Morphology of the transverse ligament of the atlas and the alar ligaments in the silver fox (Vulpes vulpes var)

Background Recent new anatomical and histological features of craniocervical junction in dogs and cats were described providing evidence of differences between the carnivore species. No information on these structures in foxes exists. Results Two parts of the alar ligaments were found. A longer one aroused from dens of axis to the internal (medial) surface of the occipital condyles and was called apical part. A shorter part originated from the entire length of the lateral edge of the dens of axis and terminated on the internal wall of the vertebral foramen of atlas and thus was called the lateral part. The transverse ligament of the atlas was widened in the mid region, above the dens of axis, and thickened at enthesis. Periosteal fibrocartilage was detected in the transverse ligament of the atlas at the enthesis, and sesamoid fibrocartilage was present on periphery in the middle of the ligament. Conclusions The craniocervical junction in foxes differs in part from other carnivores such as dogs and cats but resembles that of mesaticephalic dogs. The sesamoid and periosteal fibrocartilage supports the transverse ligament of the atlas whereas the alar ligaments have no cartilage

Light and electron microscopic studies of the Harderian gland in Bilgorajska goose (Anser anser)

The Harderian gland (HG) in birds is the dominant orbital gland, which plays an important role in immunological response. Tissue sections taken from adult females of Bilgorajska goose were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Azan, PAS, AB pH 2.5, AF and HDI. Based on the histological structure the HG in Bilgorajska geese had compound tubular structure with multiple lobules and two types of epithelial cells lining the tubules. Epithelial cells in the central part of the lobes were dark in color and contained serous fluid, while in the deeper layers, epithelial cells were lightly coloured and contained mucous fluid. Histochemical studies showed the presence of neutral mucopolysaccharides and carboxylated acid mucopolysaccharides in the secretory cells. The small number of single plasma cells were present in HDI staining below the basement membrane of the secondary and primary ducts, near the crypts of the main duct. TEM study demonstrated that plasma cells had a large nucleus with condensed heterochromatin and were rich in rough endoplasmic reticulum. The knowledge of gland’s structure, and above all an analysis of the immune system components may affect clinical practice and properly conducted immunization of birds

Morphology of the extraocular muscles (M. bulbi) in the pre-hatchling and post-hatchling african black ostriches (Struthio camelus domesticus L., 1758) (Aves: Struthioniformes)

The aim of the study was to describe the morphology and the development of the extraocular muscles (EOMs) in the pre-hatchling and post-hatchling African black ostrich. The study involved 50 birds aged between 28 days and 3 years. The EOMs were analyzed morphologically with respect to the location and length of the straight and oblique muscles and the third eyelid muscles, the length and breadth of their tendons as well as the distance and shape of the muscle tendon insertions at the corneal limbus. A histological and histometric analysis were also carried out. The greatest increase in the length of the EOMs was noted in groups III–V. A marked increase in the length of the tendons of the dorsal straight muscle was found in groups II and III, in the tendons of the nasal straight muscle in groups IV and V, in the tendons of the dorsal oblique muscle in groups III to V and in the tendons of the ventral oblique muscle in groups IV and V. There was a significant increase in the breadth of the dorsal straight and ventral oblique muscle tendons in groups IV and V and the tendons of the pyramidal muscle in groups III and V. The distance of the distal insertion of the tendon at the corneal limbus increased steadily with age in all the examined groups. The number of fascicles and muscle fibres, their diameter and length in all the studied EOMs were different in the different groups

The Osteometry of Equine Third Phalanx by the Use of Three-Dimensional Scanning: New Measurement Possibilities

This study consisted in analyzing the asymmetry between bilateral third phalanges (coffin bones) in cold-blood horses based on the angle range of the plantar margin of the bone. The study employed a scanner projecting a hybrid set of images, consisting of sinusoidal stripes preceded by a Gray code sequence. As it turned out, three-dimensional scanning can be used to effectively determine the angle range for a selected portion of the studied bone. This provides broad possibilities for osteometric studies, as it enables the determination of angle distribution in a given fragment. The results obtained indicate a weak correlation between age and bilateral third-phalanx asymmetry in terms of the angle range of the plantar margins and no correlation between body weight and the asymmetry described

Morphometry of the heart orifices and morphometry and topography of the coronary ostia in the goat

Background: The coronary vessels have been described in various species of domestic and wild ruminants. However, no studies on the detailed morphology and morphometry of heart orifices and coronary ostia in the Polish goat are available. Materials and methods: The study was carried out on 112 female, adult dairy goats belonging to Polish Fawn Improved and Polish White Improved breed, closely related to French Alpine and Saanen, respectively. Results: In all examined individuals, all heart orifices and heart valves were of normal structure. There was no significant diametrical difference between the aortic and pulmonary orifice. The right atrioventricular opening was significantly wider than the left atrioventricular opening. The dimension of the left coronary ostium ranged from 1.0 to 5.5 mm with the arithmetic mean (±standard deviation [SD]) of 4.3 ± 0.8 mm. The dimension of the right coronary ostium ranged from 0.5 to 5.0 mm with the arithmetic mean (±SD) of 2.8 ± 0.7 mm. Both coronary artery ostia were located under the sinotubular junction. 39/112 examined goats (34.8%) had variations in the structure of the coronary ostia such as the lack of main trunk or the presence of additional coronary ostia. They were observed in one (in 34/39 goats) or both coronary arteries (5/39 goats). Conclusions:  In goats, the dimensions of aortic and pulmonary orifices are similar while the right atrioventricular opening outsizes the left one. On the other hand, the left coronary ostium is wider than the right one. Morphological variations in the coronary ostia occur in approximately one third of goats, more often in the right than in the left ostium

Lyme borreliosis in humans and domestc animals and wildlife

The bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi is the main cause of Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis). The vector of the infection are ticks of the genus Ixodes. The most common species in Poland is the tick species Ixodes ricinus. The Lyme disease spirochetes are transmitted to the host directly by the bite of infected ticks feeding on the blood of animals that have the disease. The infection can also occur through the contact with the urine, sperm, saliva, nasal discharge or milk of an infected animal. The source of the B. burgdorferi bacteria are rodents, insect-eating mammals, certain animal species of the family Cervidae or Canidae, birds and lizards. Being tolerant to these bacteria these animals are the source of infection for the feeding ticks. In contrast to the free-living animals the symptoms of Lyme disease may appear in the livestock. However, the symptoms are not characteristic, extremely differentiated and similar to the symptoms of other diseases. Therefore, the clinical tests are of little diagnostic value. In the case of a suspicion of borreliosis the application of laboratory tests is necessary to detect the presence of the bacteria B. burgdorferi or its components in the tested material or on the measurement of the immunological response to the precisely determined antigens of this bacteria

The anatomical peculiarities of Felis silvestris f. catus will be shown on chosen examples

Cats (Felis catus) have accompanied humans for thousands of years. Together with dogs they have become the most popular species included in the group of so-called accompanying animals. The intention of deliberate breeding of many animal species based on scientific foundations was to create new breeds and improve the existing ones. However, the activities related to cat breeding were not so intense as in the case of dogs. Cats are therefore considered to be more stabilized morphologically and more closely related to their wild ancestors than other domesticated species. The aim of this paper was to present some details of the anatomy of cats which are characteristic of this species, with special reference to those characteristics which significantly differentiate cats from dogs. In the paper the focus was on the anatomy of the skeleton which in cats can be considered an evident adaptation, in the evolution process, to the lifestyle they led. The set of teeth and other elements of the circulatory and digestive systems were described pointing to the presence of papillae filiformes on the tongue which was one of the causes of pilobezoar formation in the stomach. The general anatomy of the respiratory system was discussed with special attention paid to the anatomy of sinus paranasales. The cat's heart was described demonstrating that it is most horizontally and caudaly situated in comparison with other domesticated animal species. Attention was attached to the characteristic anatomy and arrangement of the male reproductive system of this species. The paper provided an explanation of how the eyeball in cats is adapted, due to its specific anatomy, to receive light stimuli in the dark. Also the glands and other products of the skin, like: hair were discussed. Much attention was also put on the anatomy of cat's claws, they are very effective on account of the presence of elastic ligaments which permit cats to extend the claws and retract them in the skin pouch

Comparative Histology of the Cornea and Palisades of Vogt in the Different Wild Ruminants (Bovidae, Camelidae, Cervidae, Giraffidae, Tragulidae)

In the study, we data concerning the histological and morphometrical examination of the cornea and palisades of Vogt in the different species of ruminants from the families Bovidae, Camelidae, Cervidae, Giraffidae and Tragulidae, coming from the Warsaw Zoological Garden, the Wroclaw Zoological Garden and the Division of Animal Anatomy. The following ruminant species were investigated: common wildebeest, Kirk’s dik-dik, Natal red duiker, scimitar oryx, sitatunga, Philippine spotted deer, Père David’s deer, moose, reindeer, reticulated giraffe, okapi, Balabac mouse-deer and alpaca. The cornea of ruminant species such as the common wildebeest, Kirk’s dik-dik, Natal red duiker, scimitar oryx, reindeer and Balabac mouse-deer consisted of four layers (not found in the Bowman’s layer): the anterior corneal epithelium, the proper substance of the cornea, the posterior limiting membrane (Descemet’s membrane) and the posterior corneal epithelium (endothelium). The anterior corneal epithelium was composed of a multilayer keratinizing squamous epithelium, which was characterized in the studied ruminants with a variable number of cell layers but also with a different thickness both in the central epithelium part and in the peripheral part. Moreover, the proper substance of cornea was thinnest in Balabac mouse-deer, Kirk’s dik-dik, Natal red duiker, scimitar oryx, Philippine spotted deer, alpaca, reindeer and sitatunga and was thickest in the reticulated giraffe. The thickest Descemet’s membrane was observed in the Père David’s deer. The corneal limbus is characterized by a large number of pigment cell clusters in Kirk’s dik-dik, scimitar oryx, moose, Balabac mouse-deer and alpaca. In the common wildebeest, Père David’s deer, moose, reticulated giraffe, okapi and alpaca, the palisades of Vogt were marked in the form of a crypt-like structure. The corneal limbus epithelium in the examined ruminants was characterized by a variable number of cell layers but also a variable number of melanocytes located in different layers of this epithelium. The detailed knowledge of the corneal structure of domestic and wild animals can contribute to the even better development of methods for treating eye diseases in veterinary medicine