed following growing of these bacteria in culture media
containing glucose and milk. The experimentally performed histo-pathological
study, revealed presence of capsules in lung sections stained with Hematoxylin–
Eosin as a halo areas appeared around the bacterial cells. In addition to a strong
positive reaction with periodic acid shiffs.

The effect of methionine supplementation on growth performance of 180
briolers type (Cobb) during growing period (1-21) days, fattening period (22- 42)
days and the entire rearing period (1- 42) day, and carcass traits were examined.
Three levels of methionine (0.10, 0.15 and 0.20%) were supplemented to corn-soybean diet and compared with a normal diet (as control), for broiler feeding.
Increasing methionine supplementation levels significantly improved weight gain
and feed conversion efficiency, particularly at (0.15 and 0.20%) levels. Feed
intakes were not significantly different among treatment groups. Carcass yield and
breast yield increased at (0.15 and 0.20%) levels of methionine addition (P<0.05).
Abdominal fat content and liver relative weights were not significantly different
among the various treatments due to different methionine levels. Results of this
experiment suggest that addition of methionine to corn-soybean diets had
improved performance and carcass traits of broilers.

Normal serum bactericidal activity study were carried out against nine
bacterial species (Mannheimia haemolytica, Staphelococcus aureus,
Arcanobacterium pyogenes, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Moraxella ovis)
isolated from pneumonial lungs in sheep by the use of a normal non immunized
serum collected from normally healthy sheep, cattle, horses. All species of
bacteria were resistant for serum effect except B. subtilis and Pseudo. aeruginosa
which were sensitive for all types of serum, while Moraxella ovis was sensitive
for horse serum only, but Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis were
resistant to complement free serum.

Twenty draught stallions, 4-10 years old, were used in this study. The horses
were divided into two equal subgroups (10 horses for each) to compare the efficacy of a single dose of Ivermectin (oral paste), 0.2 mg/kg B.W., with a single
dose of Oxibendazole (oral suspension), 10 mg/kg B.W. The parameters that used
were EPG, RBCS, Hb and PCV pre- and post-treatment. Results indicated
reduction in EPG to zero within 14 days after treatment with Ivermectin, while
there were gradual reduction in EPG without complete absences of eggs after 21
days of treatment with Oxybendazole. Also there were increase of RBCS, Hb and
PCV after 14 days of treatment with Ivermectin and after 21 days of treatment
with Oxybendazole. Results of evaluation of therapeutic agents indicated that
Ivermectin in a dose of 0.2 mg/kg B.W. given as oral paste as a single dose was
more effective than Oxibendazole in a dose of 10 mg/kg B.W. given as oral
suspension as a single dose in the treatment of draught horses affected with
gastrointestinal and lung worms.

A total of 150 draught stallions 4-10 years old were used in this study,
included 125 horses were naturally suffered from gastrointestinal and lung worms
infection and 25 clinically normal draught horses served as control group.
Coprological examinations revealed that draught horses were infected with many
specieses belonged to nematodes and cestodes. The mean EPG were 2020 in
McMaster method. Results indicated that diseased draught horses exhibited
emaciation, rough coat, pale mucous membrane, black spots on the gum & lip,
loss of appetite, diarrhea and/or constipation, worms with feces, mucous with
feces, colic, anal pruritis, moist ralse, coughing and strong heart beat. Statistically,
significant increase (P<0.01) were encountered between respiratory and heart
rates of diseased horses in comparison with control, while there were no changes
in body temperature among the two groups. Significant decrease (P<0.01) were
encountered in the RBCS, Hb and PCV values of diseased horses, and significant
increase (P<0.01) were also encountered in the sedimentation rates of RBCS,
while there were significant increase (P<0.01) in WBCS and eosinophils. Results
of biochemical tests indicated decrease in total protein and albumin values, the
decrease was statistically significant (P<0.01). Levels of BUN and AST were
increased significantly (P<0.01), while there were no significant changes observed
in ALT levels. Presence of worms causes macroscopical and histopathological
lesions in many organs of dead horses.

A total of 128 draught male horses (4-12) years old were used in this study.
Among these 100 animals were naturally suffered from babesiosis and 25
clinically normal horses served as control, three dead infected horses served for
gross pathological and microscopical changes. Results revealed that diseased
horses were affected with the acute form and they exhibited general weakness, loss
of appetite, congestion of mucous membranes with petechial hemorrhages in some
of them, pale and/or icteric mucous membranes were seen in others,
hemoglobinurea, edema of fetlock joint and supraorbital fossa, colic with signs of
diarrhea and constipation, profuse sweating, dehydration, rough coat, ticks were
observed on various parts of the body. Statistically significant increases were
encountered between body temperature, respiratory and heart rates and significant
decrease were detected in the RBCS, Hb, PCV, platelets count and fibrinogen.
However statistically significant increase were encountered in the sedimentation
rate of RBCS, clotting time, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin
time. Anemia was macrocytic hypochromic type, the percentage of parasitemia
ranged between 6-28 %. Reticulocytes detected in blood smears prepared from
blood of diseased animals with mean of 3.07 %. Significant increase WBC count,
lymphocytes and significant decrease in neutrophils were showed in diseased
animals. The results of biochemical tests revealed significant increase AST, ALT,
ALP, total bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen and icteric index with significant
decrease in total protein and calcium. The results indicated that equine babesiosis
caused gross pathological and microscopical changes in different organs of dead
animals.

A 30 drought male horses (4-12) years old infected with equine babesiosis
were used in this study. The animals were divided randomly into three groups, 10
animals for each. First group was treated with Imidocarb dipropionate intramusculary at a dose rate of 4 mg/kg B.W. repeated after 48 h., the second
group treated with Diminazine aceturate intramusculary at dose rate of 3.5 mg/kg
B.W. repeated after 48 h., and the third group treated with Buparvaquone
intramusculary at dose rate of 6 mg/kg B. W. repeated after 48 h. The main
parameters used were clinical signs, hematological changes, percentage of
parasitemia and changes of some biochemical values pre and post treatment for
evaluation of therapeutic efficacy against natural infection with equine babesiosis.
Results indicated that imidocarb at dose rate of 4 mg/kg B. W.
intramusculary repeated after 48 h., is more effective in the treatment of equine
babesiosis in comparison with diminazine and buparvaquone as well as
buparvaquone used for the first time give good result but does not cause complete
elimination of babesia bodies.

The current study was conducted on 907 adult buffalo cows, 60 cows
suffering from anoestrus located in buffalo breeding farm in Nineveh province
during the period from September 2002 to March 2003. The aim of this study was
identify the incidence of anoestrus in adults Iraqi buffaloes in Nineveh province.
Some biochemical changes in anoestrus buffalo cows were studied including
calcium, inorganic phosphorus, total protein, glucose, and cholesterol in blood
serum. Different hormonal therapy with supportive treatment were used. Animals
included in this study 28 adult buffalo cows suffering from inactive ovaries and
divided in to three treated subgroups with control group, each group contain 7
adult buffalo cows, and 32 adult buffalo cows suffering from persistent corpus
luteum which divided in to three treated subgroups. with control group, each
group contain 8 adult buffalo cows the results of this study show that total
incidence of anoestrus in adult Iraqi buffalo cows in Nineveh province was 6.6%
and 3.1% due to inactive ovaries and 3.5% due to persistent corpus luteum.
The biochemical Analysis showed blood calcium level increase significantly
in (P<0.05) and total protein level decrease significantly in (P<0.05) in adult Iraqi
buffalo cows suffering from inactive ovaries while blood calcium level increase
significantly in (P<0.05) and cholesterol level decrease significantly in (P<0.05)
in adult Iraqi buffalo cows suffering from persistent corpus luteum.
Treatment regime using GnRH with vitamin AD3E and phosphorus salt in
adult Iraqi buffalo cows suffering from inactive ovaries showed high response on
estrus sign (85.71%) and conception rate (71.5%) followed the treatment of
progesterone alone and then GnRH alone respectively. While treatment regime
using PGF2 a alone of adult Iraqi buffalo cows suffering from persistent corpus
luteum showed high response on observed Estrus (87.5%) and conception rate
(87.5%) followed by PGF2 a plus GnRH in three day interval then PGF2 a with
Estradiol benzoate respectively. It was concluded that from this study the
hormonal therapy or with supportive treatment could be successfully used in
anoestrus buffaloes.

65 dogs from both sexes aged 2 months – 3years old were used in this study,
included 42 stray dogs 11 guard dogs, 6 pet dogs and 6 clinically normal dogs
served as a control were examined. Clinical signs observed and the study of blood
picture. The percentage of infection with eggs and oocysts of endoparasites in
stray dogs and guard dogs were 78.57%, 27.27% respectively Eggs of Toxocara
canis 40.47%, eggs of Toxascaris leonina 30.95%, eggs of Taenia spp 16.6%,
oocysts of Isospora spp 7.1% and Cryptosporidium spp 11.9% were diagnosed in
stray dogs. The eggs of Dioctophyma renale appeared 4.76% in faeces of stray
dogs. In guard dogs, eggs of Toxascaris leonina 27.27% were also diagnosed.
Examination of skin scraping revealed 100%, 45.45%, 16.6% infection with
ectoparasites in stray, guard and pet dogs respectively. The most important
ectoparasites observed in stray dogs were Rhipicephalus sanguineus 40.47% Rh.
turanicus 30.95%, Ctenocephalides canis 54.76% Heterodoxsus longitarsus
23.8% Demodex canis 30.95%, Sarcoptes scabiei 19.04% and Cimex spp 7.1%
while in guard dogs Hcterodoxsus longitarsus 36.36%, Ct. canis 27.27% Rh.
sanguineus 18.18%, Demodex canis 9.09%. In pet dogs, only Rh. sanguineus
16.6% was recorded. Mixed infection with different endoparasites and
ectoparasites was most common in stray and guard dogs 76.19%, 40%
respectively. Conclusion was made that the highest percentage of endo and
ectoparasites were in stray dogs.

This study was conducted to determine the possibility of 0.5% H2O2 on
drinking water, for the induction of oxidative stress status in mature female rats.
Moreover, this study deals with the role of this stress in initiation and
development of atheromatus lesions in these animals. Oxidative stress has been
investigated via tissue malondiadehyde (MDA) & glutathione (GSH) (aorta, heart
and liver) as indirect lipid peroxidation index. For atherogenous follow up, light
and electron microscopical techniques have been applied.
The result elucidate significant elevation in lipid profile parameters namely
cholesterol, Triglycerides TG, Low density lipoprotein LDL-C, Very Low density
lipoprotein VLDL-C, atherogenic index and a significant reduction in High
density lipoprotein HDL-C, level in all experimental animals. Parallely, this study
revealed significant rising in tissue MDA concentration, concomitant with
significant depress in tissue GSH level in all studied animals.

The study revealed presence of giardia cyst in the feces of animals which
was examined at 7%, 4.5% and 5.45% in the direct method for sheep, goats and
cattle respectively, while 15.5%, 16.5% and 21.81% in concentrated method
respectively at the same animals.
No significant differences recorded in rate of infection between different
species of animals, although higher percentage of cyst was eliminate in cattle
feces. There was no significant effect of age and type of breeding on rate of
infection. However the animals in late stage of pregnancy and early stages of
milking eliminated higher percentage of cyst in their feces, especially in goats.
Diagnosis of gastrointestinal nematode eggs with giardia was found to be 7.5%,
4.5 and 0 % in sheep, goats and cattle, respectively and with Eimeria; 3.5%, 11%
and 5.45, in same animals, respectively. The most obvious clinical signs found
were pasty feces mixed with mucous, emaciation and easily detached wool and
hair.

This study was conducted to explore the capability of Toxoplasma gondii to
induce an oxidative stress status via an experimental infection of 12 domesticated
cats appear free of natural Toxoplasma gondii infection, by feeding tachyzoites
infected mice. Tachyzoites have been isolated from 3 month aborted ewes fetus.
The positive results of this infection were achieved by the isolation of oocysts
from the fecal matter at 7 days post infection (p.i.), as well as the demonstration of
tissue cysts in the brain tissue of infected cats at 14 days p.i. This study was revealed that an oxidative stress status appear at 30 days p.i., clarified by
significance elevation of MDA levels in liver, brain ,and aorta tissues of infected
cats, concomitant with a significance reduction in GSH concentration in the same
tissues. Moreover, the present study suggest the correlation of this oxidative stress
with progression of atherosclerotic lesions namely: fatty lesions and fatty
proliferative lesions, that appear in the aorta of infected cats at 30 days p.i. on the
other side, this study remarks the serum fatty profiles and the gross and the
histopathological changes in infected cats.