Impact of heat stress and hypercapnia on physiological, hematological, and behavioral profile of Tharparkar and Karan Fries heifers

Research (Published online: 30-09-2017)

22. Impact of heat stress and hypercapnia on physiological, hematological, and behavioral profile of Tharparkar and Karan Fries heifers

Priyanka Pandey, O. K. Hooda and Sunil Kumar

Veterinary World, 10(9): 1149-1155

ABSTRACT

Aim: The present investigation was undertaken to study the impact of heat stress and hypercapnia on physiological, hematological, and behavioral profile of Tharparkar and Karan Fries (KF) heifers.

Materials and Methods: The animals of both the breeds of Tharparkar and KF were exposed at different temperatures and CO₂ levels. Exposure conditions of 25°C, 400 ppm CO₂ level, and 60% relative humidity (RH) were taken as a control condition. The exposure conditions 40°C with two levels of CO₂ 500 ppm and 600 ppm with RH 55±5% and exposure conditions 42°C with two levels of CO₂ 500 ppm and 600 ppm with RH 55±5% were taken as treatments. The exposure period in each condition was 4 h daily for 5 consecutive days.

Results: Physiological responses (respiration rate [RR], pulse rate [PR], and rectal temperature [RT]) were significantly (p<0.01) higher and different during all exposure conditions compared to control condition in both the breeds of cattle. KF heifers had higher RR, PR, and RT than Tharparkar heifers. Hematological parameters, namely, red blood cell, hemoglobin, and packed cell volume were significantly higher and different during all exposure condition than control in both the breeds, whereas no significant changes were observed in total leukocyte count and differential leukocyte count. Blood pH increased with increase in temperature and CO₂ levels and was significantly higher than control conditions. PCO₂ and base excess were significantly (p<0.05) lower, and PO₂ was higher during different exposure conditions than control in both breeds. Restlessness and excitement signs were observed in all the exposure conditions as compared to control condition in both the breeds.

Conclusion: Changes in physiological responses, behavioral pattern, and hematological parameters reflect the current functional status of the body system, and it can be used as an index for assessing the adaptation capacity of cattle to predict changes occurring in climate variables due to increasing CO₂ levels and environmental temperature.

Keywords: behavior, hematological, hypercapnia, hyperthermia, Tharparkar.

Congenital arthrogryposis-hydranencephaly syndrome caused by Akabane virus in newborn calves of Basrah Governorate, Iraq

Research (Published online: 29-09-2017)

21. Congenital arthrogryposis-hydranencephaly syndrome caused by Akabane virus in newborn calves of Basrah Governorate, Iraq

K. M. Alsaad, H. H. N. Alautaish and M. A. Y. Alamery

Veterinary World, 10(9): 1143-1148

Aim: The study was conducted in Basrah, Iraq, to diagnose congenital arthrogryposis-hydranencephaly syndrome caused by Akabane virus (AKAV) in calves.

Materials and Methods: Affected animals (42 calves) are about 2-27 days old from both sexes show signs of arthrogryposis and hydranencephaly. Eight clinically healthy newborn calves were considered as controls. Diagnosis of AKAV was confirmed using a competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test.

Results: Results show that all affected calves were found seropositive. Furthermore, a significant increase in total leukocyte count in diseased calves due to a significant increase in the absolute lymphocyte number indicated in affected calves than in controls. Moreover, a significant increase in sedimentation rate of erythrocytes was also encountered in diseased calves than in controls. In addition, a significant increase in haptoglobin level and fibrinogen was also detected.

Conclusion: Diagnosis of AKAV infection of Basrah Governorate, Iraq, will provide useful epidemiological information for cattle and other domesticated animals. Therefore, abortion could be prevented and controlled.

Keywords: Akabane virus, arthrogryposis-hydranencephaly, calves, Iraq.

Prevalence of Corynosoma caspicum infection in Gasterosteus aculeatus fish in Caspian Sea, Northern Iran

Research (Published online: 27-09-2017)

20. Prevalence of Corynosoma caspicum infection in Gasterosteus aculeatus fish in Caspian Sea, Northern Iran

Bahman Rahimi-Esboei, Mahdi Najm, Morad Shaker, Mahdi Fakhar and Iraj Mobedi

Veterinary World, 10(9): 1139-1142

ABSTRACT

Aim: There is little information about the prevalence of Corynosoma caspicum in fish particularly Gasterosteus aculeatus in Iran and the world. The aim of the present study was to find out the prevalence of acanthocephalan infection in Babolsar district, southern coastal of Caspian Sea, Northern Iran.

Materials and Methods: Between September 2012 and August 2014, a total of 360 G. aculeatus fishes were randomly collected by drift nets from coastal regions in Babolsar and then examined the intestine and body cavity for worm infections.

Results: A total of 360 G. aculeatus fishes, 109 (30.3%) were found infected with at least one Corynosoma capsicum, and there was no significant association between genders and the prevalence infection of acanthocephalan. Moreover, there was a significant difference in infected rate between summer (79%, 86/109) and spring (21%, 23/109) (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The high occurrence of Corynosoma infection in G. aculeatus indicates the enzootic constancy status of the infection in the southern coastal of Caspian Sea, Northern Iran.

Keywords: Acanthocephalosis, Caspian Sea, Corynosoma caspicum, Gasterosteus aculeatus.

Epidemiological features and pathological study of avian leukosis in turkeys' flocks

Research (Published online: 26-09-2017)

19. Epidemiological features and pathological study of avian leukosis in turkeys' flocks

Mourad Zeghdoudi, Leila Aoun, Latifa Merdaci and Nardjes Bouzidi

Veterinary World, 10(9): 1135-1138

ABSTRACT

Aim: The purpose of this study was focused on the identification of tumor diseases in turkeys on the basis of a detailed description of epidemiological features, clinical signs, lesions, and histopathological changes.

Materials and Methods: Outbreak of a tumor disease in turkeys was investigated in various regions of Eastern Algeria. Four turkeys' flocks aged from 17 weeks were affected, resulting to mortality often over 10%, on a period of 15 days. The main epidemiological characters, clinical signs, and lesions were observed throughout all the course of the disease. Serum samples were collected from affected turkeys in each flock to detect p27 antigen in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test to diagnose avian leukosis virus (ALV). Portions of sciatic nerves and livers are taken from dead turkeys for microscopic examination.

Results: The disease was characterized by clinical signs such as anorexia, weakness, and diarrhea. Necropsy of the dead birds showed hepatomegaly and gross splenomegaly with neoplastic nodules or gray foci and diffuse infiltration in the myocardium and lungs. ALV antigen test using ELISA confirmed the presence of virus leukosis. Histopathological sections of the liver had proliferations of lymphoblastoid cells and absence of any modifications or lymphocytic infiltration in peripheral nerves.

Conclusion: The present study confirms that this disease condition is caused by lymphoid leukosis.

Keywords: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, epidemiological features, histopathology, lesions, leukosis, turkeys.

Repertoire of noncoding RNAs in corpus luteum of early pregnancy in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Research (Published online: 25-09-2017)

18. Repertoire of noncoding RNAs in corpus luteum of early pregnancy in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

A. Jerome, S. M. K. Thirumaran and S. N. Kala

Veterinary World, 10(9): 1129-1134

ABSTRACT

Aim: The present study was designed to identify other noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) in the corpus luteum (CL) during early pregnancy in buffalo.

Materials and Methods: For this study, CL (n=2) from two buffalo gravid uteri, obtained from the slaughter house, was transported to laboratory after snap freezing in liquid nitrogen (-196°C). The stage of pregnancy was determined by measuring the crown-rump region of the fetus. This was followed by isolation of RNA and deep sequencing. Post-deep sequencing, the obtained reads were checked and aligned against various ncRNA databases (GtRNA, RFAM, and deep guide). Various parameters, namely, frequency of specific ncRNAs, length, mismatch, and genomic location target in several model species were deciphered.

Results: Frequency of piwi-interacting RNAs (piwi-RNAs), having target location in rodents and human genomes, were significantly higher compared to other piwi-RNAs and ncRNAs. Ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) deduced had nucleotides (nts) ranging from 17 to 50 nts, but the occurrence of small length rRNAs was more than lengthier fragments. The target on 16S rRNA species confirms the conservation of 16S rRNA across species. With respect to transfer RNA (tRNA), the abundantly occurring tRNAs were unique with no duplication. Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), identified in this study, showed a strong tendency for coding box C/D snoRNAs in comparison to H/ACA snoRNAs. Regulatory and evolutionary implications of these identified ncRNAs are yet to be delineated in many species, including buffaloes.

Conclusion: This is the first report of identification of other ncRNAs in CL of early pregnancy in buffalo.

Keywords: buffalo, corpus luteum, noncoding RNA, pregnancy.

Characterization and zoonotic impact of Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli in some wild bird species

Research (Published online: 24-09-2017)

17. Characterization and zoonotic impact of Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli in some wild bird species

Hanaa Mohamed Fadel, Rabab Afifi and Dheyazan Mohammed Al-Qabili

Veterinary World, 10(9): 1118-1128

ABSTRACT

Aim: Wild birds are considered silent vectors of some zoonotic water and food borne pathogens of public health significance. Owing to the importance of Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) as the most pathogenic among the emerging diarrheagenic E. coli groups that can infect man; the present study was designed to detect the occurrence of STEC among wild birds in Egypt.

Materials and Methods: A total of 177 intestinal content swab samples originating from five wild bird species were investigated for the presence of E. coli and STEC by standard culture methods. Suspect STEC isolates were further characterized by serotyping, random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD PCR), antimicrobial resistance pattern and PCR detection of stx1, stx2, and eae genes.

Results: A total of 30 suspect STEC isolates from 30 positive birds' samples were detected and identified on STEC CHROMagar (semi-captive pigeons, 15; house crows, 8; cattle egrets, 3; moorhens, 2; and house teals, 2). 25 isolates were grouped into 13 serogroups (O:20, O:25, O:26, O:27, O:63, O:78, O:111, O:114, O:125, O:128, O:142, O:153, and O:158), while five were rough strains. The distribution of STEC virulence genes among wild birds was as follows: 16 birds carried stx1 gene only (nine pigeons [28.1%], six crows [7.1%], and one cattle egret [5.6%]). stx1 and stx2 genes together were detected in four birds (one cattle egret [5.6%], two moorhens [6.1%], and one house teal, [10%]). Only one pigeon (3.1%) possessed the three alleles. Disk diffusion test results showed that cefixime was the most effective against STEC serotypes with (93.3%) sensitivity, followed by gentamycin (56.7%), and amoxicillin (50%). On the other hand, all the recovered STEC isolates were resistant to cefotaxime, doxycycline, cephalothin, and sulfisoxazole. RAPD fingerprinting using primers OPA-2 and OPA-9 showed that STEC isolates were heterogeneous; they yielded 30 and 27 different clusters, respectively.

Conclusion: Wild birds carry STEC and may add to the contamination of the surrounding environment.

Keywords: antibiotic, eae, random-amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction, Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli, stx1, stx2, wild birds.

The effect of eggshell thickness on hatchability of quail eggs

Research (Published online: 23-09-2017)

16. The effect of eggshell thickness on hatchability of quail eggs

Oguz Fatih Ergun and Umut Sami Yamak

Veterinary World, 10(9): 1114-1117

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: The aim of the successful incubation period is to achieve maximum health chicks in each batch. Therefore, all factors affecting incubation have to be investigated in detail. This study investigated the effect of eggshell thickness on hatchability of quail eggs.

Materials and Methods: A total of 1415 eggs were collected from the same flock at the ages of 23 and 41 weeks. Two different incubations were performed at these eggs. Eggshell thicknesses of all eggs were determined with an ultrasonic gauge before incubation. Incubation period was applied as for 18 days. After 15 days of incubation, eggs were transferred to hatching machine. Eggs were classified as thin-, medium-, and thick-shelled according to eggshell thickness values.

Results: Eggshell thicknesses were ranged between 0.24 and 0.36 mm, and the differences between the hatching rates of thickness values were not found significant. Hatchability of thin-, medium-, and thick-shelled eggs was found as 69.2%, 69.4%, and 82.4% for Experiment 1. These values were as 87.8%, 89.2%, and 91.9% for Experiment 2, respectively. Similar to eggshell thickness frequencies, the differences between hatching rates of eggshell thickness groups were found insignificant.

Conclusion: Results of this study showed that eggshell thickness does not affect hatchability.

Keywords: eggshell thickness, hatchability, incubation, quail, ultrasound.