background and aims: the aim of this study was to determine the virulence and antibiotic resistance properties of streptococcus agalactiae (s. agalactiae) and streptococcus uberis (s. uberis) isolated from the ruminant’s sub-clinical mastitic milk in iran. materials and methods: positive samples in the cmt test were cultured and s. agalactiae and s. uberis have been identified using biochemical...

Many investigators maintain that spermatozoa that have initiated the acrosome reaction (AR) before reaching the surface of the egg's zona pellucida (ZP) are unable to bind and penetrate the ZP. A recent study has revealed that most fertilizing mouse spermatozoa initiate the AR before contacting the ZP. We found that acrosome-reacted spermatozoa collected from the perivitelline space of Cd9-null...

The present study was designed to assess the dynamic patterns of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, acute phase protein (α1-acid-glycoprotein, AGP), and an inflammation associated factor (adenosine deaminase; ADA) following experimental caprine coccidiosis. Ten kids aging from 2 to 4 months were infected orally with 5×104 sporulated oocysts and 10 animals served as ...

The potential angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory and antioxidant activities of peptides in water-soluble extracts, obtained from raw and sterilized ovine and caprine cheeselike systems coagulated with enzymes from the plant Cynara cardunculus, were assessed. Prior to the assay, the 3,000-Da permeate from 45-d-old cheeselike systems was fractionated by tandem chromatographic techniqu...

In sheep, scrapie susceptibility is so strongly associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene encoding the prion protein (PrP) that this linkage constitutes the basis for selective breeding strategies directed toward controlling the disease. For goats, in contrast, the association between scrapie susceptibility/resistance and variations in the PrP gene is far weaker, with o...

BACKGROUND Sperm DNA damage (fragmentation) is a recently discovered cause of male infertility for which no efficient treatment has yet been found. Previous findings have suggested that clinically relevant sperm DNA damage may occur at the post-testicular level. This study was undertaken to assess the clinical usefulness of ICSI with testicular spermatozoa in this indication. METHODS The perc...

In mice and humans, a normal offspring can be obtained by injecting a single spermatozoon into an oocyte, the process called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). When three or more mouse spermatozoa with intact acrosomes were injected into individual mouse oocytes, an increasing proportion of oocytes became deformed and lysed. Oocytes did not deform and lyse when acrosome-less spermatozoa w...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the role of hyaluronic acid (HA) for sperm selection before intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). DESIGN Three prospective studies. SETTING Private assisted reproduction center in Italy. PATIENT(S) Study 1: 20 men. Study 2: 15 men. Study 3: 206 couples treated with ICSI on a limited number of oocytes per patient (1-3) in accordance with Italian IVF law. INTERVEN...

The aim of this study was to assess two models of sperm collection on the quality and fertility of thawed spermatozoa from Black Manchega rams, a threatened breed. Sperm samples were collected by electroejaculation and postmortem from each male. Samples were diluted with Biladyl and frozen. Motility (subjective and objective by means of computer-assisted semen analysis), membrane integrity, and...