Isolation and identification of bubaline herpesvirus 1 (BuHV-1) from latently infected water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) from Iran.

In order to isolate buffaloes herpesvirus 1 (BuHV-1) from latently infected water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), 16 buffalo heifers were selected from a herd. At first, animals were bled and their sera were tested by virus neutralization (VN) test, using bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1). According to the results of VN test and dexamethasone injection (0.1 mg/kg BW) for 5 consecutive days, the examined buffaloes were divided into 4 groups. Vaginal and nasal swabs were daily collected from all buffaloes from day 0 to 10 days later. Based on the cytopathic effects in cell culture, a herpesvirus was isolated only from nasal swabs of three seropositive buffaloes which they had received dexamethasone. The nasal swabs of these three buffaloes were also positive in PCR, using primers specific for ruminant herpesviruses gD gene. The identity of the isolated viruses was determined according to partial amino acid sequences of gD, deduced from the nucleotide sequences of the PCR products. On the basis of sequence alignment, phylogenetic analysis, and genetic distances, the three buffalo virus isolates were more closely related to BuHV-1 and BoHV-5 than to BoHV-1.

Assay of honey freshness by a novel optical technique.

Assay of Maillard reaction products (e.g. furosine) is a reputable method for determination of the honey freshness. In this report, novel optical technique is proposed for real-time measurement of the changes of furosine content in honey. The method is based on the unidirectional energy transfer between two peaks of the doubled-peak fluorescence spectrum as secondary inner filter effect (2nd-IFE) in a specific arrangement of the laser induced fluorescence (LIF) setup. Proper optical parameters are defined accordingly, and affirmed to be dependent on the content of furosine in honey. It is shown that the introduced parameters are not sensitive to the LIF intensity fluctuations induced by the ambient noises and particularly alter due to the 2nd-IFE. Furosine level of 8 honey types with different botanical origin were chemically determined before and after the 1 year storage, and compared with the values of the devised spectral parameters. Proofs conducted that the proposed technique can be utilized for evaluation of the honey freshness.

Age estimation of Arabian mares by incisors morphometry and dentition changes.

Accurate estimation of a horse's age based on the condition of the tooth status is necessary as a scientific and artistic technique, which has not been performed so far in pure Arabian horses of Khuzestan (southern west of Iran). This study aimed to investigate the age-dependent changes in the morphology and morphometry of the incisors in Arabian mares of Khuzestan to estimate age and to compare the estimated dental age and actual age. In this study, 78 Arabian mares of Khuzestan were examined in several equestrian clubs. Then, images were taken with a digital camera from the vestibular and occlusal surfaces of the lower incisors. Parameters of deciduous and permanent teeth eruption and their number, occlusal surface changes in the lower incisors including appearance and disappearance of the cup, enamel spot, dental star and appearance, and changes of Galvayne's groove in the upper corner incisor were investigated. Comparison of the clinical crown length of incisors in each group showed that first, second and third incisors (I1, I2, and I3) had the maximum to minimum crown length, respectively. The correlation between actual age and clinical crown length was strong in I1 (r = 0.73, p ≤ 0.001), I2 (r = 0.8, p ≤ 0.001), and I3 (r = 0.81, p ≤ 0.001) in the Arabian mares of Khuzestan. The correlation of estimated dental age with actual age in the Arabian mares of Khuzestan was very strong (r = 0.992, p ≤ 0.001). Therefore, the dental age estimation in the Arabian mares of Khuzestan appears to be very close to the actual age of the animal.

Evaluation of oxidant/antioxidant status in serum of sheep experimentally envenomated with Hemiscorpius lepturus scorpion venom.

Scorpion envenomation is a main general health problem in developing countries, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Hemiscorpius lepturus as a member of the Hemiscorpiidae family is cause of the most scorpion sting lethality in Iran. In the present study, the oxidative stress and antioxidant defense in serum of envenomated sheep with the venom of Hemiscorpius lepturus were investigated. Nine sheep were randomly divided into three groups (three in each). Groups A, B and C received 0.10, 0.05 and 0.01 mg kg-1 of H. lepturus venom subcutaneously, respectively. Blood sampling were performed 30 min before envenomation (control) and 30 min, 1, 2, 3 and 6 hr after envenomation and serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malonedialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PCO) were determined. The TAC was significantly increased at the doses of 0.10 mg kg-1 (at 3 hr) and 0.05 mg kg-1 (at 6 hr) compared to pre-injection time. However, no significant differences were observed in serum levels of MDA and PCO in different groups. It can be concluded that the dose of 0.01 mg kg-1 of venom had no effect on stress factors of serum, but according to increased level of TAC at the doses of 0.05 and 0.10 and no significant changes in serum levels of MDA and PCO, the oxidative damage has been prevented by the antioxidant defense system response.

Clinical, hematologic, hemostatic, and serum biochemical findings related to survival in Arabian horses with colic.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of clinical examinations, and hematologic, hemostatic, and serum biochemical assessments to determine appropriate early medical or surgical therapy in Arabian horses with colic have not been well-described. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate clinical and hematologic findings, coagulation-fibrinolytic parameters, and organ dysfunction markers in association with survival in horses with colic. METHODS: Seventeen Arabian horses with colic and ten healthy horses were enrolled. After clinical examinations, including heart rates (HRs), capillary refill times (CRTs), abdominal sounds, rectal palpations, and nasogastric (NG) reflux assessments in both healthy and diseased horses, blood samples were collected and hematologic parameters, coagulation indices such as the prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), plasma d-dimer (PDD), platelet count, fibrinogen, and hepatorenal biomarkers were measured. Based on the outcomes, horses with colic were divided into survival (10) and nonsurvival (7) groups, and all mentioned parameters were compared with the control group horses. RESULTS: Unlike HRs, CRTs, and abdominal sounds, rectal palpations (57.1%) and NG reflux (28.6%) findings were least sensitive in being able to determine survival. At least three of the five coagulation indices were significantly abnormal (prolonged PT, increased PDD, and decreased plasma fibrinogen) in 71.4% of the horses in the nonsurvival group compared with the control and survival groups. Significantly increased urea, creatinine, and bilirubin levels, and AST activities were also observed in the survival group compared with the control and nonsurvival groups. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of prolonged PT, increased PDD, and hypofibrinogenemia could be a reliable predictor of survival in horses with colic. The significant renal and hepatic dysfunctions in nonsurviving horses with colic appeared to be consistent with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and a grave prognosis.