This study was performed to investigate the effect of dietary aspirin (A) on some performance traits in broilers using a completely randomized design, 120 one-day-old male broiler chicks Ross 308, three levels of aspirin (0, 50, and 100 mg/kg), in 4 replicates, each including 10 chicks, during 42 days. The effects of different levels of aspirin, added to a basal diet, on performance, carcass characteristics, and digestive organs of chicks were investigated. Data analysis was performed by SAS statistical software and the comparison of the means with Duncan's test. The results showed that the chickens fed by a diet containing 100 mg/kg of aspirin had the highest feed intake and weight gain and the best feed conversion ratio compared to the other treatments. Also, the lowest production cost and the best European factor were related to treatment A100 (P<0.05). In addition, the use of the same level of aspirin resulted in a significant increase in some carcass properties and a decrease in ventricular fat compared to the control (P<0.05). So, based on the results of the present study, the use of 100 mg/kg aspirin in the diet of broilers is recommendable to improve some performance parameters.

Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) are viral pathogens that are common in goats and sheep, affect production, and cause significant economic losses in small ruminant breeding. Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) and Maedi-Visna virus (MVV) are prototypes of SRLVs. Both of them affect animal health and welfare in sheep and goats and cause progressive and persistent infections in the small ruminant industry. The present study aimed to reveal the epidemiological status of lentivirus infection in the sheep region in Yalova province located in the southeast part of the Marmara region and determine the circulating genotypes by conducting the sequence analysis of the samples detected positive by a molecular method and molecular characterization of the detected field strains. To that end, 231 sheep blood samples were used between May 2016 and April 2018. Based on sampling results of the PCR test and ELISA tests, 5.62% (13/231) and 5.19% (12/231) positivity rates were found in sheep, respectively. According to the ELISA test results, a significant difference was found in terms of age groups (6 months -1 age, 1-3 age, >3 age) (χ2: 6.01; p=0.04). Furthermore, the sequence analysis of the gag gene region detected the existence of the A genotype of small ruminant lentiviruses in sheep. The data obtained from the study revealed a low seroprevalence course of SRLV infection in the study area in the absence of a systematic disease control program.

Fish eosinophilic granular cells are found in the connective tissues of structures associated with the external environment. These cells are similar to mammalian mast cells in terms of structural and functional characteristics. The cytoplasmic granules of these cells give different staining reactions depending on fixative type. This study aimed to determine the staining properties and densities of eosinophilic granular cells in Oscar fish (Astronotus ocellatus Agassiz, 1831) intestine using different fixatives and histochemical techniques. Formalin and basic lead acetate fixation-giemsa staining indicated that eosinophilic granular cells were abundant in anterior intestine, localizing around especially the blood vessels and submucosa. Giemsa staining of Bouin’s fixed rather than other fixatives showed that eosinophilic granular cells were higher in posterior intestine. No reaction was observed in eosinophilic granular cells in Thionin and Toluidine Blue staining in any fixative. Eosinophilic granular cells in samples fixed with different fixatives had metachromatic Alcian Blue staining. In conclusion, this study shows that fixatives may have different effects on the distribution and staining properties of eosinophilic granular cells in Oscar fish intestinal regions. Abundance in anterior intestine and around submucosal blood vessels shows that eosinophilic granular cells could play an active role in mucosal immunity against food-borne pathogens.

The objective of this study was to investigate polymorphisms of MASP2, TG5 and DQA1 genes using PCR-DNA sequencing in seventy Holstein, and Brown Swiss dairy cows (35 cows each). Under complete aseptic condition, blood samples were collected from each animal into tubes containing disodium EDTA as an anticoagulant for DNA extraction. PCR was carried out for amplification of 305-bp of MASP2, 545-bp of TG5, and 373-bp of DQA1 genes. DNA sequencing assessment elaborated nucleotide sequence variations in forms of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between two breeds. The SNPs identified in the investigated genes for Holstein breed were A46G in MASP2 gene and C371T in TG5 gene. A characteristic T53C SNP was also reported for Brown Swiss breed in DQA1 gene. Chi-square revealed a significant variation in distribution of all identified SNPs (P < 0.001). Consequently, identified SNPs could be used as candidates and a reference guide for efficient characterization of Holsteins, and Brown Swiss breeds; therefore, developing a marker assisted selection (MAS) for production and immunity traits in breeds of dairy cattle.

Abstract
 Multidrug resistance is a great challenge for the treatment of infectious diseases. We determined antibiotic resistance patterns,  integrons, plasmid-mediated ESBL-, AmpC beta-lactamase-, carbapenemase-, colistin resistance genes, plasmid replicon types and phylogeny of fecal E. coli strains isolated from domestic cats and dogs in Turkey.
 A total of 104 fecal samples of healthy 49 cats and 55 dogs were examined. The integrons, plasmid-mediated resistance genes, plasmid replicon types and phylogroups were determined by PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were performed by disc diffusion and microdilution methods.
 
 coli strains were mostly resistant to AMP (56.73%), SXT (39.42%), CTX (38.46%) and CIP (30.77%). Colistin resistance was not detected. ESBL and carbapenemase rates were 35.5 % and 7.69%, respectively. Eighty (76.9%) and 49 (47.1%) strains were harboring class I and class II integrons, respectively. Besides 12 strains were shown to possess class III integrons. The most frequently detected genes were blaCTX-M (48.08%), blaTEM (45.19%) and blaVIM (20.19%). In our study, none of strains were positive for mcr-1 and mcr-2 genes. Integrons were mostly found on plasmids of incompatibility groups IncF (71.25%) and strains bearing CTX-M and TEM carried a wide range of plasmid replicons of which IncF, IncFIB, IncK, and IncN. The majority of the strains were grouped in B2 (31.73%) and B1 (22.12%) and resistant bacteria mostly belonged to phylogroup B2.
 
 We showed an increasing trend in ESBL-producing E. coli among fecal microbiota members. E. coli strains with different plasmid replicon types and phylogroups isolated from cats and dogs can be resistant to various antibiotics which are used in human and veterinary medicine.

In this study, the effect of dietary supplementation of oregano and rosemary essential oils (EO) on growth performance and cecal microbiota of broilers were investigated. A total of 450 1-d-old male Ross-308 broilers were divided into 5-experimental groups (10 replicates of 9 chickens): a Control (C), fed a basal diet; four treatments, which received a basal diet supplemented with oregano and rosemary EOs individually (O, 300 mg/kg oregano EO; R, 300 mg/kg rosemary EO) and combined (OR1, 150 mg/kg oregano EO + 150 mg/kg rosemary EO; OR2, 200 mg/kg oregano EO + 200 mg/kg rosemary EO). Body weight (BW), feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and cecal microbiota (coliforms, clostridia and lactobacilli) were determined weekly, and at 42 d, respectively. BW in R (p<0.05) and OR2 (p<0.001), and BWG and FCR in OR2 (p<0.05) were significantly higher than C at 42 d, despite no difference in FI in any group during experimental period. Counts of cecal coliforms (p<0.001) and clostridia (p<0.01) decreased, and lactobacilli (p<0.001) increased substantially between C and treatment groups. Results indicated that combined oregano and rosemary EO (200 mg/kg ea) supplementation significantly increased BW and BWG, improved FCR in 1-42 d, lowered coliform and clostridial, and increased lactobacilli counts suggesting a beneficial shift in cecal microbiota.

Phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistances of Campylobacter strains from chicken meat were investigated. A total of 19 isolates (Campylobacter jejuni=6 and Campylobacter coli=13) were identified by multiplex PCR. The C. jejuni and C. coli isolates were tested for resistance to ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, and tetracycline using the disc diffusion method. In addition, all the strains were analyzed for resistance gene tet-O and mutations in the gyrA and 23S rRNA genes by PCR. Overall, a high frequency of resistance was detected against tetracycline (14/19, 73.6%), followed by erythromycin (7/19, 36.8%), and ciprofloxacin (6/19, 31.5%). Two of C. coli isolates (15.3%) were multidrug resistant, whereas none of the C. jejuni isolates were resistant to three antibiotics at the same time. Ten of the 14 Campylobacter strains (71.4%)  resistant to tetracycline carried tet-O gene. Mutations in the 23S rRNA and gyrA genes were identified in 57.1% (4/7), 66.6% (4/6) of the isolates resistant to erythromycin and ciprofloxacin, respectively. 

Abstract: This paper presents the first study conducted in Algeria to determine the pre and post-race hematological and biochemical parameters of horses of a 90 km endurance race for eliminated horses’ category and those who completed the races with good performance. This study was conducted on 15 endurance horses (10 Arabian Thoroughbred, 4 Arabian-Barb and 1 Barb). Nine (9) horses successfully completed the endurance race, whereas the other 6 were eliminated. Blood samples were collected from each animal before and after the end of the race. Whole blood samples were used for measuring the blood-biochemical parameters.  Our results showed a significant increase in the hematological parameters (RBC, HB, Ht and MCV), the total leucocyte count, neutrophils and platelets for the group of horses who finished the race successfully. A significant decrease was noticed for the lymphocytes and eosinophils numbers while serum biochemical parameters showed a significant increase of Ca, TG, urea, U-A, AST and CK and a decrease of Mg, CHE, GLU and ƔGT. This study showed that, for the eliminated horses, there were significant changes in values of the total leucocytic count, lymphocytes, neutrophils, HB and Ht as compared to good performance horses. Serum biochemical parameters showed a significant increase of TG, U-A, AST and CK and a significant decrease of Ca, Mg, CHE and ƔGT. Most of the hemato-biochemical parameters of both the eliminated horses and those who completed the race successfully depicted significant differences. The results of this study suggested that biochemical findings could help identify horses with an increased risk of developing metabolic alterations before their elimination during competitive endurance races of different distances. Therefore, proper management protocols, standard feeding and watering with proper preparation of animals before the race could prevent electrolytes imbalance and pathological affections during racing.

In vitro antimicrobial and antibiofilm forming activities of Origanum munzurense extract were investigated against some gram-positive bacteria and yeast strains. Liquid microdilution method and microplate method were used for antimicrobial and antibiofilm forming activities, respectively. Minimal inhibitory concentration values were found to be 2 mg/ml for Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, 64 mg/ml for Listeria monocytogenes RSKK 02028, 2 mg/ml for L. monocytogenes RSKK 472, 2 mg/ml for Bacillus cereus NRRL 569 , 128 mg/ml for S. aureus ATCC 25923, 32 mg/ml for S. aureus (MRSA) ATCC 43300 strain, 64 mg/ml for Candida tropicalis ATCC 13803, 2 mg/ml for C. albicans ATCC 90028, 1 mg/ml for S. aureus FRI 918 and 1 mg/ml for Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228 strain. The extract prevented the biofilm formations of E. faecalis ATCC 29212, S. aureus FRI 918 and S.epidermidis ATCC 12228 at concentrations of 2 mg/ml, 500 µg/ml and 250 µg/ml, respectively. No biofilm formation was observed for the other bacteria tested.As a result, Origanum munzurense extract has antibacterial and antibiofilm activity on the selected pathogenic microorganisms tested. Due to these properties of O. munzurense, it could be considered as a plant-based antimicrobial agent to be used especially in the food industry.

Endometritis is one of the most common disorders that negatively influence reproductive performance in dairy cows. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive factors of the clinical cure of endometritis. A total of 700 Holstein dairy cows were examined for signs of clinical endometritis between 30 and 40 days in milk (the first examination in the time of clean test). A total of 131 cows with clinical endometritis were assigned for treatment. Cytological examination, reagent test strips, and characteristics of reproductive organs were evaluated at the time of treatment (the first examination) and two weeks after the treatment (the second examination: for evaluation of response to treatment of endometritis). After evaluation of treatment, cows were grouped into the responsive (n=56) and unresponsive (n=75) to treatment. Percentages of non-degenerated neutrophil (NDN), degenerated neutrophil (DN), total neutrophils and leukocyte esterase activity were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the unresponsive cows than those of responsive ones to treatment at the second examinations. Moreover, the nitrate test was significantly higher in the unresponsive group than the responsive group at the first examination. However, protein concentration and percentages of lymphocyte cells were significantly higher in the unresponsive animals than the responsive cows at the first and second stages of examination (P<0.05). Increasing of lymphocytes percentage, protein concentration, and nitrate test at the first stage of examination in the unresponsive cows showed more sever of inflammatory conditions and uterine infection in the unresponsive cows. Evaluation of these factors can predict the clinical cure of endometritis in dairy cows.