Remarkable positive effects of figwort (Scrophularia striata) on improving growth performance, and immunohematological parameters of fish.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of figwort on the growth and immunohematological parameters of common carp (14.20 ± 0.53 g). Four experimental diets were developed to feed fish for eight weeks: control, Figw10 (10 g/kg figwort), Figw20 (20 g/kg figwort), and Figw30 (30 g/kg figwort). The results showed that fish fed dietary Figw10 gained more weight (38.25 g) than control (P < 0.05). Regarding immunohematological parameters, fish fed dietary Figw30 had a higher level of white blood cells (31.2 103/mm3), hematocrit (35.82%), blood performance (14.63), total protein (1.96 g/dL), albumin (0.79 g/dL), globulin (1.17 g/dL), lymphocyte (70.53%), monocyte (3.03%), alternative hemolytic complement activity (ACH50) (147.76 u/mL), lysozyme (62.19 u/mL), and bactericidal activities (135.24) than the control group (P < 0.05). After 14 days of the challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila, the Figw30 treatment had the highest survival ratio (61.76%) compared to the control with 26.46%. Further, after the challenge, fish fed dietary Figw30 had a higher value of immunoglobulin M (42.00 µg/mL), antibody titer (19.23), complement component 3 (296.39 µg/mL), and complement component 4 (97.91 µg/mL) when compared with those fed control diet (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the optimum dosage for providing the best immune response was 30 g/kg in diet.

Identification and differentiation of Campylobacter species by high-resolution melting curve analysis.

BACKGROUND: Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are the important food-born zoonotic pathogen, also are leading causes of human food borne illnesses worldwide. cadF gene is expressed in all C. jejuni and C. coli strains and mediates cell binding to the cell matrix protein, Fibronectin. High-resolution melting (HRM) analysis is emerging as an efficient and robust method for discriminating DNA sequence variants. The goal of this study was to apply HRM analysis to identification of C. jejuni and C. coli. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 samples were obtained from chicken in Kermanshah, Iran. HRM analysis based on cadF gene and Eva Green was developed to the identification of Campylobacter to the species level. RESULTS: Fifty-five of 100 samples were positive as campylobacter (7 C. jejuni, 29 C. coli, 16 mixes and 3 unknown). Minor variations were observed in melting point temperatures of C. coli or C. jejuni isolates and this variation can be used to the differentiation between C. coli or C. jejuni isolates. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicated that HRM curve analysis can be a suitable technique and rapid technique for distinguishing between C. jejuni and C. coli isolates.

An investigation on body weights, blood glucose levels and pituitary-gonadal axis hormones in diabetic and metformin-treated diabetic female rats.

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder which affects whole body systems including reproductive system. Diabetes is also a contributing factor to infertility. Metformin is one of the most common drugs to control hyperglycemia. In this study, 36 adult Sprague-Dawley female rats (170-210 g) were divided into 3 groups (control, diabetic and diabetic-treated by metformin). In second and third groups, diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection (45 mg kg(-1), IP) and the third group was treated by metformin hydrochloride (100 mg kg(-1) day(-1), PO) for 8 weeks. Body weights were compared and blood glucose, gonadotropins and sexual hormones were measured. In diabetic group the blood glucose level significantly (P < 0.05) increased in comparison with that of control and metformin-treated diabetic rats. The results also revealed that, in the untreated diabetic rats, the mean body weights and pituitary-gonadal axis hormones were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in comparison with the control. Although there were significant (P < 0.05) reduction in mean body weights in metformin-treated diabetic rats, reduction in pituitary-gonadal axis hormones was not as sharp as in untreated diabetic rats and only level of progesterone was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in comparison with the control. The results of this investigation revealed that there was a clear relationship between experimental diabetes with body weight and pituitary-gonadal axis hormones, and treatment with metformin relatively restored diabetic complications.