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Background: Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) are raised in extremely strict ecological conditions of deserts. Camels are vulnerable to many zoonotic infections. There are limited data on the occurrence of Q fever and borreliosis in camels, in Iran. Aims: The current study was focused on the occurrence of Coxiella burnetii and Borrelia spp. infection in the blood samples of Iranian camels using molecular assays. Effect of the presence of these infections on various hematological factors and some acutephase proteins (Hp, a1AGP, SAA) were also investigated. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 113 clinically healthy camels to investigate the presence of the infections using nested PCR. Moreover, the sequence of positive samples was analyzed phylogenetically. Routine haematological tests were performed and the concentrations of acute-phase proteins were measured in serum using enzyme immunoassay. Results: PCR result showed that 6.19% (95% CI: 2.53-12.35%) (7/113) of camels were positive for C. burnetii. In addition, sequencing results of the corresponding gene of the outer membrane protein (com1) revealed two different genotypes of C. burnetii agent in camels from Southern Iran. In the PCR assay, Borrelia spp. DNA was not detected in the samples. No significant difference was observed in hematological parameters or acute-phase proteins between positive and negative Q fever camels except for mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and red cell distribution width (RDW). Conclusion: Clinically healthy camels might be very important reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens. Q fever is not considered a notifiable disease in camels of Iran, and clinical cases may scarcely be recognized by the healthcare system. Due to a lack of adequate information, additional studies on the molecular epidemiology and clinical pathology aspects of C. burnetii infection in Iran are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Citral (C10H16O) is the main ingredient of Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass oil) and can reduce the side effects of oxidative stress. Diabetes caused by insulin deficiency induces oxidative stress in the liver. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the ameliorative effects of citral on selected oxidative parameters and the gene expression of paraoxonase 1 (PON1) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in a rat model of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus. Methods: Forty rats were divided into four groups at random: control (C), control citral (CC), and two STZ-induced diabetic groups (diabetic (D) and citral diabetic (CD)). After diabetes confirmation (day 7), gavage treatment with citral (300 mg/kg body weight (BW)) was started in the CD and CC groups and continued for two weeks. Results: On day 21 of the study, following treatment with citral for 14 days, the serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and PON1 in the CD group were significantly increased compared to those in the D group (P<0.05). While treatment with citral caused a significant decrease in the Malondialdehyde (MDA), and eNOS in the CD group compared to those of the D group (P<0.001). The expression rate of liver PON1 gene was considerably upregulated in the CD group compared to that in the D group (P<0.001); while the opposite was observed for eNOS gene expression. However, there was no significant difference between the CC and C groups in terms of all examined parameters (P>0.05). Conclusion: This study showed positive effects of citral on serum antioxidant status and liver gene expression of PON1 and eNOS in diabetic rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aims: A variety of pathogens use quorum sensing (QS) to control the expression of their virulence factors. QS interference has hence been proposed as a promising antivirulence strategy. The specific aim of this study was to isolate bacteria from trout tissue able to degrade N‐acyl homoserine lactones (AHL), a QS molecule family. Methods and Results: In total 132 isolates were screened for AHL degradation using Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 as a biosensor. Twenty‐four quorum‐quenching (QQ) isolates were identified biochemically and characterized using 16S rDNA sequencing. They belong to Bacillus, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Acinetobacter, Agrobacterium, Pseudomonas and Stentrophomonas genera. Four Bacillus spp. showed the highest and fastest QQ activity. AHL degradation proved to be enzymatic in most isolates (except for Stentrophomonas spp. and Pseudomonas sp.) as QQ activity could be destroyed by heat and/or proteinase K treatments. All QQ activity proved to be cell‐bound except for Pseudomonas sp., where it could be detected in the supernatant. The results of aiiA gene homology analysis revealed the presence of aiiA gene encoding AHL lactonase in all examined isolates except Pseudomonas syringae and Enterobacter cloacae. The HXHXDH motif conserved in all AHL lactonases and considered to be essential for AHL degradation was detected in all AiiAs after sequence alignment. Conclusions: Some known and novel QQ bacteria were isolated from trouts and characterized in terms of enzymatic or nonenzymatic AHL degradation activity and their extracellular or intracellular location. In addition, an aiiA gene and its HXHXDH motif were detected in most isolates. Significance and Impact of the Study: We could isolate and identify some novel QQ bacteria including Enterobacter hormaechei, Acinetobacter radioresistens and Citrobacter gillenii. The aiiA gene was detected for the first time in these strains as well as in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Our QQ isolates could be used for biocontrol of bacterial infections in aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is little information on the phylogenetic position and life cycle of family Kathlaniidae. Falcaustra araxiana is a member of this family which infects the large intestine of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis). In the present study, morphological data and molecular analyses based on the 18S rDNA were performed on different types of F. araxiana originating from the large intestine and gastric nodules in the turtle. Morphological data revealed both larvae and adult stages in the gastric nodules. In addition, all nematodes recovered in the large intestine were adult worms. GenBank accession numbers KM200715 and KM200716 were provided for adult F. araxiana located in the intestine and stomach, respectively, of E. orbicularis. The results of sequencing proved that these two types are completely similar. Accordingly, it can be hypothesized that nodule formation is a part of the life cycle of the parasite or a survival strategy. Furthermore, F. araxiana develops to the adult stage in the gastric mucosa prior to migrating to the large intestine. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that F. araxiana unexpectedly branched away from other members of the superfamily Seuratoidea (Truttaedacnitis truttae, Cucullanus robustus and C. baylisi) and showed a closer relationship with Paraquimperia africana, a member of the Ascaridoidea. It seems that phylogenetic reconstruction for the present parasite needs more detailed morphology, life cycle and molecular studies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Hydatidosis is a medically and veterinary important parasitic disease that is endemic in many parts of the world. Unilocular hydatid cysts may develop in almost any part of the body. Up to 70% of hydatid cysts are located in the liver, followed by 25% in the lungs. Cerebral hydatidosis is an uncommon manifestation of the disease, occurring in less than 1/1000 infected hosts, yet diagnosis does pose a problem. We have reported an exceptionally rare case of cerebral hydatidosis in cattle. This is the first report to describe the characteristic pathological features of the cerebral hydatidosis in cattle caused by the G1 genotype of Echinococcus granulosus. Genotypic analysis was performed on a hydatid cyst from a cow originating from southern Iran, based on the sequence analysis of the cox1 mitochondrial gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study that characterized the various genotypes of cows based on silent mutation. Study highlights include the impact of bovine pituitary-specific transcription factor 1 variants on milk production, use of Independent Samples Test for comparison of milk production and body condition score between different genotypes, and the importance of thyroid and growth hormones on milk production in cows.

The present study assessed whether the genetic variation among different hosts (sheep and cattle) and geographical isolates (n= 28) of Dicrocoelium dendriticum from Iran is present based on mitochondrial (nad1) and ribosomal (ITS-2) DNA markers. Molecular analysis revealed the presence of at least ten and two distinct haplotypes in the NADH dehydrogenase gene (nad1) and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS-2), respectively. The nad1 and ITS-2 sequence data were deposited in GenBank under accession numbers, JX050110–134 and JQ966972–3. According to the results of our study, ND-D and ITS-A are established as being the predominant haplotypes of D. dendriticum in Iran. The Iranian isolates showed a higher intraspecific genetic diversity of 0–0.97% for nad1, compared to 0–0.42% for ITS-2. The alignment and comparison of nad1 and ITS-2 sequences revealed eight and one polymorphic sites, respectively. In the nad1 sequences, six were silent and two nucleotide substitutions were responsible for amino acid alterations. A phylogenetic analysis of the sequence data revealed that host associations and geographic location are not likely useful markers for D. dendriticum haplotype classification. Consequently, sequencing results obtained from the nad1 gene as a mitochondrial marker for the first time in this study would provide a valuable tool to analyse further molecular details of D. dendriticum worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Samples from the kidney of 100 diseased fish with signs of haemorrhagic septicemia and 50 samples from outlet water of fish farms were taken aseptically and cultured. In the laboratory, 75 colonies of gram-negative bacteria were biochemically diagnosed as motile aeromonads in our Bacteriology Laboratory Unit using API 20E rapid identification system. The genotype identification using specific primers for 16S rDNA by PCR and direct sequencing of 28 Iranian motile aeromonads isolates were as follow: in diseased fish, Aeromonas hydrophila (3 isolates, 15%), A. veronii bv. sobria (8 isolates, 40%), A. bestiarum/piscicola (5 isolates, 25%), A. media (3 isolates, 15%), A. jandaei (1 isolate, 5%), A. aquariorum (0 isolate, 0%) and in water, Aeromonas hydrophila (0 isolate, 0%), A. veronii bv. sobria (6 isolates, 75%), A. bestiarum/piscicola (0 isolate, 0%), A. media (1 isolate, 12.5%), A. jandaei (0 isolate, 0%) and A. aquariorum (1 isolate, 12.5%). Results of this study suggest that the incidence of motile aeromonads septicemia due to A. veroniibv. sobriais the most prevalent motile aeromonads. Nucleotide polymorphisms on the sequencing results of the 16S rDNA were detected as noticeable inter and intra-specific variation within the population of different aeromonads isolates. In total, 10-20 variant nucleotide positions in this region were observed among Aeromonas spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the relationship between polymorphism within the 5′-untranslated region (5′-UTR) of IGF-I gene and its periparturient concentration in Iranian Holstein dairy cows. Methods: Blood samples (5 mL, n = 37) were collected by caudal venipuncture from each animal into sample tubes containing the EDTA and DNA was extracted from blood. In order to measure IGF-I concentration the collection of blood samples (n = 111) was also done at 14 d before calving (prepartum), 25 and 45 d postpartum. Results: We found evidence for a significant effect of C to T mutation in position 512 of IGF-I gene on its serum concentration in dairy cows in Iran. Cows with CC genotype had significantly higher concentration (Mean±SD) of IGF-I at 14 d prepartum (91.8±18.1) μg/L compared to those with TT genotype (73.3±14.4) μg/L (P=0.04). A significant trend (quadratic) was found for IGF-I concentration, as higher in CC cows compared to ones with TT genotype, during the 14 d before calving to 45 d postpartum (P=0.01). Conclusion: We concluded that C/T transition in the promoter region of IGF-I gene can influence the serum concentration of IGF-I in periparturient dairy cows. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]