The aim of this study was to determinate the drug resistance patterns of avian E.coli isolates from cases of colibacillosis in Golestan Province, Iran.One hundred and fifty isolates of E. coli from pericarditis lesions (5 samples per farm and in 30 farms) submitted to the microbiology laboratory. After sampling and confirmation by biochemical reactions, the E.coli isolates were tested for their susceptibility to a panel of 15 antibacterial agents using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.The drug susceptibility test showed that all isolates were resistant to Nalidixic acid, Erythromycin, Flumequine and were susceptible to Gentamicin and Ceftiofur. More than 80% of the isolates were resistant to Colistin, Tetracycline, Sulfadiazine+Trimethoprim, Enrofloxacin, Cyprofloxacin, Danofloxacin, Lincospectin, Difloxacin, Sulphachlorpyridazin+Trimethoprim and Doxycycline. There were 29 drug resistance patterns among 150 E.coli isolates. Eighty eight percent of isolates belonged to more than one pattern, whereas the rest (12%) of isolates, each isolate belonged to one pattern only.The results of this study confirmed the possibility of indiscriminate abuse and misuse of antibacterial agents in poultry industry and this could be dangerous for public health as well.

An experiment was conducted in order to evaluate five synthesized vitamin premixes including: 1 NRC’s(1994) recommended requirements, 2- Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz one half of NRC’s recommended requirements, 3- 1.5 times of NRC’s recommended requirements, 4- two- fold of NRC’s recommended requirements, 5poshtibani Co. recommended levels and three commercial vitamin premixes in feeding Arian broiler. This experiment was carried out using completely randomized design (CRD) with 480 sexually mixed broiler chickens including 3 replicates in 24 pens. Different vitamin premixes had no significant effects on feed consumption and weight gain in various experimental periods and total experimental period. The feed efficiency was significantly affected (P<0.05) with vitamin premixes in starter period. One-half NRC’s recommended requirements had the lowest feeding efficiency as compared to other premixes (1.79), but there were not significant differences between the other vitamin premixes. Various vitamin premixes had no significant effects on the carcass characteristics and mortality rate. The results of this experiment indicated that the NRC’s recommended requirements have the best performance and the lowest feed cost per kilogram weight gain than other vitamin premixes.

The clinical and laboratory findings associated with Cryptosporidium infection in four broiler flocks were reported. The severity of Cryptosporidium-induced disease is greatly compounded by the presence of other pathogens. Tracheal swab culture on blood agar revealed a bacterium which identified as Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale by further biochemical and serological characteristics. This isolate was resistant to enrofloxacin and flumequine, and sensitive to ampicillin and tiamulin. Escherichia coli isolated from heart of the carcasses were resistant to all conventional antibiotics. Eimeria tenella was also detected in the ceca of some carcasses of this flock. Simultaneous isolation of C.baileyi, Clostridium perfringens type A, and E. coli serogroup 08 in a broiler flock affected by gangrenous dermatitis and serious weight gain loss was also reported.  

Campylobacter jejuni infectious are one of the most important foodborne diseases in many countries  and causing of diarrhea in more contries. A total of 400 liver samples in order to detection of Campylobacter jejuni in liver of BROILERS chickens during summer 2001 to spring 2002 in slaughterhouse and retail market BROILERS of Shahr-e- Kord township. All of the samples were culture in enrichment and specific bacteriological media for C.jejuni. Out of 400 samples, 64.75%were positive due to C. jejuni. From 200 samples taken from slaughter house 64.5% and from 200 samples taken from retail markets, 65% were positive. In comparison of the infection rate in different seasons, autumn 2001 with 80% was highest rate and spring 2002 with [45%] was lowest rate. According to the bacteriological findings of this study, Therefore the consumption of infected livers to C. jejuni constitutes a major health hazard for human in this city.

Two Hundred and forty one-day old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were distributed in 16 pens as 4 experimental groups (treatments) with 4 replicates in a Completely Randomized Design in order to evaluate the effect of feeding nanosilver and probiotic on performance of the chicks. Experimental groups were reared and fed identically according to Ross strain company recommendation up to 42 days. Four treatments were considered as: control group (corn-soybean based diet without any additives), nanosilver group (base diet supplemented with 45 mg/kg nanosilver), Probiotic group (base diet supplemented with 250 mg/kg probiotic, Primalac Trade Mark), nanosilver and probiotic group (base diet supplemented with 45 mg/kg nanosilver and 250 mg/kg probiotic). Performance of chickens was analyzed. Body weight gain and feed conversion ratio of chicks treated by nanosilver and probiotic were the best and nanosilver group ranked as the second. In view point of carcass traits there were no significant difference between treatments.

modern strains of broiler are highly susceptible to heart failure. Heart related mortalities are observed predominantly in fast growing broiler chickens. The aim of this study was to investigate serotonin levels in ascitic and non ascitic BROILERS of three strains (Ross, arbor acres plus and Cobb). In this respect, a factorial test in CRD method applied for the statistical analyses. In each of these three strains, 12 ascitic and 12 non-ascitic BROILERS were selected. After tagging and blood sampling, blood were collected and divided in two parts. One part was applied for some blood hematological assessment and other part was used for determining serum serotonin levels. The results showed significant differences among the strains (p<0.05). The blood serotonin levels of ascitic chickens were significantly lower than the non ascitic ones (p<0.05).there was a significant interaction between strain and disease in blood serotonin levels (p<0.05).

Objective: Study the effects of adding three commercial probiotics to broiler chicks' ration on performance.Design: Randomized completely design.Animals: Seven hundred and twenty day-old male Ross 208 broiler chicks.Procedure: The chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments so that each treatment contained six replicate floor pens of 30 chicks. One treatment (as control) received a basal corn-soybean meal diet without any antibiotics, growth promoters, coccidiostates. Three other treatments fed diets including commercial probiotics A, B, or C respectively. Body weight (BW), food consumption (FC), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and mortality were evaluated at 21, 42, and 49 days of age.Statistical analysis: Data for all response variables were subjected to ANOVA. Variable means for treatments showing significant differences in the ANOVA were compared using the Tukey's test.Results: By the end of 21-days old of age, feeding diets supplemented with probiotics A and C increased BW significantly (P < 0.05), in comparison with control, while supplementation diet with probiotic B had no significant effect on BW. At the end of experimental period, dietary treatments did not affect BW significantly. However, adding commercial probiotics to basal diets caused partial increasing in BW. Supplementation diets with commercial probiotics decreased FCR significantly (P<0.05) by the end of 21-days old of age. Although no significant differences were observed among FCR in dietary treatments, at the end of experimental period, but chicks fed diets containing probiotics A and B, had better FCR when compared with control.Conclusion: According to the obtained results, it seems that supplementation of broiler chicks' rations with commercial probiotics which were used in this feeding trial could improve broiler performance, especially in the first three weeks of rearing period.