Prevalence of canine distemper in dogs referred to Veterinary Hospital of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is responsible for high morbidity and mortality in dogs worldwide. Epidemiological study of canine distemper can help to control and treat the disease in any area. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of CDV in dogs referred to the Veterinary Hospital from September 23, 2018 to September 22, 2019. Dogs with at least two clinical signs of canine distemper underwent blood tests, rapid test kit from the eye and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and RT-PCR from whole blood and/or CSF samples. Out of 1212 referred dogs, 112 dogs were suspected to have canine distemper of which 90 underwent RT-PCR and rapid test kits. The disease prevalence was 4.04% (49/1212) and 7.44% (49/659) according to the total number of referring dogs and number of referring sick dogs, respectively. The distemper fatality rate was 69.57% (32/46). Seventy percent of distemper positive cases were under 12 months old and 52.08% were under 6 months old. Female dogs were more susceptible than males; however, the fatality rate of males was more than females. Of distemper positive dogs, 91.84% were unvaccinated. The highest prevalence (71.43%) of dogs diagnosed with CDV occurred during the cold seasons. It is concluded that canine distemper is endemic in the geographical area of Mashhad and its prevalence rate in dogs referred to the Veterinary Hospital of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad is 4.04% and its fatality rate is 69.57%. This indicates that a significant number of dogs may die if they develop distemper despite treatment.

Anti-Tumor Effect of Protoscolex Hydatid Cyst Somatic Antigen on Inhibition Cell Growth of K562.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Today, cancer is one of the most important causes of death in the world, and so far, many treatment methods have been used in this field. Immunotherapy is considered one of the newest developments in this science, and it is still being investigated in some forms in different cancers and with a variety of antigens as well. One of the subsets of cancer immunotherapy is its treatment using parasitic antigens. The present study evaluated the effect of using somatic antigens of protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus on K562 cancer cells. METHODS: In this study, hydatid cysts' protoscolex antigens were extracted, purified, and added to K562 cancer cells at three concentrations (0.1, 1, and 2 mg/ml) and on three times (24, 48, and 72 h). The number of apoptotic cells was compared to the control flask. The antigen concentration of 2 mg/ml was used as a control sample to investigate its cytotoxic effect on the growth of healthy HFF3 cells. Annexin V and PI tests were also performed to differentiate apoptosis from necrosis. RESULTS: In flasks treated with hydatid cyst protoscolex antigen, all three concentrations significantly reduced the growth of cancer cells compared with the control flask, and concentration 2 of crude antigen significantly caused the death of cancer cells. Furthermore, more cancer cells underwent apoptosis by increasing the time of exposure to the antigen. On the other hand, flow cytometry results also showed that the amount of apoptosis has increased compared to the control group. In fact, Protoscolex hydatid cyst somatic antigens induce programmed cell death in K562 cancer cells while not having a cytotoxic effect on normal cells. CONCLUSION: Therefore, it is suggested to do more research on the anti-cancer and therapeutic properties of the antigens of this parasite.

Anti-Tumor Effect of Marshallagia marshalli Somatic Antigen on Inhibition Cell Growth of K562.

Background: Today, the inhibitory effect of helminths on tumor cell growth has been proven. We investigated the anti-tumor activity of Marshallagia marshalli somatic against K562 cells. Methods: Different concentrations of M. marshalli somatic antigen were incorporated in the culture medium of K652 cells, and the proliferation and apoptosis were measured after 24, 48, and 72 h, using MTT and Annexin V/PI staining assay. Results: Treatment of cells with 1-2 mg/ml antigen for 24-72 h could suppress cell proliferation and increase apoptosis. While treating cells with 0.1 mg/ml antigen for 72 h could inhibit cell growth. There was no meaningful effect on treated cells in comparison with the control group (P< 0.05) after incubating cells for 24- 48 h with 0.1 mg/ml antigen. Conclusion: M. marshalli somatic antigen had an anti-cancer property, and its role in cancer treatment could be considered as an effective therapeutic method.

Detection of canine distemper virus in cerebrospinal fluid, whole blood and mucosal specimens of dogs with distemper using RT-PCR and immunochromatographic assays.

BACKGROUND: Accurate diagnosis of canine distemper (CD), a highly contagious and acute viral disease, cannot be made solely based on clinical signs and haematological findings, but serological and molecular methods compatible with clinical signs are also required. The type of sample and method of tissue sampling are also very important. Sometimes in chronic cases, the canine distemper virus (CDV) may not be detected in blood and conjunctival specimens but can be detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the suitability of CSF samples with whole blood and conjunctival samples in the detection of CDV. METHODS: The CDV was detected in CSF, whole blood and mucosal specimens in 20 dogs with obvious neurological with or without systemic signs congruous with CD by RT-PCR and rapid immunochromatographic (IC) antigen test kit assays. RESULTS: Rapid kit results were positive for mucosal swabs in 10 cases (50%) and for CSF in 17 cases (85%); RT-PCR results from whole blood were positive in 11 cases (55%) and from CSF in 16 cases (80%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results revealed that dogs with neurological signs showing simultaneous or recent systemic symptoms, whole blood, CSF and mucosal swabs are suitable for the diagnosis of CDV by RT-PCR and rapid IC antigen test kits, but dogs with neurological symptoms that are systematically asymptomatic or have had systemic signs for a long time, whole blood and mucosal swabs are not good samples while CSF is a good one.

Evaluation of Newcastle disease virus vaccine effectiveness in dogs with neurological signs of canine distemper.

Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) is the cause of a highly lethal infectious disease affecting a broad range of carnivores. Despite using various treatments, there is still no effective treatment, especially in the neurological form of distemper. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of injecting Newcastle disease vaccine into the subarachnoid space of dogs with neurological form of distemper. The dogs that had symptoms of nervous distemper, particularly myoclonus, were included in the plan. After anesthetizing of dogs, 0.10 to 1.00 mL of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were removed and, 0.10 to 0.50 mL of the prepared Newcastle solution were injected into their subarachnoid space. Another 0.50 to 1.00 mL of normal saline was then injected to remove the needle from the vaccine. The live attenuated LaSota or B1 vaccine was used in this study. Rapid kit tests and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays were used to diagnose of the disease. Dogs were monitored for up to 3 to 24 months during that time they were evaluated for improvement or worsening of clinical symptoms. Out of nine dogs in which distemper were diagnosed with different tests, one dog recovered completely and another dog recovered greatly. Therefore, the overall recovery rate was 22.20%. It is concluded that administration of Newcastle vaccine into the subarachnoid space of dogs with nervous distemper causes at least 22.20% improvement and does not cause specific side effects and can be used to treat affected dogs.

Influence of Eimeria spp. infection and dietary inclusion of arginine on intestine histological parameters, serum amino acid profile and ileal amino acids digestibility in broiler chicks.

Coccidiosis is considered to be one of the most important challenge in the poultry industry causes economic losses due to the destruction in the digestive tract of chicken. It disturbs amino acids profile and their digestibility, leading to weight lost and economic burden. Using dietary arginine may decrease the adverse effects of coccidiosis on chicken digestive tract. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of arginine on intestine histological parameters, serum amino acid concentration and ileal amino acid digestibility of broiler chicks infected with coccidiosis. A total number of 384 one-d-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) of mixed sex with initial weight of 42 ±â€¯2 g was allocated into 8 groups with 8 birds/pen from grower period. At 21 days of age, broiler chicks were infected with a mixture of Eimeria spp. Broiler chicks were divided into infected and un-infected groups and received arginine at recommended levels of 85, 100, 125 and 150 %. Intestinal morphology and lesions, serum amino acid concentration and ileal amino acid digestibility were evaluated. Broiler chicks infected with Eimeria spp. showed lower villus height and villus height: crypt depth ratio and also higher intestinal lesions (P < 0.05). Coccidia infection decreased the ileal amino acid digestibility for all studied amino acids and also reduced serum concentrations of amino acids, except lysine and isoleucine (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation of arginine especially in higher levels significantly increased villus height and villus height:crypt depth ratio and decreased lesions (P < 0.05). Moreover, dietary supplementing of arginine increased the serum concentration of arginine (P < 0.05), but it did not have any significant effect on its digestibility (P > 0.05). In sum, coccidiosis decreases amino acid digestibility and serum amino acid concentration, but dietary inclusion of higher levels of arginine significantly improved histological parameters of broiler chicks infected with coccidiosis.

Marshallagia marshalli Antigen Strengthens Dendritic Cell Mediated T Lymphocyte Regulation on Asthmatic Patients.

BACKGROUND: The current study was conducted to investigate the antigenic effect of Marshallagia marshalli on the treatment of asthma by measuring the secreted inhibitory cytokine. METHODS: Case patients and controls were selected from clinics in Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi Province, Northeastern Iran in 2017-18. In this experimental study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from 15 patients with asthma and 10 healthy controls and were cultured. PBMCs were then converted to tolerogenic DCs through exposure to GM-CSF, IL-4 and M. marshalli antigen. Then, tolerogenic DCs were exposed to autologous T cells for five days and finally, the level of secreted TGF-ß1 was measured. RESULTS: The mean TGF-ß1 level in the control and control groups was 210.2 ± 8.2 and 225.4 ± 6.1 pq/ml, respectively. The results showed that TGF-ß1 levels in both groups significantly increased in both groups (P<0.001). In addition, TGF-ß1 levels in the case group were significantly higher than the control group (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: M. marshalli antigen increase the level of TGF-ß1 and can create antigen-bearing dendritic cells and shift T lymphocytes to the regulatory type. This parasite can be used in dendritic cell therapy to control allergic diseases.