Seroprevalence of Leptospiral Infection in Rodents of Dairy Cattle Herds Complexes in Suburb of Mashhad - Iran

M. Talebkhan Garoussi^*, J. Vand-e-Useefee,^** J. Mehrzad^*

*Department of Clinical Sciences
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
Mashhad - Iran

**Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute of Karaj
Karaj - Iran

(Received November 7, 2005; accepted June 26, 2006)

Abstract

Garoussi, M. Talebkhan, Vand-e-Useefee, J. and Mehrzad, J. 2006. Seroprevalence of Leptospiral infection in rodents of dairy cattle herds complexes in suburb of Mashhad-Iran. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 30: 109-111.

A total of 115 rodents including 66 mole rats (Nesokia indica) and 49 house mice (Mus musculus) were trapped from 18 commercial dairy cattle herds/farms in Mashhad suburb of Khorrassan Razavee province, Iran. The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) with 22 live antigens were used to determine serological responses. The seroprevalence (at a titer ł100) was 21.73%. Serum samples showed positive reaction against Leptospira interrogans serogroups/serovars Icterohaemorragiae icterohaemorragiae, Grippothyphosa grippothyphosa and Sejroe hardjo and the distribution of MAT titer for serogroups/serovars were 1:200, 1:400, 1:800 and 1:1600, respectively. The infection rate was significantly higher in mole rats than house mice (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences among species and different infection titers.

Keywords : Leptospira, seroprevalence, redents, dairy cattle.

Genetic Polymorphism of Some Blood Proteins in Saanen Goats

Cengiz Elmaci¹, Yasemin Oner¹, Ozhan Turkyilmaz², Meltem Cetin³

¹Animal Science Department
Faculty of Agriculture, Uludag University
Gorukle Campus, 16059 Bursa, Turkey

²Bornova Veterinary Control and Research Institute
Izmir, Turkey

³Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Uludag University, 16059 Bursa, Turkey

(Received December 29, 2005; accepted August 8, 2006)

Abstract

Elmaci, C., Oner, Y., Turkyilmaz, O. and Cetin, M. 2006. Genetic polymorphism of some blood proteins in Saanen goats. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 30: 113-116.

Genetic variations of 4 protein loci (transferrin, haemoglobin, amylase and ceruloplasmin) in 70 Saanen goats from Balikesir province of Turkey were investigated by means of horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. Two loci, transferrin (Tf) and haemoglobin (Hb) were found to be polymorphic. Other loci amylase (Amy) and ceruloplasmin (Cp) did not show polymorphism. In all polymorphic loci, the observed genotype frequencies were not significantly different from those expected from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

Key words: Transferrin, haemoglobin, ceruloplasmin, amylase, polymorphism, Saanen goats

Gallbladder Mucocele in Two Dogs with Pituitary-Dependent Hyperadrenocorticism : A Case Report

¹Clínica Veterinaria Atlántico
Pi y Margall, 42, 35006 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

²Campus Universitario de Arucas
35416 Las Palmas, Facultad de Veterinaria
Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

³Facultad de Veterinaria
Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain

(Received November 29, 2005; accepted July 6, 2006) 

Abstract

Melián, C., Morales, M., Perez-Alenza, M.D., Corbera, J.A. and Bru, N.D. 2006. Gallbladder mucocele in two dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism: a case report. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 30: 117-120.

Gallbadder mucocele in two clinical cases of dogs with hyperadrenocorticism has been described. Decreased gallbladder motility, biliary stasis and altered absortion of water from the gallbladder lumen are predisposing factors to the formation of biliary sludge and it is possible that biliary sludge is a precipitating factor in the formation of gallbladder mucoceles. Dogs with hyperadrenocorticism commonly present biliary sludge and hepatomegaly and might be predisposed to gallbladder mucocele. Hyperadrenocorticism is associated with thrombosis and a hypercoagulability state, which can contribute to gallbladder ischemia and necrosis. Further studies are needed to fully understand the effect on hyperadrenocorticism on gallbladder function.

Keywords: Gallbladder, mucocele, dog, hyperadrenocorticism, "kiwi gallbladder".

Development of Dot-ELISA for Diagnosis of Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in Small Ruminants

P. Saravanan*, V. Balamurugan, A. Sen, B. Sahay, R.K. Singh

Division of Virology
Indian Veterinary Research Institute
Mukteswar-263 138, India

(Received March 17, 2006; accepted August 1, 2006)

Abstract

Saravanan, P., Balamurugan, V., Sen, A., Sahay, B. and Singh, R.K. 2006. Development of dot-ELISA for diagnosis of Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in small ruminants. J. Apl. Anim. Res., 30: 121-124.

A simple dot-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (dot-ELISA) using nitrocellulose membrane as solid support was developed for detection of Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) viral antigen in caprine and ovine clinical materials. A dot of 5 ml of tissue suspension (10%, w/v) of clinical samples was applied on the nitrocellulose paper strip to enable PPR viral antigen to bind and then incubated with purified primary PPR virus specific anti-nucleocapsid protein monoclonal antibody. The antigen-antibody reaction was detected with horse raddish peroxidase-conjugated secondary anti-mouse immunoglobulin G and the enzyme substrate, 4-choloro-1-naphthol. The blue colour dots were visually assessed and scored. This test was compared for its relative diagnostic sensitivity (82%) and specificity (91%) with routinely used sandwich-ELISA (s-ELISA) for the diagnosis of PPR. Dot-ELISA could serve as simple, easy to perform diagnostic field test to screen clinical samples from suspected goats and sheep for PPR diagnosis.

Key words: PPRV; dot-ELISA; diagnosis; sandwich ELISA; clinical samples.

Department of Agricultural Economics

Faculty of Agriculture

Ataturk University, Erzurum-Turkey

(Revised received June 30, 2006; accepted July 1, 2006)

Isik, H.B., Kulekci, M. and Birinci, A. 2006. Determining economically optimum weaning age: A case study in Erzurum, Turkey. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 30: 125-128.

Key words: Calf, optimum weaning age, weight gain, feeding cost.

Departments of Physiology (AAP) and Clinical Studies

School of Veterinary Medicine (HN& MM)

Shahid Chamran University, Ahwaz, Iran

(Revised received May 14, 2006; accepted July 6, 2006)

Papahn, A.A., Naddaf, H., Rezakhani, A. and Mayahi, M. 2006. Electrocardiogram of homing pigeon. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 30: 129-132.

Keywords: Electrocardiogram, pigeon, limb leads, electrocardiography.

Effects of Bacillus licheniformis Amylase on Starch Digestibility and Sheep Performance

M.M. Crosby^1,2#, G.D. Mendoza^1,2, L.M. Melgoza¹, R. Bárcena²,
F.X. Plata¹, E.M. Aranda²

¹Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas
División de CBS
Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana
Unidad Xochimilco, 04960, México D.F.

²Colegio de Postgraduados
Programa de Ganadería, Montecillo, México
Km 36.5 Carr. México-Texcoco Edo. De México, 56230 México

(Received November 29, 2005; accepted June 19, 2006)

Abstract

Crosby, M.M., Mendoza, G.D., Melgoza, L.M., Bárcena, R., Plata, F.X. and Aranda, E.M. 2006. Effects of Bacillus licheniformis amylase on starch digestibility and sheep performance. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 30: 133-136.

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of amylase on starch digestion and sheep performance (45 d) with a sorghum based diet (68%). Thirty-six sheep (Creole x Suffolk, 21.66±6.5 kg BW) were assigned the following doses of amylase from B. licheniformis (g enzyme/kg dry matter of grain): 0.0, 0.6, 1.2, 1.8, 2.4 and 3.0. In vivo digestibility (%) of dry matter was improved (P<0.05) (72.8 vs 81.7%) with amylase. The average daily weight gain (g) and feed conversion were not affected by treatment. Even when dry matter digestibility was increased with amylase from B. licheniformis, sheep performance was not with the exogenous amylolytic enzyme.

Key words: Bacillus licheniformis, enzyme, sorghum, sheep.

Division of Physiology and Reproduction

Central Avian Research Institute

Izatnagar-243122, India

(Received November 29, 2005; accepted July 25, 2006)

Thakur, R., Tyagi, J.S., Mohan, J. and Sastry, K.V.H. 2006. Effect of pinealectomy and melatonin administration on jejunal mucosal enzymes and performance of young broiler chickens. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 30: 137-140.

To understand the role of gut melatonin on digestive enzymes and performance, day-old chicks (n=144) were divided into three groups i.e. control, sham operated and pinealectomised and kept under continuous light. Half of the birds from each group were administered melatonin (5mg/kg b wt) intraperitonealy, up to 20 days. Birds were sacrificed at d 10 and 20. Pinealectomy did not produce any significant variation while exogenous melatonin supplementation produced a significant increase (P<0.05) in mucosal amylase, trypsin and improved feed conversion ratio indicating that under continuous light exogenous melatonin had a positive effect on some jejunal mucosal enzymes.

Key words: Melatonin, pinealectomy, enzymes, broiler performance.

Effect of Frequent Ejaculation on Live Weight and Sperm Characteristics in Norduz Lambs

M. Bingöl, A. Yilmaz^*, F. Cengiz, D. Kum

Department of Animal Science
Agriculture Faculty
Yüzüncü Y2l University, 65080 Van, Turkey

(Received January 4, 2006; accepted August 14, 2006)

Abstract

Bingöl, M., Yilmaz, A., Cengiz, F. and Kum, D. 2006. Effect of frequent ejaculation on live weight and sperm characteristics in Norduz lambs. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 30: 141-144.

To determine the effects of frequent ejaculation on live weight and sperm characteristics, 12 Norduz rams (17 mo) were divided into three groups. The semen samples of the second and third group rams were collected 3 and 5 times per day, respectively, while no semen was collected from the first group. The sperm motility, semen viscosity and mass motility were marginally better in rams of third group (P<0.05). In both groups semen volume decreased over the days and ejaculate number on the same day. Other parameters were either unaffected or did not follow any definite pattern. It is concluded that live weight of rams and semen characteristics were not affected by taking 3-5 ejaculates in a day in Norduz rams.

Keywords: Ram, Norduz, semen characteristics, frequent ejaculation.

Histochemical Studies on Structural Changes of Large Conducting Arteries in Male Diabetic Rats

M.R. Arab*, G.R. Komeili¹, A. Touhidi², Aval F. Sargolzaie, M.R. Shahraki¹

Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine
Zahedan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services
P.O. Box 98165-493, Zahedan, Iran

(Revised received March 31, 2006; accepted June 10, 2006)

Abstract

Arab, M.R., Komeili, G.R., Touhidi, A., Sargolzaie, A.F. and Shahraki, M.R. 2006. Histochemical studies on structural changes of large conducting arteries in male diabetic rats. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 30: 145-148.

To examine the structural and histochemical changes of aorta and common carotid arteries in male diabetic rats, 63 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into experimental (n=36) and control (n=27) groups. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg of streptozotocin in experimental group. There was a significant difference only for periodic acid schiff positive material in subintimal connective tissue between control and 4 months diabetic groups (P<0.007). Peanut agglutinin staining showed the presence of Galactose/N-Acetyl galactosamine in glycoconjugates of sub-endothelial and adventitial components of studied arteries. It seems that in diabetes, the rate of glycosylation of cell surface and extracellular matrix glycoconjugates changed slowly.

Key words: Aorta, carotid, diabetes mellitus, lectin, rat.

Genetic Variability in Integrin Beta-1 (ITGB1) Gene of Buffaloes

Bejoy John, Subodh Kumar¹, S.M. Deb, Abhijit Mitra, S.K. Niranjan,
Soumen Naskar, Arjava Sharma

Animal Genetics Division
Indian Veterinary Research Institute
Izatnagar-243 122, India

(Received January 23, 2006; accepted August 20, 2006)

Abstract

John, B., Kumar, S., Deb, S.M., Mitra, A., Niranjan, S.K., Naskar, S. and Sharma, A. 2006. Genetic variability in Integrin Beta-1 (ITGB1) gene of buffaloes. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 30: 149-152.

A fragment of 151 bp corresponding to exon-5 of ITGB1 gene was amplified in 45 buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) of murrah breed. The RFLP analysis showed the absence of polymorphism in this fragment with respect to Tru1I restriction enzyme and showed only one restriction site, which produced two fragments of 21 and 130 bp. The putative metal ion binding D-X-S-X-S sequence motif in the I-like domain of b1 subunit was highly conserved in these buffaloes. Three and nine nucleotide sequence variations were found in buffalo sequences when compared to that of cattle and human, respectively. The sequence of the amplicon which was the first report on buffalo ITGB1, was submitted to GenBank.

Keywords: Buffalo, exon-5, integrin b-1, murrah, Tru1I, RFLP.

Estimation of Inorganic and Biochemical Constituents of Parascaris equorum from Horse in Iran

N. Moghaddar*, B. Tabai, M. Mahjoob

Department of Pathobiology
School of Veterinary Medicine
Shiraz University
Shiraz 71345-1958, Iran

(Received December 29, 2005; accepted June 20, 2006)

Abstract

Moghaddar, N., Tabai, B. and Mahjoob, M. 2006. Estimation of inorganic and biochemical constituents of Parascaris equorum from horse. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 30: 153-155.

The inorganic constituents of adult Parascaris equorum worms revealed the presence of sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, zinc, lead, chloride, cobalt, manganese, copper, lithium, nickel and silver in variable quantities. Though silver, nickel and lithium were in traces yet their presence was interesting. The analysis also showed triglycerides, cholesterol, protein, albumin and glucose. Excretory products viz. creatinine, uric acid and urea were also observed and the latter was in distinct quantity (12.8 mg/dl). The whole worms also contained 16 amino acids, namely phenylalanine, tyrosine, alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, serine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. Alanine was in maximum quantity (19.3 µM/g) whereas aspartic acid was minimum (0.6 µM/g). Besides, lactic acid and ammonia were also present. Enzymatic components included creatinine phosphokinase, lactic dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphodehydrogenase.

Key words: Inorganic and biochemical constituents, Parascaris equorum, horse, HPLC, amino acids, enzymes.

1Canary Agronomic Science Institute

Apdo. 60, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

2Department of Animal Science

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria University

Arucas 35416, Spain

(Received November 29, 2005; accepted July 10, 2006)

Fresno, M.R., Álvarez, S., Rodríguez, V., Castro, N. and Argüello, A. 2006. Evaluation of the effect of rennet type on the texture and colour of goats cheese. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 30: 157-160.

Key words: Goat cheese, rennet type, texture, colour, ripening.

Quality of Silages from Sunflower Harvested at Different Vegetational Stages

Murat Demirel, Duran Bolat¹ , Sibel Çelik, Yunus Bakici², SavaŐ Çelik³

Animal Science Department
Agricultural Faculty
Yüzüncü Yil University, 65080 Van-Turkey

(Received November 29, 2005; accepted July 6, 2006)

Abstract

Demirel, M., Bolat, D., Çelik, S., Bakici, Y. and Çelik, S. 2006. Quality of silages from sunflower harvested at different vegetational stages. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 30: 161-165.

This study was carried out to determine qualities and in vivo digestibility of silage of sunflower green herbage harvested at blooming, milk or dough stage and incubated in 120 l plastic barrels for 90 days. While dry matter, organic matter and crude fat content increased at dough stage, acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber decreased (P<0.05). The highest lactic and propionic acid and the lowest butyric acid and pH values were observed in blooming stage silage. While dry grass yield and table ratio increased with maturity, stem and leaf ratio as well as digestibility of most of the nutrients decreased (P<0.05). It may be concluded that high quality alternative silages could be obtained from sunflower green herbage, best coming from bloom stage.

Keywords: Harvesting stage, sunflower silage, fermentation quality, in vivo digestibility.

Effect of Oral Administration of Clomiphene Citrate on Sperm Viability and Fertility of Boar Semen

D.O. Umesiobi

Field of Animal Reproductive Physiology
School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Central University of Technology
Free State, Private Bag X20539
Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa

(Received November 28, 2005; accepted June 30, 2006)

Abstract

Umesiobi, D.O. 2006. Effect of oral administration of Clomiphene citrate on sperm viability and fertility of boar semen. J. Appl. Anin. Res., 30: 167-170.

In order to improve semen characteristics of boars with poor quality semen, 24 (2.0 years old) Large White boars and 120 cycling non-lactating Large White sows (aged 2.5 years) were used in this study. Two groups of eight boars each were randomly administered with oral doses of either 50 mg or 100 mg Clomiphene citrate daily for 5 days and a control group of 8 boars was administered with normal saline for the same period. Semen characteristics were examined twice a week for 16 weeks. Semen from each boar was randomly inseminated into five sows following sperm viability tests. It was observed that total semen volume, sperm motility, per cent live sperm, total sperm/ejaculate, sperm with normal apical ridge and serum testosterone levels improved with increasing levels of Clomiphene citrate. Sows inseminated with semen from such boars resulted in higher furrowing rates with larger litter size. It is concluded that 100 mg Clomiphene citrate given orally for 5 days resulted in significant improvement in the performance of breeding boars.

Key words: Clomiphene citrate, semen characteristics, boar, sow fertility.

Effects of Clove Oil and Eugenol on Anaesthesia and Some Hematological Parameters of European Eel Anguilla anguilla, L.

Tülay Altun*, Arzu Özlüer Hunt**, Fatma Usta*

*Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries, Cukurova University
Adana, 01330 Turkey

**Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries, Mersin University
Mersin, 33169 Turkey

(Received January 4, 2006; accepted July 15, 2006)

Abstract

Altun, T., Hunt, A.Ö. and Usta, F. 2006. Effects of clove oil and eugenol on anaesthesia and some hematological parameters of European eel Anguilla anguilla, L., 1758. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 30: 171-176.

To investigate anaesthetic and some hematological effects of clove oil and eugenol for European eel, Anguilla anguilla, L., 1758, 0.0, 0.025, 0.05 and 0.075 ml/l of clove oil or 0.0, 2.250, 3.375 and 4.500 ml/l of eugenol were applied to fish (80.95±8.94 g). After fish was anaesthetized, half of fishes from each group were transferred into recovery tanks (to clean water), whereas, other half was retained there for next 48h. Induction time ranged between 3 and 5 min for clove oil and 2 and 5 min for eugenol. Fish reached to 5^th anaesthesia stage in all experimental groups except control and the lowest concentration group of both anaesthetics. Reaching the fish to 8^th stage of recovery took 60 min in all groups. Opercular rates of fish in test groups of clove oil and eugonal decreased slightly. During the study no mortality was observed. WBC counts decreased (P<0.05), but RBC counts, hematocrit value and glucose level increased by increasing dose (P<0.05). It is conclused that 0.050 ml/l of clove oil or 3.375 ml/l of eugenol can be accepted suitable to anaesthetize European eel of this size.

Key words: Clove oil, eugenol, anaesthesia, hematological parameters, A. anguilla.

Detection of Goat pox Antibodies : Comparative Efficacy of Indirect ELISA and Counterimmunoelectrophoresis

V. Bhanuprakash^*, M. Hosamani, Sominder Juneja^**,
Nitul Kumar, R.K. Singh

Division of Virology
Indian Veterinary Research Institute
Mukteshwar-263 138, India

(Received December 29, 2005; accepted June 30, 2006)

Abstract

Bhanuprakash, V., Hosamani, M., Juneja, S., Kumar, N. and Singh, R.K. 2006. Detection of goat pox antibodies: comparative efficacy of indirect ELISA and counterimmunoelectrophoresis. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 30: 177-180.

An indirect ELISA was optimized and evaluated using purified goat pox virus (GPV, cell culture attenuated) antigen and different groups of serum samples from goats with known and unknown immune status for the detection of GPV antibodies. The cut-off value higher by 0.2 at A₄₉₂ of the control negative sera gave 90% sensitivity and 94.26% specificity for the assay. Of the total 1708 goat serum samples screened, 1054 (61.70%) were positive in indirect ELISA, where as only 219 (12.82%) samples were positive in counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) test, a preliminary diagnostic test for goat pox. The indirect ELISA was observed to be superior to CIE test in the detection of GPV antibodies in the goat sera and its use has been recommended.

Key words: Antibody, counter immunoelectrophoresis, goat poxvirus, indirect ELISA.

T. Guler#, O.N. ErtaŐ, M. Çiftçi, B. Dalkiliç

Department of Animal Nutrition

Veterinary Faculty, University of F2 rat

23119 Elaz2 —, Turkey

(Received July 26, 2005; accepted August 10, 2006)

Guler, T., ErtaŐ, O.N., Çiftçi, M. and Dalkiliç, B. 2006. Effect of feeding coriander (Coriandrum sativum, L.) on egg production performance and nutrient retention in laying Japanese quails. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 30: 181-184. The effect of coriander seeds on egg production performance and nutrient retention was investigated in

Key words: Coriander seed, egg, digestibility, layers, Japanese quail.

Kinetic Properties of Carbonic Anhydrase Purified from Gills of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

O. Hisar¹, Ô. Beydemir², M. Bülbül³, T. Yan2k^1*

¹ Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture

² Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Arts and Science
University of Atatürk, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey

³ Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Arts and Science
University of Dumlup2nar
Afyon, Turkey

(Received December 29, 2005; accepted June 10, 2006)

Abstract

Hisar, O., Beydemir, Ô., Bülbül, M. and Yan2k, T. 2006. Kinetic properties of carbonic anhydrase purified from gills of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). J. Appl. Anim. Res., 30: 185-188.

Kinetic behavior and some properties of carbonic anhydrase enzyme purified from gills of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were studied at 4C. The purification steps included high-speed centrifugation, sepharose-4B-L tyrosine-sulfanilamide affinity gel chromatography and dialysis. Yield and specific activity of the enzyme were 40% and 55.56 EU/mg protein, respectively. The overall purification was 104.8-fold. The molecular mass was approximately estimated as 28 kDa by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and as 27 kDa by gel filtration column chromatography. Optimal pH, stable pH and optimal temperature of the enzyme were 9.5, 8.2 in 0.025 M boric acid buffer and 17.5C, respectively. K_M and V_max values of the enzyme for the substrate (p-nitrophenylacetate) were 8.13 mM and 2.10 µmol/mg protein/ min, respectively. The dissociation constant of the enzyme inhibitor complex (K_i) value was 3.93±0.65 µM for sulfanilamide and sulfanilamide inhibited the enzyme in a noncompetitive manner. Data from present study showed that optimum kinetic properties of gill CA enzyme were different from other vertebrate CA's.

Keywords: Rainbow trout, gill, carbonic anhydrase, kinetic properties.