https://www.ivj.ir/ Iranian Veterinary Journal en daily 1 Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0330 Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0330 https://www.ivj.ir/article_251893.html Setaria labiatopapillosa is one of the parasitic nematodes found in bovines, which causes verminous encephalitis in non-specific hosts. This study aimed to determine the protein and antigenic profiles of S. labiatopapillosa in cattle using immunoblotting. The samples were taken from cattle at Ahvaz slaughterhouse. Somatic crude extracts of adult and microfilariae of the nematode (as S and MF proteins or antigens) were prepared separately by homogenization. Excretory secretory products (ES) were prepared by incubating the adult nematode in RPMI medium. Protein profiles and antigenic properties of ES, S, and MF samples of S. labiatopapillosa were determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Immunogenic properties of the proteins were determined using immunoblotting and positive sera from cattle infected with the adult nematode. More than two, 8, and 15 predominant protein bands at 200 to 22 kDa were demonstrated in SDS-PAGE gels of ES, MF, and S samples. Consequently, in immunoblotting of ES, MF, and S, two, 14, and 4 predominant ES antigenic bands were demonstrated; among them, the 68- and 64-kDa proteins were the most common antigenic components. The results of immunoblotting of ES, MF, and S of S. labiatopapillosa showed that the 68- and 64-kDa proteins were the most common antigenic components, and can be potential candidates for future studies. https://www.ivj.ir/article_251897.html The causative agents of piroplasmosis, Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. infect ruminants in the livestock industry with high economical loses worldwide. The early diagnosis of the disease can help manage the successful treatment. Giemsa staining is a common method used worldwide for diagnosis of piroplasmosis which unfortunately can be accompanied with some serious problems like suitable blood smears and quality of staining and needs high experience. Serological methods like ELISA or IFAT was also used in some laboratories. The molecular methods based on DNA analysis preferably used in many laboratories are accurate and reliable. The aim of the present study was to introduce a simple and innovative semi-quantitative multiplex PCR method which can be helpful for simultaneously detection of Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. For this aim, we used primers derived from 18S rRNA genes which can amplify simultaneously the DNA from hosts (ruminants and ticks) and also from Babesia spp., and Theileria spp with different easily distinguishable PCR products. Our results showed that, as was expected, the different length of ampilicons generated from Theileria spp. and Babesia spp. make it possible to differentiate these parasites from each other on the same agarose gel. Interestingly, since the same primer pair can also amplify the 18S rRNA from host cells with larger amplicon compared to the parasites, this property can be used for semi-quantitative analysis of the parasite burden in the samples. It is necessary to mention that the introduced primer pair (VetUTPiro) can be used for differential diagnosis of babesiosis and theileriosis as well as for semi-quantitative multiplex PCR analysis of the parasite burden consequently for controlled therapy management. https://www.ivj.ir/article_251900.html Telocytes, characterized by slender cell bodies and elongated cytoplasmic processes known as telopodes, are distinct interstitial cells identified in various mammalian organs, including the heart, lung, fallopian tube, and kidney. This study investigated the presence, morphology and ultrastructure of telocytes in the uterine tissue of the dog. Samples from the uterine horn of adult Spitz dogs were collected and processed for histological, histochemical, and transmission electron microscopic examinations. Under light microscopy, telocytes were observed as elongated cells possessing a slender nucleus and numerous thin cytoplasmic processes extending from the cell body. They were in ­­­proximity to secretory units of uterine glands, blood vessels, collagen bundles of the connective tissue, and, smooth muscle cells throughout all layers of the uterine wall. The complete morphology of telocytes and telopodes, including their close associations with glandular, smooth muscle, and endothelial cells, as well as collagen fibers, was clearly visualized by transmission electron microscopy. Collectively, the findings of this study provide the first evidence of telocyte presence in the canine uterus and describe their morphology. https://www.ivj.ir/article_251901.html Ovarian toxicity induced by Doxorubicin (DOX) is a common side effect treatment in breast cancer, leading to apoptosis, impaired folliculogenesis and reduced ovarian steroid hormone levels. Dimethyl itaconate (DMI) is an immunometabolite with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that could play a protective role, although data are limited. This study evaluated the potential protective effects of DMI on ovarian histology, apoptosis, and ovarian hormone production in a 4T1 breast cancer mouse model treated with DOX. In this study, 30 adult female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups: healthy control, cancer control (cancer induction by injection of 4T1 cells), cancer - DMI (50 mg/kg; daily; IP, 28 days), cancer - DOX (5 mg/kg; once a week; IP, 4 weeks) and DMI + DOX cancer. Serum estrogen and progesterone levels, ovarian apoptotic gene expression (Bax and Bcl2), and histological changes were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed by GraphPad Prism software (10) and data were presented as mean ± standard deviation. DOX significantly decreased estradiol (E2; 37.23 ± 4.43 pg/ml) and progesterone (P4; 3.4 ± 0.2 ng/ml) levels, reduced Bcl2 (0.31 ± 0.1) expression and increased Bax expression (4.04 ± 0.39) in ovarian tissue compared to cancer control group (54.10 ± 2.8 pg/ml, 5.1 ± 0.2 ng/ml; 0.72 ± 0.09; 1.81 ± 0.35, respectively). Co-treatment with DMI and DOX led to a significant decrease in Bax expression (2.59 ± 0.45) and a significant increase in Bcl-2 (0.61 ± 0.03) expression compared to the only DOX treated cancer group. DOX caused notable ovarian damage, including increased follicular atresia, reduced follicle size, and absence of corpus luteum. DMI treatment mitigated these effects by preserving ovarian architecture, thinning the surface epithelium, and normalizing hormone levels and expression of apoptosis-related genes. Co-administration of DMI and DOX was particularly effective in reducing DOX-induced histological damage. These findings suggest that DMI may serve as a potential protective compound for reducing DOX-induced ovarian toxicity during chemotherapy. https://www.ivj.ir/article_251841.html Cryptosporidiosis, a zoonotic disease caused by Cryptosporidium spp., affects both domestic animals and humans. In newborn ruminants, it often manifests as outbreaks of diarrhea, leading to significant morbidity and economic losses. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. infection in small ruminants in Urmia, Iran. A total of 560 small ruminants from seven farms located in seven villages around Urmia were examined across four seasons. Cryptosporidium oocysts were concentrated using formalin-ether sedimentation method, and oocysts were identified through a modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining procedure. Of the 560 animals, 67 (11.96%) tested positive for Cryptosporidium spp. Sheep exhibited a higher prevalence (17.86%) compared to goats (6.07%). Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between infection prevalence and factors such as fecal consistency, age, sex, and season. These findings underscore the potential zoonotic threat of Cryptosporidium spp. in the region, indicating the need for public health awareness and effective management strategies in small ruminant farming. https://www.ivj.ir/article_251843.html Bartonella henselae (B. henselae) is a zoonotic bacterium for which domestic cats serve as the primary reservoir host, maintaining persistent bacteremia and facilitating transmission mainly through the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. Given the public health significance of feline infection and the limited molecular epidemiological data available from southwestern Iran, this study aimed to determine the molecular prevalence of B. henselae and identify independent epidemiological risk factors associated with infection in owned and non-owned cats in Ahvaz, Iran. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 160 cats, equally distributed between owned and non-owned populations. Adult cats constituted 65% of the study population, whereas juveniles accounted for 35%; 55% were male and 45% were female. Domestic Shorthair cats represented the predominant breed type (51.9%). Whole-blood, oral-swab, and nail samples were collected and analyzed using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting a 414-bp fragment of the htrA , followed by sequencing confirmation of representative amplicons. Associations between potential risk factors and infection were assessed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses, and population attributable fractions (PAFs) were estimated. B. henselae DNA was detected in 16.9% of cats (95% CI: 11.4–23.7). The prevalence of infection was significantly higher in non-owned cats (26.3%) than in owned cats (7.5%) (OR = 4.39, 95% CI: 1.66–11.58; p = 0.002). Population attributable fraction analysis indicated that 67% and 36% of infections were attributable to outdoor exposure and flea infestation, respectively. These findings demonstrate that environmental exposure and ectoparasite infestation are major determinants of B. henselae infection, highlighting the importance of effective flea control and restricting outdoor access to reduce the burden of infection and mitigate zoonotic risk. https://www.ivj.ir/article_251902.html Strongyloides ratti serves as an experimental model for diagnosing strongyloidiasis in humans. The secretory EF-hand-containing calumenin-like protein functions as calcium signaling molecule from rat was characterized. An 849-nucleotide cDNA fragment was amplified using RT-PCR, and a GenBank search revealed that the amplified product shared 98.54% identity with an incomplete mRNA sequence for S. ratti. Using this fragment as a probe, a search was conducted in the Expressed Sequence Tags (EST) database, identifying a 998 bp cDNA fragment through overlapping regions designated as SrCAL. The encoded protein consists of 314 amino acids and has a molecular weight of 36.74 kDa, and an isoelectric point (pI) of 4.61. The sequence includes a signal peptide, which has a cleavage site located between amino acids 21 and 22. A protein domain database search identified five highly conserved EF-hand calcium-binding motifs (cd16226), classifying SrCAL within the Efh_CREC_Calumenin-like protein superfamily, spanning amino acids 29 to 296. Structural prediction revealed that SrCAL is composed of 39.18% alpha-helices, 18.21% beta-strands, and 42.61% loops. Three dimensional (3D) structural modeling focused on 232 amino acids, covering 74% of the total coding sequence, with 99.8% confidence, showing strong structural resemblance to the crystal structure of an EF-hand protein from Danio rerio. Genetic distance and phylogenetic analysis revealed that SrCAL shares the lowest genetic distance (0.19%) with the only known protein sequence isolated from S. ratti (XP_024499492.1). SrCLA plays a crucial role in calcium signaling and may serve as a housekeeping gene with strong potential as a nematode-specific drug target. https://www.ivj.ir/article_251846.html Postoperative intra-abdominal adhesions remain a major complication following abdominal surgery and may lead to intestinal obstruction, infertility, chronic abdominal pain, and difficulties during repeat surgical procedures. This experimental study investigated the effects of intraperitoneally administered flunixin meglumine, metamizole sodium, diclofenac sodium, and carprofen on postoperative adhesion formation in a rat cecal abrasion model. Sixty female Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly allocated into six groups including sham, control, flunixin meglumine, metamizole sodium, diclofenac sodium, and carprofen groups (n=10 each). Following standardized cecal abrasion, the treatment agents were administered intraperitoneally immediately after induction of peritoneal injury. Adhesion formation was evaluated macroscopically on postoperative day 10 using the Nair adhesion scoring system. Hematological and biochemical parameters together with tissue hydroxyproline concentrations were also analyzed. All treatment groups demonstrated significantly lower adhesion scores compared with the control group. Metamizole sodium and carprofen produced the most pronounced reduction in adhesion severity. Hydroxyproline concentrations were significantly lower in the carprofen group compared with the flunixin meglumine, metamizole sodium, and diclofenac sodium groups. The findings suggest that intraperitoneal administration of selected NSAIDs may reduce postoperative intra-abdominal adhesion formation and may represent a supportive pharmacological strategy for adhesion prevention. https://www.ivj.ir/article_251988.html Herbal medicines incorporated with nanomaterials have garnered considerable attention in biomedicine; however, the antibacterial potential of combining chitosan with Protoparmeliopsis muralis (P. muralis) extract has not yet been investigated. The present study aimed to evaluate the synergistic effect of P. muralis and chitosan nanoparticles (CS/NPs) against selected pathogenic bacteria. Antibacterial activity was assessed using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay, while antibiofilm effects were determined by the crystal violet assay. A mixture containing 10% P. muralis extract and 0.5% CS/NPs was prepared, and the synergistic interaction was further examined by the checkerboard titration method. The results revealed that CS/NPs exhibited stronger antibacterial activity than P. muralis extract alone. Furthermore, the checkerboard assay confirmed a synergistic effect between P. muralis and CS/NPs. The combined treatment also significantly enhanced antibiofilm activity, highlighting its potential as a promising strategy for controlling bacterial growth and biofilm-associated infections. In conclusion, these findings indicate that the combination of P. muralis extract and chitosan nanoparticles may serve as a potential candidate for further studies focused on the identification and development of novel antibacterial and antibiofilm compounds. Future research, including mechanistic studies and in vivo evaluations, is necessary to better understand and validate the observed effects. https://www.ivj.ir/article_251850.html Immunoglobulin M (IgM) is the predominant antibody isotype in the serum of teleost fish and plays a central role in systemic immune responses. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting fish IgM are essential tools for immunological research and disease management in aquaculture. However, conventional mAb production protocols require purified IgM, which is difficult to obtain due to the complexity of purification procedures in teleost species. This study introduces a simplified method for generating anti-IgM mAbs by immunizing mice with whole serum from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), thereby eliminating the need for IgM purification. To do this, hybridomas were screened using an indirect ELISA based on an unrelated antigen (e.g., maltose-binding protein) and trout sera containing antibodies against this antigen. This approach led to the identification of five stable hybridoma clones (1D4, 3D3, 3E3, 4B3, and 7F6). The resulting mAbs effectively recognized trout antibodies against Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus, Lactococcus garvieae bacterium and sheep red blood cells. Immunoblotting under reducing and non-reducing conditions confirmed the specificity of these mAbs for trout IgM. This method provides a practical and efficient alternative for producing functional monoclonal antibodies against fish IgM. https://www.ivj.ir/article_244783.html This study investigated the protective effects of probiotic (Lactobacillus fermentum at a concentration of 10⁷ cells/kg feed), prebiotic (lactulose at 10 mL/kg feed), and synbiotic on the hematological and biochemical parameters of freshwater crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus) exposed to lead acetate (0.1 mg/L). For this purpose, 240 crayfish (with equal sex distribution) were divided into eight experimental groups with three replicates each (totaling 24 aquaria) as follows: control group (basal diet without supplement), three groups receiving probiotic, prebiotic, or synbiotic alone (without lead exposure), a lead-exposed group (basal diet without supplement), and three combined treatment groups (probiotic, prebiotic, or synbiotic together with lead exposure). The experiment lasted 28 days, after which hemolymph was sampled and hematological and biochemical changes were assessed. Results showed that lead exposure caused a significant decrease in total hemocyte count (including hyaline, granular, and semi-granular hemocytes). In contrast, administration of probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic led to a significant increase (p<0.05) in hemocyte counts. Furthermore, supplementation with probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic under lead exposure conditions exerted considerable protective effects on total hemocyte count as well as hyaline, granular, and semi-granular hemocyte populations, significantly elevating these parameters compared to the lead-exposed group without supplementation. Feeding with all three supplements following lead exposure restored total protein, albumin, glucose, and triglycerides to normal levels. Moreover, lactulose and the symbiotic reduced the toxic effect of lead on cholesterol, whereas the probiotic was unable to return cholesterol to the normal range. This study indicates that symbiotic supplementation can serve as an effective strategy to mitigate the toxic effects of heavy metals and maintain immune health in cultured crayfish.