https://ijvr.shirazu.ac.ir/ Iranian Journal of Veterinary Research en daily 1 Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0330 Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0330 https://ijvr.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8898.html Background: Coenurosis, caused by the larval stage of Taenia multiceps, is a parasitic disease of considerable importance in veterinary medicine. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate whether rabbits, rats, and mice are susceptible to experimental infection with T. multiceps and can support the migration and/or development of its larval stage following oral inoculation with eggs obtained from adult worms derived from cerebral- and muscular-origin coenuri. Methods: The eggs derived from adult worms originating from cerebral and muscular coenuri, were orally inoculated to two groups of rabbits, rats and mice to trace the predilection sites of the larval stage of parasites. In addition, histopathological examinations were performed on brain and liver tissues from the experimentally infected animals. To identify the parasite in affected tissues based on mitochondrial DNA markers, PCR was performed, using primers targeting the CO1 and ND1 genes, followed by sequencing of the amplified products. Results: Necropsy and histopathological evaluation revealed no coenurus cyst formation in any of the examined tissues. However, eight infected rabbits displayed migratory tracks in the liver, together with histopathological lesions, including cell swelling and focal hemorrhages. Molecular analysis of liver samples confirmed the presence of T. multiceps DNA (CO1 and ND1 mitochondrial markers) in affected tissues. No histopathological changes or parasite remnants were detected in the tissues of infected rats and mice. Conclusion: Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) may serve as a potential animal model for studying certain aspects of coenurosis pathogenesis. However, further studies are necessary to clarify the role of host-specific factors, immune status, parasite strains, and infection methods in establishing experimental coenurosis. https://ijvr.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8943.html Background: Organic Se sources such as hydroxy-selenomethionine (OH-SeMet) offer higher bioavailability than inorganic forms; however, their effects on Se deposition and meat quality in lambs remain insufficiently studied. Aims: This study aimed to determine the growth performance, slaughter performance, meat quality, serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and Se content in the serum and longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle of lambs offered diets containing OH-SeMet at different doses or sodium selenite (SS). Methods: Twenty-one Kıvırcık male lambs (3-4 months old; 26.96±4.83 kg body weight) were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments (n=7) in a randomized complete block design, following a 10-day adaptation period and 56-day feeding period. The experimental diets consisted of concentrate-based rations supplemented with Se at 0.2 mg/kg in the form of SS (45% Se; 0.44 g/ton) or at 0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg in the form of OH-SeMet (2% Se; 10 or 20 g/ton). At the end of experiment, blood samples were collected from all lambs, which were then slaughtered, and tissue samples were obtained for subsequent analysis. Results: Dietary OH-SeMet supplementation did not affect growth, slaughter performance, or meat quality but markedly increased Se concentrations in serum and LD muscle compared with SS (P<0.001). At 0.2 mg Se/kg, OH-SeMet elevated muscle Se by 61.17% versus SS, and increasing the OH-SeMet level to 0.4 mg Se/kg further increased muscle Se in a dose-dependent manner, while serum GSH-Px activity remained unchanged. Conclusion: The increased incorporation of OH-SeMet into muscle tissue may enhance the Se content of meat, thereby providing an additional dietary Se source for consumers of animal products; however, this may not necessarily translate into improvements in growth performance or meat quality. https://ijvr.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8944.html Background: Cryptosporidium spp., an opportunistic protozoan affecting humans and animals, ranks as the third leading global cause of diarrheal disease. Aims: This study aimed to molecularly identify C. parvum in patients with gastrointestinal symptom in Birjand, South Khorasan province, Iran. Methods: Cryptosporidium parvum was molecularly confirmed and characterized using nested PCR and sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene on 160 stool samples from symptomatic patients in Birjand. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted to assess genetic relationships. The resulting phylogenetic trees and haplotype networks were compared. Results: In this study, molecular prevalence was 8.75 (14/160). Sequencing confirmed all positives as C. parvum. Phylogenetic clustering revealed overlap between human isolates and animal-derived strains. Conclusion: Molecular epidemiology is critical for mapping Cryptosporidium transmission. Phylogenetic evidence supports zoonotic cycles in South Khorasan, informing targeted public health strategies. https://ijvr.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8945.html Background: Glucocorticoid (GC) excess adversely affects male fertility. Aims: This study examined the protective effects of Rosa damascena essential oil (RD oil) on testicular structure and function as well as sperm parameters in a rat model of GC-induced testicular injury. Methods: Forty-nine adult rats were divided into seven groups: negative control (NC): normal rats; positive control (PC): received dexamethasone at 7 mg/kg/day (intraperitoneally for 7 days); vehicle control (VC) and RD oil-treated groups (T1-T4): received olive oil as vehicle or treated with 40, 80, 160 and 320 mg/kg/day of RD oil by oral gavages concurrently with dexamethasone. Results: Dexamethasone decreased body weight and serum testosterone of PC rats, accompanied by germ cell depletion, epithelial thinning, and a marked increase in apoptotic cells in the testes compared to NC rats (P<0.05). In PC rats, reductions were observed in epididymal total sperm count, the number of morphologically normal and viable spermatozoa, sperm DNA integrity, and the percentage of acrosome-intact spermatozoa. In contrast, sperm kinematic parameters remained largely unchanged. RD oil, particularly at higher doses, positively affected testosterone levels, spermatogenesis, and seminiferous epithelial thickness, and reduced testicular apoptosis. In addition, RD oil improved certain sperm parameters, including the percentage of acrosome-intact sperms and DNA integrity. Conclusion: RD oil shows a protective effect against GC-induced injury to spermatogenesis and testicular tissue, as well as derangement in serum testosterone. These effects are associated with anti-apoptotic effects, especially at higher doses. Certain impaired sperm parameters are also improved by RD oil. These findings set the stage for future investigations on RD oil in GC-related infertility. https://ijvr.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8947.html Background: Human listeriosis epidemics are often related to the intake of contaminated food, particularly meat products. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, molecular and phenotypic determination of antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity of Listeria monocytogenes in beef, sheep, goat, camel, and buffalo meat in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Methods: A total of 300 raw meat samples were obtained from retail outlets. Biochemical analysis revealed that 129 samples (43%) were contaminated with L. monocytogenes. Using species-specific PCR (16S rRNA gene amplification), all 129 isolates obtained from the original samples were identified as L. monocytogenes. In this study, actA1, hylA, iap, plcA, prfA, intlA, and intB genes were evaluated using multiplex PCR. Multiplex PCR amplification of aadB, aac(3')-IIa, penA, ermA, ermB, tetM, tetA, sulI, and sulII was performed. Results: The average number of L. monocytogenes isolates in sheep, cow, camel, goat, and buffalo meat was 40%. L. monocytogenes isolates derived from raw meat exhibited the highest resistance to β-lactam antibiotics. In addition, the lowest resistance to Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was observed. After the hylA gene, the iap (44.18%) and actA1 (40.31%) genes had the greatest frequency across isolates from various meat sources. The genes penA, aadB, and aac(3')-IIa were found in most L. monocytogenes strains. The most identified genes among L. monocytogenes strains were penA, aadB, and aac(3)-IIa. Few strains were resistant to SXT, although penA was widely distributed (92.24%). Conclusion: In conclusion, L. monocytogenes isolates from raw meat exhibited a high prevalence of virulence genes and considerable resistance to multiple antibiotic classes. It is necessary to continuously track these features throughout the food chain to improve control measures and reduce public health risks. https://ijvr.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8953.html Background: M. ovipneumoniae is one of the pathogens responsible for chronic non-progressive pneumonia in sheep and goats. The pathogen disrupts mucociliary clearance and exacerbates disease severity through secondary infections. Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence of M. ovipneumoniae from pneumonic goats and to identify related pathomorphology. Methods: A total of 680 goat carcasses from Akola, Maharashtra, India, were examined. From these, 80 lung samples exhibiting pneumonia were collected, processed for M. ovipneumoniae confirmation and characterized for pulmonary lesions. Results: PCR analysis using genus specific primers identified Mycoplasma spp. in 35 cases (43.75%), while species specific primers targeting a fragment of the 16S rRNA gene confirmed M. ovipneumoniae in 24 cases (30%). Additionally, Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida were detected in 8 (33.33%, 8/24) and 3 (12.5%, 3/24) cases by employing PCR with 2 (8.33%, 2/24) cases exhibiting concurrent infection of all three pathogens, respectively. Five PCR amplicons of M. ovipneumoniae were subjected to phylogenetic analysis, confirming their clustering with other M. ovipneumoniae strains from India, USA and Turkey, while remaining distinct from other Mycoplasma spp. Histopathological analysis of M. ovipneumoniae positive lungs revealed bronchopneumonia (73.3%), broncho-interstitial pneumonia (13.3%) and interstitial pneumonia (26.66%). Characteristic lesions included fibrinous pleuritis, bronchiolar epithelial hyperplasia, necrotic alveolitis with type II pneumocyte hyperplasia, thickened interalveolar septa, syncytial cell formation and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Co-infections resulted in more severe lesions. Conclusion: The study confirmed the occurrence of M. ovipneumoniae in pneumonic goats from the region underscoring the need for large scale studies to understand its epidemiology.