Hind Limb Amputation in a Pregnant Bitch: A Case Report .

Nigerian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 32(3): 2011; 241 - 24

Vertebral scale system to measure heart size in thoracic radiographs of west African dwarf goats

In veterinary diagnostic radiology, determination of heart size is necessary in the assessment of patients with clinical signs of cardiac anomaly. In this study, heart sizes were compared with lengths of mid-thoracic vertebrae in 12 clinically normal West African Dwarf Goats (WADGs) (8 females, 4 males). The aim of the research was to approximate reference values for vertebral heart size (VHS) of normal caprine cardiac silhouette. Lateral thoracic radiographs were obtained and lengths of long and short axes of the heart image measured with a ruler in centimetres. The measured dimensions were scaled against the lengths of thoracic vertebral bodies dorsal to the heart starting from the fourth vertebra. Mean ±standard error of mean (M±SEM) VHS was 10.1±0.01 vertebrae. VHS differences between males and females, and right and left lateral (RtL and LeL) recumbencies were not significant. In clinical practice, VHS is easy to apply and objective in assessing cardiac sizes of patients.KEYWORDS : Radiography, Measurement, Heart, Thoracic vertebrae, Lateral view

A radiologic study on the urinary bladder following dorsal and ventral cystotomy in mongrel dogs

Pneumocystography and positive contrast cystography using solutrast® were carried out immediately after surgery and on the second operative day following dorsal and ventral cystotomy in 22 adult mongrel dogs. In all the radiographs, there was no contrast observed in the abdominal cavity and the apex of the bladder had a straight border margin (rather than a curved margin). In both cystotomies, the bladder showed mural defects, which appeared as irregular outline along the bladder suffered. Luminal filling defects were observed in the dorsal cystotomies and in the dorsal cystotomies an obvious indentation was observed on the dorsal surface of the bladder. The absence of contrast in the abdominal cavity suggested that there was no urine leakage from the bladder following the surgery at the second postoperative day. The strait border on the apex was most probably as a result of extra mural pressure produced by the small or large bowel on the bladder. The mural defects observed wee due to the incision wounds while the luminal fillings defects observed would most probably be due to the presence of blood clot and or air in the cavity of the bladder at the time the radiographs obtained. The obvious dorsal indentation observed is most probably due to the inflammatory response of the surgical wound

Sterilization effects on tensile strength of non-conventional suture materials as compared with nylon surgical suture

An experiment was carried out to determine the tensile strength of embroidery, braiding, cobbler’s thread and nylon mono-filament fishing line (NMFL) use as non-conventional suture material. Their tensile strength were determined pre- sterilization using various calibrated weights (50gm, 100gm, 500gm). The non-conventional suture materials (NCS) were then subjected to different sterilization methods and tensile strength of the sterilized materials were determined using the same known weights. The procedure was repeated ten times on the NCS materials for each category and the mean tensile strength was determined for various sterilized material. The mean tensile strength of Miralene® was also determined using the above method of weight substitution. All data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare mean values within the sterilization groups with 95% confidence level (0.05). It was inferred that, mean tensile strength for cobbler’s thread increased for boiling and NMFL increases for autoclave and boiling method of sterilization (P<0.05). Also, mean tensile strength of NMFL and cobbler’s thread was significantly superior to that of Miralene®, and as such, it can be used as external suture in lieu of conventional suture materials.Keywords: Calibrated weights, Conventional, Nylon suture material, Sterilization, Tensile Strengt

Evaluation of local anaesthetic efficacy of the crude extract of Sterculia tragacantha using West African Dwarf Goats

The crude extract of Sterculia tragacantha was subcutaneously infiltrated at the scrotum and left flank of West African dwarf goat prior to orchidectomy and non invasive flank procedures respectively. To assess the local anaesthetic efficacy of the extract post orchidectomy, the pain threshold, changes in vital parameters and blood glucose were monitored. Post flank infiltration, the durations of local anaesthesia, degree of analgesia and distances of tissue diffusion of the extract were monitored. Data obtained in the extract group were compared with those of lignocaine group and a control group. Mean heart rate (HR) of the extract group were significantly (p<0.05) lower than HR obtained in the control group at 30 and 120 min while mean respiratory rate (RR) of extract group was significantly (p<0.05) lower than RR of control group at 30, 120 and 240 min. Post orchidectomy, glucose values of extract group were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those in control group. The mean post operative pain scores in extract group were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those obtained in control group. Duration of local anaesthesia at the flank due to lignocaine infiltration was significantly (P<0.05) longer compared to that due to the extract. Avoidance responses to pain exhibited post flank infiltration of the extract and lignocaine were not significantly (p>0.05) different. Similarly, the rate and distances of tissue diffusion of the extract and lignocaine were not significantly different (p>0.05). On scrotal infiltration, S. tragacantha extract significantly attenuated post operative rise in the vital parameters and blood glucose. The extract was as efficacious as lignocaine when infiltrated on the flank. These results showed that an active component with potent local anaesthetic activity could be isolated from the extract if further purified.Keywords: Anaesthesia, Flank, Infiltration, Lignocaine, Orchidectomy, Sterculia tragacantha

Histological Studies of the Calvarial Development of One-Humped Camel (Camelus Dromedarius) Fetuses

This study involved the use of thirty two camel fetuses, [23 (71.88%) males and 9 (28.12%) females]. Eleven fetuses were at the first trimester (34.4%), twelve at the second trimester (37.5%), and nine at the third trimester (28.1%). 1cm2 of bone samples obtained from the different fetal calvaria at the first, second and third trimester stages were decalcified and processed for normal Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining. There was an initial evidence of loose mesenchymal cells condensed together with some blood vessels, osteogenic cells and illdefined spicules. Ill-defined intertrabecular spaces were also seen at the first and second trimester levels. However, with advancement in age at the third trimester stage, prominent bone spicules or trabeculae were seen. Similarly, there were regularly arranged osteocytes within the trabecular matrix; and the intertrabecular spaces were more obvious. The findings of this research would help in understanding the microscopic anatomy of the developing calvaria in this animal species.Keywords: Histology, calvaria, one-humped, camel, fetusesNigerian Veterinary Journal, VOL:33 (1) 419-42

Sokoto Journal of Veterinary Sciences Evaluation of local anaesthetic efficacy of the crude extract of Sterculia tragacantha using West African Dwarf Goats

Abstract The crude extract of Sterculia tragacantha was subcutaneously infiltrated at the scrotum and left flank of West African dwarf goat prior to orchidectomy and non invasive flank procedures respectively. To assess the local anaesthetic efficacy of the extract post orchidectomy, the pain threshold, changes in vital parameters and blood glucose were monitored. Post flank infiltration, the durations of local anaesthesia, degree of analgesia and distances of tissue diffusion of the extract were monitored. Data obtained in the extract group were compared with those of lignocaine group and a control group. Mean heart rate (HR) of the extract group were significantly (p<0.05) lower than HR obtained in the control group at 30 and 120 min while mean respiratory rate (RR) of extract group was significantly (p<0.05) lower than RR of control group at 30, 120 and 240 min. Post orchidectomy, glucose values of extract group were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those in control group. The mean post operative pain scores in extract group were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those obtained in control group. Duration of local anaesthesia at the flank due to lignocaine infiltration was significantly (P<0.05) longer compared to that due to the extract. Avoidance responses to pain exhibited post flank infiltration of the extract and lignocaine were not significantly (p>0.05) different. Similarly, the rate and distances of tissue diffusion of the extract and lignocaine were not significantly different (p>0.05). On scrotal infiltration, S. tragacantha extract significantly attenuated post operative rise in the vital parameters and blood glucose. The extract was as efficacious as lignocaine when infiltrated on the flank. These results showed that an active component with potent local anaesthetic activity could be isolated from the extract if further purified

Evaluation of Healing Intervals of Incisional Skin Wounds of Goats Closed with Three Suture Patterns

The aim of this study was to compare the healing intervals among simple interrupted (SI), ford interlocking (FI) and subcuticular (SC) suture patterns in goats. We hypothesized that these common suture patterns used for closure of incisional skin wounds may have effect on the healing interval. To test this hypothesis, two parameters (subjective healing interval and histologic objective healing interval) were used to investigate the healing interval of the three suture patterns. Our findings showed that, there was significant differences (P<0.05) in subjective healing interval between subcuticular (SC) withford interlocking (FI), but there was nosignificant difference between subcuticular with simple interrupted patterns. There were also no significant differences between ford-interlocking and simple interrupted. Histologic findings at seventh day post surgery revealed low polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) infiltrations and early fibroblast, collagen fibers and epidermal keratinization in the subcuticular group in comparison with the two other groups. At fourteen day post-surgery, there was marked reduction of inflammatory infiltrates in the subcuticular group when compare with the two other groups, while the collagen fiber density and epidermal keratinization increased in the subcuticular group. At twenty first-day post - surgery , there were no inflammatory cells in subcuticular group, while collagen density was higher, and the orientation of the collagen fibers were horizontal, suggestive of faster healing in comparison with the simple interrupted and ford interlocking groups. It was concluded as measured by subjective healing interval and histologic objective healing interval that surgical skin-wound closed by subcuticular suture pattern alone healed faster than simple interrupted and ford interlocking suture patterns reinforced after subcuticular closure, on the other hand simple interrupted pattern healed faster than ford interlocking.Keywords: Incisional wound healing, histology, goat, suture patterns, healing interva