Dr. Ahmed Hameed Abboud Al-Thabhawee

Dirofilaria immitis, the cause of heartworm infestation (HWI) or dirofilariasis, affects members of the Canidae and remains a worldwide clinical problem. In Iraq, dirofilariasis was believed absent until 2009, when the Karbala Governorate was reported as an endemic area for canine dirofilariasis. Consequently, this study intended to investigate the occurrence of Dirofilaria immitis in police dogs in one police academy in Iraq and to study the gross and histopathological changes in 5 dead dogs, as well as to identify the species of the causative parasite using PCR technique. Thirty-nine police dogs, aged between 6 months and 12 years were included in this study. For the microfilariae investigation, 5 ml blood samples were collected from all dogs in EDTA tubes and examined by Knott’s method. The systemic necropsy performed in five dead dogs showed severe clinical signs of dirofilariasis and tissue specimens were sent for routine histopathological processing. For the molecular analysis, adult worms of the detected Dirofilaria spp. were used for DNA extraction and amplification of the cox1 gene. Fifteen of 39 (38.46%) dogs were diagnosed with moderate to severe microfilariasis. The dead dogs revealed typical severe clinical signs of dirofilariasis. Moreover, typical gross and histopathological changes were also seen, accompanied by generalized thromboembolic lesions, suggesting the occurrence of the caval syndrome. The PCR investigation confirmed that D. immitis was the species present in Iraq. In conclusion, this study establishes that Iraq is a newly reported endemic area for dirofilariasis. Moreover, the infestation occurring in these cases most probably happened inside Iraq. The authors recommend doing further epidemiological studies concerning the occurrence of D. immitis in local dogs as well as in the imported dogs in all Iraqi governorates to better understand the epidemiological map of this disease and to introduce an active treatment and preventive program. Awareness and education regarding this disease should be provided to the veterinarians, dog guiders and people in direct contact with dogs, as this disease is one of the important zoonotic diseases.

Akabane virus, a member of the Orthobunyavirus genus in the family Bunyaviridae, causes congenital abnormalities and arthrogryposis with hydrocephalus or hydroencephaly in ruminants. Tis study intends to describe the clinical signs, gross and histopathological features seen in 25 afected lambs in an outbreak of congenital arthrogryposis with hydrocephalus or hydranencephaly in Al-Muthanna governorate, Iraq afer a large number of stillbirths and musculoskeletal deformities from October 2017 to May 2018. Skeletal muscle hypoplasia was seen in the limbs of the afected lambs accompanied with severe arthrogryposis and gross visible brain malformations. In addition, fetal mummifcations, stillbirths, and dead lambs were also seen. Te most histopathological features in muscle fbers were degenerative lesions and absences of cross-striation accompanied with mild infltration of neutrophils and mononuclear cells in severely afected lambs. Te meninges of afected lambs revealed fused membranes with focal areas of fbrous thickenings and necrotic debris. In conclusion, according to clinical signs, gross and histopathological investigations, Akabane virus, a member of the Orthobunyavirus genus in the family Bunyaviridae, causes congenital abnormalities and arthrogryposis with hydrocephalus or hydroencephaly in ruminants and could be the cause of this outbreak, although future studies must be performed to confrm the etiology of this outbreak. Moreover, other causes of hydrocephalus or cerebellar malformation, such as Schmallenberg virus, bluetongue virus and border disease virus and teratogenic plants that lead to arthrogryposis, have to be investigated. Also, the authorities should take prevention and control measurements to stop the replication of arthropod vectors.

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), Avian influenza virus (AIV) and Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) have been recognized as the most important pathogens in poultry cause acute respiratory infection and serous economic problems in Iraq and many other countries all over the world. This study was conducted to investigate the distribution of these diseases in commercial chicken flocks in different geographical region in middle part of Iraq by using qPCR. Tracheal swabs and tissue specimens from trachea, lung and kidney were taken from 38 different cases from commercial broiler chicken flocks in (Najaf, Hilla, Muthana and Theqaar governorates) in the period from November 2010 to June 2011, all these flocks were showed respiratory symptoms and mortality about 20-90%. The results showed that 92.1% of samples collected from these flocks were infected with IBV, 20% of samples were infected with IB alone and 45.71% of samples with IB combined with both GM and AIV subtype H9 and 25.71% of samples were positive to both IBV and AIV(H9). No samples were positive to AIV (H9) or MG alone. Because of importance of respiratory diseases as a most common conditions noted in commercial flocks in Iraq and no previous study detecting this pathogens by molecular techniques, this study come to detect and confirm the diagnosis of this pathogens by qPCR as new technique used in this field in Iraq.

Methotrexate is one of the most effective and commonly used medicines to treat various forms of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions. It is known as a disease-modifying ant rheumatic drug (DMARD) because it not only decreases the pain and swelling of arthritis but also can reduce damage to joints and the risks of long-term disability.

Methotrexate is one of the most effective and commonly used medicines to treat various forms of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions. It is known as a disease-modifying ant rheumatic drug (DMARD) because it not only decreases the pain and swelling of arthritis but also can reduce damage to joints and the risks of long-term disability.

Candida albicans is one of the most fungi which isolated from clinical samples that cause many problems to animals and humans. So, this study comes to focus, for the first time in Iraq, on genotyping and antifungal susceptibility profile to Candida albicans isolated from turkeys. Fourteen isolates of Candida albicans were obtained from trachea and cloaca of turkeys (Nicholas-300) in the field of Veterinary Medicine College / University of Kufa. All isolates were identified morphologically and biochemically by HiCandida identification kit and genotyped according to 25s rRNA of transposable intron I region of chromosome R. The results showed that all isolates are belonged to genotype A with amplified product size (450 bp). Antifungal sensitivity profile showed no resistance to Amphotricin-B, Fluconazole and Ketoconazole.

On second of March 2020, the faculty of veterinary medicine has organised the Viva for postgraduate student Miss. Zahraa Fleih Al-Waeli in faculty of veterinary medicine-university of Kufa at hall of higher studies. So, Al-Waeli awarded a master degree in veterinary pathology, under supervisor Professor Dr Ahmed Hameed Al-Azaam and her thesis is entitled Screening Pathological Study on Pulmonary Lesions in Cows Slaughtered in Al-Najaf Abattoir. Also the scientific committee was consisted of a chairman Professor Dr Eman Hashem Youssef, and Assistant Prof. Dr. Jihad Ahmed and Assistant Prof. Dr. Bushra Hamza as eximaner, in addition to Al-Azaam as supervisor. Also teaching staff and other guests have attended during the Viva. Congratulate to faculty of veterinary medicine, and to Al-Waeli and her supervisor.

Another a great achieve for the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Kufa, on third of March 2020, more postgraduate student has graduated from department of pathology, under supervisor Assistant Professor Bushra Hamza Fares who has supervised Noor Alhuda Kareem Abd-Alhussian and her thesis was entitled Pathological Effect of Aluminium Hydroxide Compared With Polymer-Based Nanoparticles on Neonatal Mice Brain. Also the scientific committee was consisted of chairman Professor Dr Ahmed Al-Azaam , and two scientific members from University of Baghdad and Kufa. So Noor Alhuda granted a master degree in veterinary pathology. The Viva was conducted at hall of higher studies in faculty of veterinary medicine, university of Kufa. Also we congratulate to Noor Alhuda for her achievement and her supervisor as well.

Faculty of veterinary medicine held a virtual workshop about Laboratory Boicontainment, This workshop was delivered by Professor Dr Ahmed Al-azaam, displayed definition of biocontainment, a main importance of protection of researchers and technicians in laboratories and avoid the community and environment from any risks and contamination. Also Al-Azaam explained the rankings of biological scientific laboratories and levels pathogenic factors and how deal with and requirements of biosafety and biosecurity to prevent any risks or biological mistakes. Furthermore, He referred to the main role of infrastructure and specific buildings of laboratories and equipments , as well as the special staff should be had knowledge and skills in relation with type of biological risks and pathological reasons. This workshop conducted by free conference call and many researchers and interested people has shared it who were from different universities and other government foundations and organizations.

On 19/05/2020 the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Kufa organized a virtual workshop in which the dean of the faculty, Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Azzam, addressed the new approaches to develop veterinary education in Iraq. The presenter focused on the need to change classical teaching methods in order to build the curriculum and educational process in a way that enhances the skills aspect according to the criteria that adopted by European and American accreditation organizations. The lecturer also explained the classification of those skills that the graduate must acquire in what is called Day One Competencies, how to follow them, measure them and the requirements for their implementation. The lecturer mentioned the challenges and difficulties which might be facing veterinary education in Iraq and the importance of finding solutions to raise the level of clinical training. There was a discussion in many aspects that were presented in the workshop. The workshop was attended by the deans of the Faculties of Iraqi Veterinary Medicine, the President and members of the Council for the Assurance and Quality Improvement of Veterinary Education and the specialized expert committees and many interested people.

A team in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Kufa published an article which entitled Koi herpes virus disease outbreak in Iraq, in an international journal: EurAsian Journal of Biosciences. This journal is ranked in the Scopes list of scientific journals. So the research team consisted of Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Azzam, Assistant Professor Dr. Haider Samaka, Assistant Professor Abdullah Al-Hatimi, Assistant Professor Hussam Al-Rafei, Lecturer Dr. Hudhaifa Abdul Hussain and Lecturer Dr. Ali Anonymous Kani. During this research, the researchers identified and diagnosed the particular Koi herpes virus by molecular diagnosis, which caused a pathological outbreak of the Iraqi carp fish inside artificial cages in rivers in the Middle Euphrates region at the end of the year 2018, causing a huge mortality of fish and economic losses.

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , Department of the Veterinary Pathology and Poultry diseases has organized the Viva for postgraduate student Ahmed Youssef Rasoul in the hall of the Information Research Rehabilitation Center on 01/10/ 2020 and student’s thesis was entitled (Pathololgical investigation of liver lesions in slaughtered cattle in Al-Najaf abattoir). Also the scientific examiners committee consisted of Assistant Professor Dr. Bushra Hamza Faris / University of Kufa / Faculty of Veterinary Medicine as Chair and Assistant Professor Dr. Khalil Chelab Kazar - University of Al-Qadisiyah / College of Veterinary Medicine as member and Assistant Professor Dr. Zainab Ismail Ibrahim / University of Baghdad / The College of Veterinary Medicine is a member, and Prof. Dr. Ahmed Hameed Al-Azzam is a member and a supervisor and during this discussion some examiners was attended face to face and others joined to discussion online via assistant of IT of university of Kufa. So thesis was approved with excellent grade, We congratulate the student, the supervisor, and the department of veterinary Pathology and poultry disease for this scientific achievement.