Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research

Coccidiosis caused by Eimeria species, with great economic importance infecting numerous species including small ruminants. The current study aimed to determine the occurrence of Eimeria subclinical infection in Sulaymaniyah provinces, during March 2021 to February 2022. A total of 260 fecal samples (152 sheep and 108 goats) were collected from small ruminants’ farms belong to four regions. Fecal floatation technique was applied for examination of fecal samples. Coprological examination revealed that Eimeria spp. parasitized the intestine of 133 animals with infection rate of 51.15%. Both sheep and goats represented subclinical coccidiosis with infection rates of 52.63% and 49.07% respectively. Mixed infection with more than one Eimeria spp. was dominant and found in sheep 60.00% and goats 40.00%. However, infection by single species was revealed in sheep 58.62% and goats 39.66% goats. The frequency of subclinical coccidiosis was higher among animals in Bakrajo 53.85%, and lower in Qaradagh 46.67%. The impacts of age on prevalence rate revealed that small aged animals harbored the higher infection rates of 65.45% and 62.86% in lambs and kids respectively. The represented data find out higher incidence of coccidiosis during the wet seasons of the year 56.8%. In the present study different Eimeria species was recognized, 9 species from sheep and 5 species from goats. It has been conducted that coccidiosis was a moderately common intestinal pathogen among sheep and goats in the study area.

Contagious ecthyma is an important viral disease infect animals' skin mostly small ruminants, it could infect other ruminants with a zoonotic pattern. In dromedary camels of Basrah province, Contagious ecthyma was detected and diagnosed. Seventy-eight local dromedary breeds, 2-6 years old show clinical manifestations of Anorexia and difficulty grazing, lesions of Contagious ecthyma appear as papules, vesicles, and scabs located at the upper and lower parts of the lips, commeasure and /or around the mouth, Furthermore, Lesions in the form of Fissures with lips edema was also detected on diseased camels. Twenty, clinically healthy dromedaries served as controls. The infection was confirmed using the PCR technique. Blood parameters with acute phase response have been also evaluated. Results indicated that diseased camels show different clinical manifestations belonging to contagious ecthyma with a significant increase in body temperature, heart and respiratory rate, Moreover, Leukocytosis due to lymphocytosis was detected in infected dromedaries. a significant increase in ESR was detected in infected dromedaries compared with controls. Results referred to an increase in haptoglobin and Fibrinogen in diseased dromedaries with contagious ecthyma compared to controls. The contagious ecthyma of camels was still circulating in Iraqi areas, where appropriate preventive measures must be taken to prevent the spread of disease among camel herds and reduce the resulting economic losses.

Contamination of edible animal products with veterinary drug residues is a potential health hazard for consumers. This study aims to apply a reliable and sensitive method for the detection of Rafoxanide anthelmintic drug residue in sheep muscle tissues in five different districts of Sulaimani city /Iraq, using HPLC - UV combined with an extraction method based on a modified QuEChERS technique. A method for extracting rafoxanide anthelmintic drug from sheep muscle was adopted based on a QuEChERS approach followed by HPLC-UV. The developed method has been fully validated according to the requirements of Eurachem-2014 by separating the standard anthelmintic drugs on a fast liquid chromatographic (FLC) reversed-phase column under the optimum separation condition. The mobile phase consists of solvents A and B, degassed with an ultrasonic bath to remove bubbles. The standard calibration curves (R²≥0.9961) were constructed with spiked certified reference materials (CRM) and blank tissues. The optimized approach was validated, yielding satisfactory results for all performance criteria in the tested matrix and obtaining relevant results for all performance parameters in the evaluated matrix. A multi-level calibration curve (1 to 1000 μg/kg) was used to establish instrument linearity for rafoxanide. The recoveries were 83%, the limit of quantification was 10 μg/kg, and the detection limit was 0.22 μg/kg. The results of the validation allowed for high sample throughput. The method is suitable for analyzing selected anthelmintic drug residue, and repeatability and reproducibility expressed in relative standard deviation (RSD%) were obtained at values lower than 20%. None of the testers were greater than Maximum Residual Limits (MRLs) legally established by the European Union (EU). Thirteen (26%) samples were below MRLs and 37 (74%) samples were below the LOD. Thus, we concluded that optimized approach was validated, yielding satisfactory results for all performance criteria in the tested matrix and obtaining relevant results for all performance parameters in the evaluated matrix. None of the testers was greater than MRLs legally established by the EU

Paratyphoid infection is a serious-infectious disease of poultry with economic and public health consequences. We investigated paratyphoid Salmonella infections and their associated histopathological changes in broiler chicks in Sulaymaniyah province using molecular, histopathological and immunohistochemical techniques. A total of 130 broiler farms, aged between 1 to 20 days were investigated. The results showed that the prevalence of paratyphoid Salmonella in the region was 28.5%, including Salmonella enteritidis (70.3%) and Salmonella typhimurium (29.7%). The rate of infection was higher (76%) among 1-10 days-old chicks in comparison to 11-20 days-old chicks (24%). The distribution of the pathogen was varied among the tested organs, including the caecum (97.3%), liver (91.9%) and yolk-sac (86.5%). The rate of infection by S. enteritidis in 1–10-day-old chicks in the organs was higher (67.9%) than the rate of infection by S. typhimurium in the liver (25%), yolk-sac (25%) and caecum (28.6%). There was a highly significant positive correlation between S. enteritidis and S. typhimurium infections in the liver (r=0.818, P=0.000, n=37). At the same time, a highly significant strong negative correlation between S. enteritidis and S. typhimurium infections was found between the inspected organs. The most obvious pathological changes were degeneration and necrosis of the hepatocytes and sloughing of the caecal epithelium. Claudin-1 expression and distribution among cellular compartments were mostly affected by Salmonella enteritidis-positive cases. The findings of this study showed that there was a widespread paratyphoid Salmonella infection in the region, and associated with severe histopathological and immunohistochemical changes, especially among 1-10 days-old chicks

Goats play a significant role in the economy of Iraq through livestock production, income generation, employment opportunities, and the conservation of valuable genetic resources. Genetic diversity of three Iraqi local goat breeds were studied by using two molecular markers, fifteen microsatellite (SSR) and fifteen RAP DNA markers. Individual blood samples were collected and individual genomic DNA were extracted from 30 Black, 10 Hybrid, and 20 Meriz goat breeds. PCR amplification was conducted. The results revealed that out of 15 SSR primers, 11 were amplified and showed 847 total bands, 53 were polymorphic with 6.58 percentage of polymorphic bands. All the fifteen RAPD primers amplified 6085 total bands, in which 273 were polymorphic bands with 4.33 percentage of polymorphic bands. Different unique bands were detected for each breed. Both SSR and RAPD gave moderate polymorphism 66.67% and 61.52%, respectively. Besides, this value was consistent with the moderate value of the mean of polymorphism information content 0.19 and 0.28, respectively. Meriz and Hybrid breeds revealed the longest genetic distance (0.114 and 0.316). While, Black and Meriz breeds revealed the highest closeness (0.956 and 0.831) for SSR and RAPD markers, respectively. Furthermore, the UPGMA dendrogram for both of SSR and RAPD markers classified the three goat breeds into two main clusters. The first one contained Black and Hybrid breeds. While, the second one contained only Meriz breed. The results of the current study will be helpful for future researchers as a key guide to better understanding the genetic relationships and breed differences in Iraqi goat breeds for planning strategies for the future genetic improvement program.

Avian metapneumovirus (AMPV) is a worldwide an acute, extremely contagious upper respiratory illness in Turkey. Chickens may also be affected with virus and cause Swollen Head Syndrome. Sometime it is associated with reproductive affection. The disease's first disorder appeared in late 1970 in South Africa, where 6 subtypes (A, B, C, and D) and 2 additional subtypes were found. The virus belongs to the family Paramyxoviridae, genus Metapneumovirus. . Both of systemic and local immunity may be developed but there is no relation of maternal immunity for produce production. The disease causes an important economic loss due to decrease in egg production and bad egg shell quality. The disease spread between birds rapidly and a wild birds may be infected and paly role in transmission of the disease Also in turkey there is no specific clinical signs and lesion and while the most effective methods to detection are Elisa and (RT-PCR) carry out the disease diagnosis. Biosecurity programs of vaccination are effective for controlling of disease. Both of alive attenuated and inactivated vaccines are useful for provide a good protection against the disease While, new vaccines were developed to avoid infection.

Mycotoxicosis is a significant concern in the poultry industry worldwide, as it is caused by the ingestion of mycotoxins, toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi that commonly contaminate animal feed. This review aims to explore various aspects of mycotoxicosis and its influences on domestic birds. It discusses the major mycotoxins affecting poultry, including aflatoxins, ochratoxins, trichothecenes, zearalenone, and fumonisins, and their sources of contamination, such as pre-harvest, post-harvest, and storage factors. In addition, the review highlights the impact of mycotoxicosis on avian health, including immune system suppression, gastrointestinal disturbances, reduced growth and development, and reproductive disorders, as well as its effects on egg quality and hatchability. Furthermore, it presents potential preventive and management strategies, such as implementing good agricultural practices, feed management and quality control, the use of mycotoxin binders and adsorbents, feed additives and supplementation, and veterinary interventions. The review emphasizes the importance of regulatory guidelines and monitoring programs to ensure food safety and mitigate mycotoxin-related issues. Overall, understanding the influences of mycotoxicosis in domestic birds is vital for implementing effective measures to prevent mycotoxin contamination and promote the health and productivity of poultry.

The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of laser irradiation on the antifungal activity of the crude chloroform extract which was produced from leaves of Conocarpus species by which DMSO concentration (50 mg / ml) of this extract was exposed to laser radiation and other concentration was not exposed. Both concentrations were tested against the growth of Cryptococcus neoformans, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa. Results showed that C. neoformans was sensitive only laser- exposed chloroform extract. While, the growth of other fungal species was unaffected either from non-laser - exposed chloroform extract or laser-exposed one. GC-MS analysis resulted in a content of the laser exposed crude chloroform extract form ⁅pyrazolo [1,5-a]pyrimidine-3-carbonitrile,2-methylthio-7-(2-pyridyl), ⁅benzaldehyde,2,4-bis(trimethylsil oxy),⁅3-hydroxymandelic acid, ethyl ester, di-TMS, and ⁅ pyrimidine-4,6(3H,5H)-dione, 2-butylthio-⁆ while non-laser exposed extract had ⁅ carbamic acid, methyl-, phenyl ester ⁆, ⁅ acetic acid, phenyl ester ⁆, ⁅ phenol ⁆, ⁅ pentadecanoic acid, methyl ester ⁆, ⁅ hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester ⁆, ⁅ methyl 8-methyl-nonanoate ⁆, ⁅ phytol, acetate ⁆, ⁅3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol ⁆, ⁅ citronellyl isobutyrate ⁆, ⁅ 5H-2a,4a,7a-triaza-7b-phosphacyclopent[cd]indene-7b-thione, 1,2,3,4,6,7-hexahydro-⁆, ⁅ olean-12-en-28-oic acid, 3-oxo-, methyl ester ⁆, ⁅4-amino-5,7-dichlorobenzofurazan ⁆, ⁅ phenol, 2,4-dichloro-6-nitro ⁆, ⁅ ⁆, ⁅ cyclobarbital ⁆, ⁅ benzo[h]quinoline, 2,4-dimethyl- ⁆, ⁅ pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine, 4-phenyl-⁆, ⁅ 1H-indole, 5-methyl-2-phenyl-⁆, and ⁅ carbonic acid, butyl octadecyl ester ⁆.