This study was carried out to determine type and prevalence of kidney lesions in sheep in Noorabad city, south of Iran.A total number of 500 clinically normal sheep of different age, sex and breeds referred to Noorabad abattoir were selected. After slaughter the kidneys of these sheep were inspected and renal samples were taken for histopathological study. Twenty-nine out of the studied kidneys had renal lesions including interstitial nephritis in 12 cases, Hemorrhage and hyperemia in 4 cases, Abscess in 4 cases cysts, acute tubular necrosis in 3 cases, glomerulonephritis in 2 cases, Medullary crest necrosis and Cloisonné kidney were in one case. The prevalence of renal lesions in female and male cattle didn’t had any significant difference.

Kiwi (Actinidia chinensis planch or Actindia deliciosa) is a climbing vine with fuzzy edible fruit belonging to the actinidiacea family. The high levels of vitamin C, E and K, dietary fibers, phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidants present in the green meat of kiwi fruit can reduce the risk of different disorders such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. It also increases resistance to many other diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effects of 15% kiwi powder on protein changes, degree of hydrolysis, peptide chain length, pH, cooking loss, and sensory evaluation of sheep meat to tender it. To prepare the meat for treatment, it was cut into 3 cm cubic pieces by a clean knife and immersed in kiwi powder mixture. It was subjected to different tests at time periods of 4, 12 and 24 hours. The control sample was untreated pure sheep meat pieces. The results were analyzed by SPSS software and paired-sample T Test. According to the findings, protein content and peptide chain length decreased significantly with time (p<0.05), while the degree of hydrolysis and cooking loss increased significantly (after 24h) (p<0.05). The highest general acceptance score was for the 24-hour treatment. By adding kiwi powder, based on the amount of actinidine enzyme present, the solubility level of meat proteins increases and its sensory and mechanical properties are improved.

Background and aim: Goat and sheep milk has received much attention due to the amount of salts, breeding and increase compared to cow's milk, and based on this, it is important to evaluate their quality in terms of chemical consumption. The purpose of this study was to investigate the consumption of raw milk in goats and sheep to cadmium by atomic absorption spectrometer method in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province.
Materials and Methods: In this study, 74 samples of raw goat and sheep milk from Lordegan, Saman, Kiar, Kohrang and Ardel cities were randomly collected and transported to the specialized food hygiene laboratory of Shahrekord Azad University for testing. This test was performed according to the AOAC standard. This cadmium was measured based on the furnace atomic absorption spectrometer (GFAAS) method.
Results: The raw amount of cadmium in sheep milk sample was 3.31±1.53 and in goat milk was 2.33±1.23 ng/g. This range is within the normal range. The results of the study showed that raw cadmium in all sheep and goat milk samples was lower than the allowed amount reported by Codex (500 ng/g).
Conclusion: According to the results obtained from the present study, cadmium in sheep and goat milk samples is low and there is a risk of consuming consumables with the sample, but the consumables of sheep and goat milk obtained from industrial areas such as Lordegan are high compared to other areas. So, it is better to avoid in these areas and near busy highways and the aforementioned factories, including petrochemicals.

Background and aim: The objective of this study was to obtain the first time of pregnancy diagnosis and the images of fetal development in different times of pregnancy period using ultrasonography.
Material and Methods: Two-dimensional ultrasound from day 25 to 120 of pregnancy was performed twice a week from days 25 to 65 and once a week from days 65 to 120 of pregnancy on ten Kurdish sheep. The ultrasonographic images were obtained Sonosite Titan (USA) 2D ultrasound machine.
Results: On the 25th day, the pregnancy was diagnosed. On 39th day, clear pictures of pregnancy like amniotic membrane, and umbilicus were seen. On 75th day of gestation, internal organs of fetus like heart, kidney, liver, urinary bladder, and stomach were seen in the images. The scrotum in the male fetus was identified on the 89th day of gestation. Between the 110^th and 120^th days of gestation, complete details of internal organs were seen in ultrasonographic images.
Conclusion: The transrectal probe to detect pregnancy is better than transabdominal probe. The accuracy of 2D ultrasound was 100% for detecting pregnancy. The shape of fetus changes in the images from days 25 to 42 in each ultrasound scan, and on the 42nd day of pregnancy, the fetus is fully identified.

Background and aim: Liver parasites are one of the most important parasitic groups which, in addition to causing diseases in host animals, also have zoonotic importance. This study was conducted with the aim of examining the livers of sheep slaughtered in the industrial slaughterhouse of Birjand city and identifying the parasitic contamination in them, finding the cause of contamination and estimating the direct economic losses caused by them.
Materials and Methods: The present study was descriptive-analytical and it was conducted cross-sectionally in four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter of 2021. During the research period, by referring to the slaughterhouse, the removed livers were collected and transferred to the parasitology laboratory in cold condition and on ice bags. In the laboratory, the possible cysts in the liver were subjected to diagnostic examinations by examining the appearance and also making deep cuts in the liver tissue.
Results: During the 12-month research period, 15319 sheep were slaughtered, among which 790 sheep had parasitic infections in their livers. Infected livers were removed wholly or partially. The total number of liver removals caused by parasites was estimated at 793 kilograms, which is based on the daily price (per kilogram of liver: one million and five hundred Rials) and it was calculated one billion one hundred eighty-nine million five hundred thousand Rials (1189500000 Rials). The parasites observed in the infected livers included hydatid cyst, fasciola, dicrocelium, cysticercus teniacolis and sarcocyst.
Conclusion: Considering the extent and volume of contamination and taking into account the direct financial loss caused by parasitic contamination in Birjand city, it could be estimated that parasites cause huge and significant amounts of damage to the country's animal husbandry industry every year.
 

Background and aim: In many areas of the world, copper deficiency may occur in livestock. This is not only dependent on the total concentration of copper in the diet but also on the effective factors in the absorption and acquisition of copper. This study aimed to investigate the serum levels of copper and ceruloplasmin in sheep in Kazerun City, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This study measured serum levels of copper and ceruloplasmin of sheep in Kazerun city in four regions of Konartakhteh, Kuhchenar, Baladeh, and Central. Sixty sheep were randomly selected (15 sheep in each region), and their blood was sampled. After separating the serum, an atomic absorption device was used to check the serum concentration of copper and ceruloplasmin. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and Pearson and Chi-square correlation tests.
Results: The results showed that the highest and lowest average copper serum level was 65.25±0.3 µg/dl in the Konartakhteh and 40.38±0.5 µg/dl in the Central area. The highest and lowest average serum levels of ceruloplasmin were 9±0.01 mg/dL in the Baladeh and 8.5±0.03 mg/dL in the Central region. Also, the overall average results showed that the average copper serum level was 55.97±19.57 µg/dl and the average ceruloplasmin was 8.875±0.5 mg/dL, that the copper serum level was in a subclinical deficiency status. The ceruloplasmin level was in a favorable state. The statistical analysis of the correlation between the serum levels of copper and ceruloplasmin in sheep showed a correlation of r=0.892 and a significance level of P=0.05. A statistical correlation was observed between the serum levels of copper and ceruloplasmin and respectively, the highest and lowest serum levels of copper were 94 and 30.55 μg/dL, and the highest and lowest serum levels of ceruloplasmin were 30.55 and 7.8 mg/dL.
Conclusion: In sheep from different regions of Kazerun city, the serum level of copper was subclinical deficient, and the serum level of ceruloplasmin was in a favorable condition. It seems that adding copper supplements to the ration of sheep in these areas is necessary.

Background and aim: The presence of parasites in the digestive system causes various lesions that vary in severity depending on the type and number of parasites. These disorders include diarrhea, anorexia, weakness, weight loss, decrease in animal production, decrease in absorption of food, and in acute and super acute forms cause death. Considering the importance of the infection of sheep with various gastrointestinal parasites, the purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of raw garlic on the intestinal parasites of sheep.
Materials and Methods: This experiment was conducted for 2 months from the first of November to the end of December. For this project, 40 sheep with an average weight of 58.5 kg (Averaged) were used. Animals were divided into the control group, the positive control group (drug recipient), the group receiving 10 grams of garlic (per head), and the group receiving 20 grams of garlic (per head). For this research, in addition to counting the number of parasite eggs by flotation method, the Famacha test and hematocrit test were performed and for data analysis, CRD completely random design was used.
Results: The results showed that the Famacha test of sheep receiving garlic decreased (P<0.05) However, the results of the hematocrit test of sheep were not significantly different from the control (P>0.05). Also, the addition of garlic to the diet of adult sheep decreased the number of Strongell, Marshalalgia, Nematodirus, Trichius, and the total number of parasite eggs per gram of feces (EPG), which was significant (P<0.05). In general, it can be said that adding 20 grams of garlic to the diet reduced the number of parasite eggs.
Conclusions: The results of the present research show that the amount of consumption of English eggs in sheep that are used with anti-parasitic drugs is very high. For this purpose, anti-parasitic drugs or medicinal plants that have anti-parasitic effects should be used. As found in this research, the use of high levels of raw garlic in the diet reduces digestive parasites and also increases blood mass.

Background and aim: Dictyocaulus filaria is a threadlike worm that lives in the airways of the lungs in sheep and goats and can lead to pneumonia. In November 2022, a report of emaciation, anorexia and, weakness with frequent coughs in a flock of 145 sheep (including 30 males and 115 females) located in the city of Miyaneh (East Azarbaijan province) was reported to the private sector veterinary clinic.
Materials and Methods: During the necropsy of two dead sheep, and by cutting the air ducts and lung tissue, a large number of milky white worms were observed in the bloody secretions of the pulmonary ducts, and the smaller ducts became inflamed due to cellular infiltration and the ducts were filled with bloody exudate. The isolated worms were placed in 70% alcohol and were examined morphologically in the laboratory using an optical microscope.
Results: Dictyocaulus filaria worms were diagnosed. Male worms were 5.4-6.8 cm and females were 7.5-8.4 cm long. The uterus of the female worm was full of eggs containing larvae, approximately 95-110 ×52-65 μ. Infected sheep were treated orally with levamisole at a dose of 7.5 mg/kg.
Conclusion: The present article is the first report of contamination and loss of sheep due to Dictyocaulus filaria in the field in East Azarbaijan province, Iran. Regular and strategic antiparasitic therapy should be performed using broad-spectrum antiparasitic drugs in small ruminants.

Background and aim: Listeria monocytogenes is an opportunistic human pathogen that affects food of animal origin and mainly immunocompromised people, the elderly, infants and pregnant women. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from goat and sheep meat sold in Tehran city.
Materials and Methods: 50 samples of goat and sheep meat were randomly isolated from supply centers in Tehran and transferred to the veterinary laboratory of Tehran University in the fall of 2023. Sampling was also done with swap in tools and equipment used in supply centers.
Results: The results showed that out of a total of 25 samples of goat meat and 25 samples of sheep meat, 4 samples (16%) of sheep meat and 8 samples (32%) of goat meat were infected with Listeria monocytogenes. There was a statistically significant relationship between the amount of coliform contamination in goat and sheep meat (p<0.05). The results of antibiotic resistance showed that the highest level of resistance was related to sulfamethoxazole and amoxiclav. Also, the highest and lowest level of contamination was in the refrigerator (50%) and knife (10%).
Conclusion: The high level of contamination and high antibiotic resistance for Listeria monocytogenes isolates indicates the poor health status in the meat product supply centers in Tehran, and it is necessary for the quality centers to make more efforts to establish strict regulations. Also, in case of gastroenteritis caused by Listeria monocytogenes, the use of antibiotics should be limited.