Amir Rostami

Serum lipid and lipoprotein profile of Asian tortoise (Agrionemys horsfieldi) in prehibernation state

The Asian tortoise (Agrionemys horsfieldi), which now has a worldwide distribution, originates from Iran, Pakistan, West China, Kazakstan, Turkmenia, and Russia. Because of the increasing popularity of this animal as a domestic pet and its presence in many zoological gardens, knowledge of its physiological characteristics at different stages of life is important. In this regard, serum lipid and lipoprotein profiles of Asian tortoise were measured just before hibernation. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of 16 tortoises of both sexes. Total cholesterol (TC), phospholipid (PL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured chemically, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) was calculated as an estimation of one fifth of triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was determined on the basis of Friedewalds formula, and total lipid was calculated from the summation of TG, TC, and PL. PL and TC comprised 79 and 21% of total lipid in the male and 85 and 14% in the female, respectively. TG level was low in both sexes. Moreover, approximately 86 and 12% of TC were carried through LDL and HDL, respectively. Before hibernation, PL and LDL-C are the major lipid and cholesterol fractions of serum, respectively.

Evaluation of recombinant P23 protein as a vaccine for passive immunization of newborn calves against Cryptosporidium parvum

Cryptosporidiosis is a zoonotic protozoan disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract of animals and humans. Diarrhoea as the most important indication of the infection leads to high economic losses in livestock industries and is a life threatening infection in immunocompromised individuals. In the absence of the effective drugs, vaccine has an effective role in the prevention of infection. For this purpose we developed a vaccine utilizing recombinant P23 protein and immunized pregnant cows four times from 70 days to parturition every 2 weeks. After parturition, each calf received his dam colostrum and challenged with 1 × 107 Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts at 12 h of age. Results showed that in contrast with the control group, the antibody titre in the sera and first milking colostra of the immunized cows significantly increased and calves fed hyperimmune colostrum did not show cryptosporidiosis signs. Moreover, enriched colostrum not only reduced significantly the amount of oocyst excretion but also delayed its onset. Our study showed that recombinant P23 protein could be used for passive immunization of newborn calves against Cryptosporidium parvum.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Clinico-histopathologic and outcome features of cutaneous infundibular keratinizing acanthoma: a case report and literature review

The infundibular keratinizing acanthoma (IKA) is a rare epithelial benign keratin-containing neoplasm of hair follicles. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the defining histopathologic architecture of IKA. A typical IKA consisted of a keratin-filled crypt in the dermis and subcutis that opened to the skin surface. Most of this tumor occurred on the back, neck, head, and the shoulders. Microscopically, the dermal nodules were focally contiguous in both the dermis and subcutis. Furthermore, most histological lesions are consistent with a simple or multiloculated cyst filled with keratin and lined by a wall of stratified squamous epithelium; keratin appears as a concentric lamellar mass, with a keratotic pearly aspect. Histological examination of the cutaneous lesions revealed that the growths were comprised of IKA. IKA of man and dog were compared, and it was concluded that although they are similar in many respects, they are not identical entities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the prevalence of IKAs among the population of owned dogs in Iran.

Necrotic dermatitis in waterfowl associated with consumption of perennial rye grass (Lolium perenne).

Abstract Mute swans (Cygnus olor), whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus), and mixed-breed domestic geese (Anser anser domesticus) were presented for necrotic lesions on the feet, eyelids, and beak. Individuals from the same collection of birds had developed identical lesions during March–September of each of the previous 3 years. Vesicular and necrotic dermatitis involved only nonfeathered and nonpigmented areas of the integument. No abnormal clinical signs were seen on either carnivorous species or birds with pigmented skin from the same collection. The enclosure that housed the birds had been planted with perennial rye grass (Lolium perenne) 3 years previously. Based on the pathologic features and anatomic location of the lesions, the seasonal occurrence, the vegetation history of the enclosure, and the feeding behavior of the affected species, vesicular dermatitis resulting from photosensitization was the presumptive diagnosis. All affected birds recovered completely after the birds were removed from the enclosure, and no further clinical signs have been reported.