Two Novel Avian Influenza Virus Subtypes Isolated from Domestic Ducks in North of Iran.

Avian Influenza Viruses (AIV) are the causative agents of Avian Influenza (AI), which is a contagious and zoonotic disease in birds. Among birds, wild waterfowls and ducks are the primary and natural reservoirs of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses (LPAI). This study aimed to identify and differentiate between two AIV subtypes (i.e., hemagglutinin and neuraminidase from domestic ducks by hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) and neuraminidase inhibition (NI) assays. To this end, 962 cloacal swabs were collected from domestic ducks being sold at different Iranian Live Bird Markets in Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan provinces, located at the southern coast of the Caspian Sea. The samples were inoculated in 10-day-old embryonated specific pathogen-free chicken eggs, and subsequently, harvested allantoic fluids were subjected to agar gel immunodiffusion, HI, and NI assays. In total, five positive samples, including two H4N2 and three H3N2 AIV subtypes were identified. Isolation of H4N2 and H3N2 viruses has never been reported from Iranian domestic ducks previously. This finding further suggests the diversity of LPAI viruses in Iranian ducks and also shows that the HI and NI assays are highly efficient in determining AIV subtypes.

Report of a new meq gene size: The first study on genetic characterisation of Marek's disease viruses circulating in Iranian commercial layer and backyard chicken.

1. In recent months, several outbreaks with clinical signs of MDV-1 were reported in Iranian parent and laying hen farms, in addition to backyard chickens. Several meq gene sequences from these outbreaks were amplified and molecularly characterised.2. The meq protein sequences revealed three different sizes, namely the standard 339 aa, a shorter form of 338 aa lacking a proline residue at position 191, and a very short (vs) size of 265 aa. Based on sequence and size, the 265 aa meq has never been reported from international research groups before. The protein has only one PPPP repeat motif suggesting it belongs to a highly virulent strain.3. The standard meq sequences showed 100% BLAST identity to the vv+ isolate Polen5. However, the 338 aa form clustered to the clade usually reported from North America.4. This is the first report on genetic analysis of MDV-1 from Iran, but further study is required to obtain a better picture of the diversity and prevalence of different MDV-1 strains circulating in the country's farms, backyard poultry and other bird species.

Isolation and Detection of Mycoplasma agalactiae from Semen Samples of Goats.

Contagious agalactia (CA) is a highly infectious disease of goats and sheep, and is a form of Mycoplasmosis, which is usually enzootic. Since Mycoplasma agalactiae (M. agalactiae) is the main cause of this disease in goats, the aim of this study was to isolate and detect M. agalactiae from semen of goat bucks. Thirty-nine semen samples were collected from goat bulks, and all samples were cultured in PPLO broth medium supplemented for M. agalaciae isolation. The bacteria DNAs were extracted from clinical samples and the PCR assay was applied to detect Mycoplasma genus and M. agalactiae species using specific primers, which amplified a 163bp fragment in 16SrRNA gene and a 375bp fragment in lipoprotein gene. The PCR evaluations were performed for both the clinical samples and the cultures. Out of the 39 samples, 29 (74.3%) of the cultures were shown positive and typical Mycoplasma colonies grew on PPLO agar, which could be considered as the diagnostic method. In addition, 38 (97.4%) samples had positive PCR results for Mycoplasma genus and six (15.3%) of the samples were shown to be positive using PCR for M. agalactiae as the diagnostic method. In the present study, M. agalactiae was detected in semen of goat bulks for the first time in Iran. Therefore, it is recommended to concern semen as one of the significant sources for this pathogen and the possibility for transmission to the female goats through semen is highlighted. Moreover, presence of this microorganism in semen could be involved in infertility of goat population.

Psoriasin (S100A7) is a major Escherichia coli-cidal factor of the female genital tract.

The female urogenital tract requires an efficient defense against bacteria, potentially derived from the adjacent intestinal tract. We have thus sought to identify the factors that protect against Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the female genital tract. Vaginal fluid from healthy human donors consistently killed E. coli in vitro and vaginal epithelium strongly expressed and secreted psoriasin. Psoriasin was constitutively produced in an organotypic vaginal epithelium model, and exposure of these cells to supernatants of E. coli cultures led to an enhanced psoriasin expression. Secreted psoriasin in vaginal fluids accounted for approximately 2.5-3% of total protein. Fractionation of vaginal fluids by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that psoriasin co-eluted with a peak of E. coli killing activity. Our data show that normal vaginal fluid contains a powerful intrinsic antimicrobial defense against E. coli and that psoriasin contributes to the innate immune response of the female genital tract.

Mammary tumor virus particles in the submaxillary gland, seminal vesicle, and nonmammary tumors of wild mice.

Type-B mammary tumor virus particles were detected by electron microscopy in the submaxillary glands of 6 of 27 freshly trapped, pregnant wild mice (Mus musculus). Type-B particles were also detected in 3 9f 24 seminal vesicles and 2 pulmonary adenomas from wild mice. Intracytoplasmic type-A virus particles were found in 7 spontaneous nonmammary tumors (lymphoma, hepatoma, lung adenoma) of aging wild mice. Type-C virus particles were also detected in many of these tissues.