Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research

Newcastle disease (ND) is an endemic viral illness in Iraq and has four types: viscerotropic velogenic, neurotropic velogenic, mesogenic, and lentogenic. The virulence of the virus continuously increases, and it is widely spread in wild and domestic birds. Backyard and poultry farm chickens are mainly affected, causing significant economic losses, as the disease is famous for high morbidity and mortality, which may reach 100%. An outbreak of velogenic ND spread in poultry farms in Sulaymaniyah/Iraq in early 2023, causing high mortality rates. Hence, this study was conducted to isolate and identify the virus and determine its median embryo lethal dose (ELD50) in embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs). Samples were taken from chickens suspected of ND, and NDV identification was made by molecular techniques by amplifying part of the 535-base pair-F gene. The virus was passaged three times in ECEs, and the collected allantoic fluid was used to determine the ELD50. After that, fifty ECEs were used to calculate the ELD50. Allantoic fluid dilutions of 10–107 resulted in the death of all embryos after 2-3 days, with distinctive signs of bleeding and hemorrhage. Dilutions of 108, 109, and 1010 resulted in the death of four, two, and one embryo, respectively, and the PCR test revealed NDV infection. The ELD50 was 6.3 ×108 times the allantoic fluid dilution, showing that the virus was very velogenic and necessitated a strict control plan to prevent the disease's further spread.

A hydrophilic polyethylene glycol-based adhesion barrier (SprayGel™) was tested on intra-abdominal adhesion in conventional celiotomy in rabbits. Twenty healthy male rabbits of the local breed were randomly divided into two equal groups: control and treatment. All the experimental rabbits were first subjected to mid-line conventional celiotomy under general anesthesia. The ascending colon was tracked out of the laparotomy opening, and a sterile soft toothbrush was used mechanically to abrase its serosal and subserosal layers. Before closing the celiotomy opening, 2 ml of sterile saline solution was applied intraperitoneally into the abdominal cavities of the control group. SprayGel™ was applied to the test rabbits' abraded colons before their closures. Postmortem examinations were performed on the 14th and 21st postoperative days to assess intraperitoneal gross pathological changes, and biopsies were collected for histopathological examinations. The macromorphological and micromorphological examinations showed mild postoperative intra-abdominal adhesion changes in the treatment compared to the control. This was confirmed by significantly lowered gross intra-abdominal adhesion scores with the slightest micromorphological changes in the SprayGel™-treated rabbits. Higher scores of gross transperitoneal adhesions were observed in the control rabbits. In addition, histopathological changes were seen as serosal scars, consisting of raised areas of fibrous tissue replacing the muscularis layer of the mechanically abraded ascending colon, often to the submucosa level. SprayGel™ was an effective barrier substance to reduce intra-abdominal adhesions following celiotomy and experimentally induced mechanical serosal and subserosal abrasions to the ascending colon in rabbits.

Gastrointestinal parasites (GIP) are often associated with diarrhea in buffaloes, which affects health, growth, and production. They are also sources of infestation in the herd, nearby herds, and grazing areas. The current study aims to diagnose the different types of GIP that infect buffaloes in the Mosul city, Iraq, and to determine their infestation rate. A total of 100 fecal samples were randomly collected from buffaloes of different ages (ranging from 1.5 to 5 years old) and both sexes in various regions of Mosul city. These samples were examined using direct smear technique, with or without iodine dye, flotation method, and sedimentation method, with or without methylene blue dye, between September 2022 and February 2023. The overall infestation rate with GIP was 59%, comprising intestinal protozoa (56%), Nematodes (6%), and Trematodes (2%). That included Buxtonella sulcata (56%); Trichostrongylus spp. (3%); Haemonchus spp. (1%); Cooperia spp. (1%); Ostertagia ostertagi. (1%); and Fasciola hepatica (2%). Moreover, a variation in the infestation rates according to the months of collected samples was observed; significantly (P<0.05) highest infestation rate was recorded in February at 93.3%, followed by November at 82%, and the lowest infestation rate was recorded in October and September at 16% and 36.3%, respectively. In conclusion, the highest infestation rate with GIP in buffaloes in the city of Mosul, Iraq, this must be given increased attention by owners and veterinarians for strategical control of these parasites.

This study investigated the impact of sodium hyaluronate and platelet-rich fibrin on the healing process of symphyseal fractures in cats. To conduct this study, 30 adult male cats were utilized and divided into three groups (10 cats each). The groups consisted of a control group (no treatment), a sodium hyaluronate group (treated with sodium hyaluronate gel at the fracture site), and a sodium hyaluronate combined with platelet-rich fibrin group (treated with a mixture of sodium hyaluronate gel and platelet-rich fibrin at the fracture site). The symphysis fractures were induced via a surgical scalpel, and the fractures were then fixed using a cerclage wire. The cats were observed clinically on the first, second, third, and seventh days following the surgery, and Histopathological assessments were conducted 42 days after the surgery. The study showed improvement in the disappearance of swelling in the fracture area among the treated groups. Interestingly, cats were observed to regain the use of their jaws just three days post-surgery, which was not seen in the control group. Histological findings indicate complete fracture healing in the Sodium Hyaluronate-Platelet Rich Fibrin (SH&PRF) group, with active bone remodeling, cartilaginous callus formation, and peripheral fibrous reaction without inflammation. The SH&PRF group showed more active chondrocytes and endochondral ossification than the SH and control groups, suggesting better bone repair results. The study suggests that Sodium Hyaluronate and platelet-rich fibrin composite effectively promote and accelerate wound healing.

The aim of this study was to look into the toxicity of captopril and enalapril in high doses in the liver. The animals in this experiment were divided into five groups of ten each, with the first group serving as a control group, receiving only distilled water, the second and thrird groups receiving doses of captopril 10 and 20%, and the fourth and fifth groups receiving doses of enalapril 10 and 20%. The dose is taken orally once every three days for four weeks. After one week, samples were collected, and then again four weeks later. After one week of treatment with Enalapril 20%, biochemical testing revealed significant elevations in ALT and AST. After 1 and 4 weeks of treatment with Enalapril 20%, there was a decrease in glutathione and an increase in malondialdehyde, whereas captopril 20% and Enalapril 10 and 20% significantly raised malondialdehyde levels. Rats given captopril 20% revealed diffuse vacuolar degeneration. The 10% Enalapril group experienced similar symptoms, however the 20% Enalapril group experienced vacuolar degeneration, coagulative necrosis, significant inflammatory cell infiltration, portal vein congestion, and sinusoidal dilatation. The researchers looked at the expression of TNF-a in the livers of rats after four weeks of therapy with Captopril 10% and 20% and Enalapril 20% (20%). The results revealed three levels of expression: low, medium, and high. According to the findings of this study, Enalapril has higher adverse impacts on the liver than captopril at the same dose ratio.

In the context of health monitoring of a group of cattle and buffalo farms in marsh and swamp areas, these animals displayed evident clinical signs of nutritional deficiency in addition to symptoms that included high temperature (41 °C or higher), swollen lymph nodes, diarrhea, anemia, weakness, and decreased appetite. And, in some cases, cough. The presence of ticks in various areas of the body, especially the edges of the ear, the neck area and the area beneath the tail, indicated the possible presence of Theileriosis, a parasitic infection. Random blood samples were collected from sixteen individuals. Subsequently, DNA was extracted from these samples and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was utilized to amplify the small subunit of the 18S rRNA gene, which is highly specific for the detection of Babesia/Theileria species. The PCR procedure employed the GF (5'-G(C/T) (C/T) TTGT AAT TGG AAT GAT GG-3') and GR (5'-CCA AAG ACT TTG ATT TCT CTC-3') primers. The results were then compared to international isolates via an analysis of genetic nucleotide sequences using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLASTn) algorithm, available at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). This analysis unveiled a significant genetic resemblance between the 18S rRNA gene sequences and T. annulata species, suggesting the presence of this parasite. As a consequential outcome of this study, it has been established that Bos taurus and Bubalus bubalis, can be a new host for T. annulata, particularly in the southern regions of Iraq.

Obesity is a metabolic condition that causes people to develop a variety of diseases and has emerged as a serious global public-health problem. Tocotrienol, a member of the vitamin E family that comes from the annatto bean (Bixa orellana), is special in that it doesn't contain alpha-tocopherol and instead mostly consists of delta-tocotrienol (approximately 90%) and gamma-tocotrienol (about 10%). This investigation aimed to ascertain whether annatto tocotrienol could improve certain biochemical indicators and metabolic hormones in male rats fed a high-fat diet. Eighteen adult male rats in total were split into three groups randomly (6 for each). Control group was given a diet low in fat (LF 10 % kcal from fat), High fat diet (HFD) group was fed with high fat diet (HF 60 % kcal from fat), And high fat diet with tocotrienol (HFDT) group was fed with high fat diet additive tocotrienol (60 mg/kg) dissolved in olive oil (1ml/kg) for 12 weeks. Tocotrienol treatment led to a significant decrease in total protein and globulin compared with the high-fat diet group and it significantly increased HDL-C compared with rats fed on a high-fat diet and control groups. While, tocotrienols significantly reduced the level of LDL and insulin hormone in the High fat diet plus tocotrienols group compared to the other groups.

This study was conducted at the slaughterhouse of Basra Governorate in southern Iraq, where 44 uteri were collected from local cows (5-6 years of age) from March 2023 to April 2023. The results showed 11(25%) cases of adenomyosis from total (44) cases of affected cows' reproductive systems. In macroscopic examination, the uteri appeared slightly swollen. At the same time, a microscopic examination revealed the presence of glands in the uterine muscle layer. The endometrial layer was partially observed in the myometrium under the microscope. Natural, benign endometrial islands composed of glands and stroma were found deep within the muscle layer. In addition, muscular hypertrophy occurs alongside it. Myometrial, and many blood vessels and muscle hypertrophy have emerged in the tumour's latter stages, causing a change in the structure of the endometrial glands.

Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic bacterium of humans and other mammals that is becoming more clinically and veterinary important due to its fast development of antibiotic resistance. Some of these S. aureus varieties are methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), which is common in healthcare organizations, community settings, and livestock farms across the world. Beyond humans, MRSA has the potential to live in other animal species, which could result in the emergence and spread of antimicrobial agent resistance in various animal species. Vancomycin is a type of antibiotic classified as a final resort option, employed to address severe infections instigated by Gram-positive bacteria. Vancomycin remains among the primary choices for the initial treatment of MRSA infections. During the past few years, there has been an emergence of Staphylococcus aureus strains exhibiting strong resistance to vancomycin. The vanA gene cluster, obtained from vancomycin-resistant enterococcus, eases the transfer of vancomycin resistance in S. aureus. In terms of likely transfer routes, underlying mechanisms, and consequences of methicillin and vancomycin resistance from animals to humans and vice versa, this review aims to highlight the Methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)and vancomycin resistance Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) issues

Influenza A viruses spread naturally among aquatic birds, especially the wild ones. The aim of the current study is to investigate the avian influenza virus subtype H9N2 in the wild and domestic ducks in different geographical areas of Basrah Governorate, namely Shatt Al Arab, Abu Al-Khaseeb, Az Zubayr, and Al Qurnah. The presence of the virus was initially investigated generally using a pair of universal primers by performing the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Subsequently, the virus subtype H9N2 was detected in both bird species. The results showed that the overall prevalence of the virus, regardless of subtype, was 66%. The total percentage in wild ducks was 78.6%, which showed significantly higher values than what was in domestic ducks, where it was 52.8%. Regarding the spread of the virus according to geographical location, the percentage of viruses in wild ducks was comparable in all areas involved in the study, while in domestic ducks it was higher in the Al Qurnah region, northern Basrah Governorate, compared to the rest of the regions.