Al-Qadisiyah Journal of Veterinary Medicine Sciences

Abstract Zoonotic protozoan parasites are a diversified group of microscopic eukaryotic organisms that can infect humans and a wide variety of hosts. These fascinating creatures can leap across the species barrier to cause human diseases of global medical and veterinary importance. The study of parasite ecology is essential to understand the mechanisms behind their extraordinary success of crossing species barriers and how they infect and reside within hosts and cause diseases, thus contributing to disease prevention and control infrastructure. Toxoplasma gondii One of the most successful and widespread protozoan parasites is Toxoplasma gondii, which infects virtually all warm-blooded animals including humans. Infection can occur by ingesting infectious forms of these parasites contained in food or water or by exposure to contaminated cat feces. Cryptosporidium Waterborne protozoan parasite causing severe gastrointestinal disease in humans and animals. Giardia Flagellated protozoan parasite, transmitted via the fecal-oral route, by drinking contaminated water or ingesting contaminated food. Entamoeba histolytica Protozoan parasite causing human amebic dysentery and amebic liver abscess.

Abstract Mycotoxins represent a continuous major problem that face food industry around the world due to their health impacts on humans and animals. Research studies that target citrinin mycotoxin are at a limit range. The current study was carried out to explore the ameliorative effects of camel milk (CMk) on the rats exposed to citrinin (CTN) at the levels of liver function, cytokine response, hepatic tissue lipid profile, hepatic tissue antioxidant activity, and gene expression of some repair related genes in tissue. According to these, an experiment that lasted for 20 days included the recruitment of 24 male rats into four groups (control group: received no treatment, CMk group: received 1.25 ml/kg B Wt of CMk orally, CTN group: received CTN at 10 mg/kg diet, and CTN+CMk: received both CTN and CMk at the same doses). After the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected from all animals before scarification. Blood samples were utilized for AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, GGT, and Ck liver function enzymes and in IL-6 and IL-1b responses. Liver tissues were employed for the detection of GSH and SOD activities and in APE1 and OGG1 gene expression. The findings of the liver function demonstrated significant (p<0.05) improvements in the enzyme and cytokines levels in the CTN+CMk group comparing with both control and CTN groups. Moreover, antioxidant and gene activities recorded significant (p<0.05) alterations in the CTN+CMk group. The present study results display important data about the improving effects of camel milk on the citrinin-intoxicated rats.

Abstract Parasites can have a wide range of adverse effects on the health and fitness of their hosts, including a decrease in host individuals (impaired host fitness) through acute or chronic disease, a decrease in the number of offspring produced by a host individual (impaired host fecundity) by affecting egg production or infant survival, and a change in the behavior of a host individual through alterations in interactions with their immediate environment or other hosts. These four parasite effects have all been conclusively demonstrated in multiple wild vertebrate populations. In addition to their effects on host individuals, parasites can influence host populations in varying ways. Extensive case studies have demonstrated that parasitism could likely account for a considerable proportion of the regulation exerted on host populations and that nature itself has evolved to rely on infection as a major player in maintaining species diversity and the structure of ecosystems. It can appear, therefore, that parasites routinely negatively affect their hosts in a rather stark relationship. However, as with nearly any natural process, host-parasite interactions can be seen as complex and is rarely a permanent state. This complexity arises from the various mechanisms via which hosts can resist or tolerate parasitic infections, or through which parasites can evade or prevent host defenses. Likewise, a multitude of factors in the environment, such as the aforementioned climate change but also habitat degradation, fragmentation or use, as well as the wildfires necessary in many ecosystems, can all new infectious diseases in wildlife.

Abstract Aflatoxin-induced reproductive toxicity was investigated in adult male rats. To investigate the effect of pre-pubertal exposure to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on semen quality in male rats after puberty. Eighty premature male rats (35 days old) were assigned equally to control and treatment groups. The males were daily administered with distilled water and AFB1 (0.3mg/kg/day) per os, respectively. After 15, 25, and 35 days of treatment (pre-puberty, puberty, and post-puberty stags, respectively), ten males from each group were weighed, anesthetized, and sacrificed. Testes, epididymis, seminal vesicles, and prostates were dissected and weighed. At puberty (25 days of treatment) and post-puberty (35 days of treatment), the tail of the epididymis was dissected for semen analysis, including sperm motility, sperm count, sperm viability, and sperm abnormality. Following 15, 25, and 35 days of exposure, the AFB1-treated group revealed a decline in the relative weight of testes, epididymis, seminal vesicle, and prostate than the control group, early at the pre-pubertal stage, which continued at pubertal and post-pubertal-stages. Sperm motility, sperm count, and sperm viability were significantly decreased, while sperm abnormality was significantly increased in the AFB1 group, at puberty and post-puberty. Females matted with AFB1 treated males revealed significant decrease of pregnancy rate, number of offspring, and litter weight at birth in comparison with those matted with control males. Altogether, these results showed an adverse effect of pre-pubertal exposure to AFB1 on male reproductive performance with impaired spermatogenesis after puberty.

Abstract The purpose of the study was to identify and characterize the microbes found in the cheese samples that were collected from various Al-Diwaniyah City markets using molecular methods. In Al-Diwaniyah City, 75 cheese samples were collected from three different sources. The samples were cultured on the culture media. Detection of the isolated bacteria were done by using the staining, the culture, and the biochemical examination such as catalase tests, as well as PCR. 75 cheese samples tested positive for S. aureus 37(48%), S. epidermidis 20 (26.6%) and S. intermedius 18(24%). A 16S rRNA gene was used to amplify twenty isolates. All isolates were identified by PCR by using 16S rRNA gene and DNA sequencing. All of the examined isolates showed similarity of (93-99) % to those in the Gen Bank of NCBI.

Abstract Ovine actinomycosis, also referred to as lumpy jaw, is a multifactorial illness that is characterized by a number of host-pathogen-environment interactions in which host immune and physiological processes (host) interact with a variety of causative agents, such as staphylococci spp. Oral infections are common in sheep. Periodontal disease, one of the most common diseases, can start early with periodontitis and progress to become a chronic condition that causes food debris to build up around the tooth below the level of the gums. Staphylococcus spp. are widely dispersed in the environment and is primarily discovered as a commensally micro-flora on the skin of animals and birds as well as the mucous membranes, particularly the nasal cavity. The PCR assay was applied for the detection of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus haemolyticus from three ovine actinomycosis cases based on the amplification of the 16S rRNA gene. In addition, the diagnosis depended on sequencing of the PCR products, and gene analysis was done to match the global isolates. The current study found that Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from all samples used 86 samples and that gene sequencing of this strain confirmed 99.88% global compatibility, whereas Staphylococcus haemolyticus revealed 100% global compatibility. Therefore, the aims of the study were to pinpoint Staphylococcus spp. as the secondary causative agent of lumpy jaw disease in Awasii sheep of Iraq.

Abstract The goal of the current study was to examine the impact of extracting propolis in various solvents in light of the antioxidant activity induced by CCL4. The biological study was conducted using 25 adult Wistar male rats. Five rats served as normal control group which fed on basal diet with drinking tap water. While, other 20 rats received intra-peritoneal single dose of 0.5 ml/kg CCl4 to induce renal and hepatic oxidative stress. Then, rats reclassified into 4 groups (n=5), positive control and the other three groups were treated by watery, ethanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of propolis instead of water till the end of experimental period (9 days). In vivo extracts evaluation includes serum Catalase, SOD, GSH, TAOC, and MDA were measured at the end of the experiment. The In vitro results showed all extracts exhibited increasing radical scavenging activities with increased concentrations of extract with variation in antioxidant activity according to the type of extract. The CCL4 group rats showed significant (P<0.05) decline in the catalase, SOD, GSH and TAOC and significant (P<0.05) evaluation in the MDA compared with control. All prepared extracts corrected the deviation occurring in the parameters as a result of administering the CCL4, with variation depending on the type of extract. Watery extract showed best results in enhance catalase level, while ethanolic extract showed best results in enhance GSH activity, no difference in the SOD, T-AOC and MDA between watery and ethanolic extracts, in the same time the ethyl acetate extract was less effective. The In vitro and In vivo antioxidant activity was varied according to the type of extract; ethanol gave best activity.

Abstract A total of 60 one-day-old Ross broiler chicks were used in this investigation. The birds were categorized into four groups, with each group including 15 birds. Group A was administered a 0.5 ml dosage of the LaSota live vaccination against Newcastle disease using the oral approach on the first day of their lives, using a 1 ml syringe. On the other hand, Group B got the dead vaccine by a subcutaneous injection. Group C was administered two distinct forms of vaccine: live and dead, whilst Group D was designated as the control group. On the 35th day, the birds were euthanized in order to obtain blood samples for the purpose of studying the impact of various vaccination types on the immunological response to the ND vaccine. The response was evaluated using an ELISA test. The findings demonstrated statistically significant differences (P≤0.05) in antibody titers between group B and the control group. Additionally, groups C and A exhibited substantial increases (p<0.05) in antibody titers compared to the control group, which experienced a significant drop (P≤0.05) in antibody titers. Overall, the results indicated that the inactivated vaccine produced a higher level of antibodies. However, further evidence demonstrated that administering a live virus vaccination on the first day after birth resulted in the suppression of the mother's immune response by the vaccine virus. Hence, it is crucial to ascertain the antibody titer prior to determining the vaccine's course.

Abstract This study was designed to diagnose the Buxtonella sulcata, which is closely related to Balantidium coli, is a ciliated protozoan that inhabits the digestive system of cattle (cows and buffaloes). Two hundred thirty-three feces' samples were collected randomly from cattle in Al-Diwaniya province/ Iraq. Using the formalin-ether precipitation and sheather's flotation techniques, then microscopically examination was done to detect the protozoan cysts or trophozoites. Prevalence rate and effect of certain risk factors were studied. The parasite's cystic phase had circular or semicircular shape with a diameter of 115-55 μm, were detected in 10.30% (24/233) of the examined cattle in the study area. The infection rate was unaffected statistically (p>0.05) by any of studied risk factors including cattle species (0.637%), age (0.893%), sex (0.734%) and climate changes (0.622%) during the study months. Through the current study, it appears that Buxtonella silicata is a protozoan endemic to cattle in the study area and has the possibility of coexistence with different biological and environmental conditions.