ABSTRACT
A 22-year-old male European brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos) was presented to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital after an acute onset of hind limb paralysis 4 days earlier. Previous radiographs revealed marked degenerative joint disease of the stifles, tarsi and digits. The clinical findings were consistent with acute disc prolapse. Lateral radiographs of the entire vertebral column were made as well as ventrodorsal pelvic radiographs. The latter were within normal limits. The vertebral column revealed multiple lesions consistent with chronic and acute disc herniations. Lateral compression of the caudal lumbar nerve roots could not be ruled out. Owing to multiple significant findings of the vertebral column and the poor prognosis for full recovery after surgery, the bear was euthanased. The diagnosis of an acute disc prolapse and multiple chronic disc herniations was confirmed on necropsy.
Subject(s)
Intervertebral Disc Displacement/veterinary , Spinal Osteophytosis/veterinary , Ursidae , Animals , Disease Progression , Fatal Outcome , Intervertebral Disc Displacement/diagnostic imaging , Intervertebral Disc Displacement/pathology , Male , Paralysis/diagnostic imaging , Paralysis/etiology , Paralysis/veterinary , Radiography , Spinal Osteophytosis/diagnostic imaging , Spinal Osteophytosis/pathologyABSTRACT
A 14-month-old female Eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus) was presented with a 4-week history of bloody diarrhea and depression. No additional information could be gained from physical examination. Only selected diagnostic tests (faecal examination, haematocrit, aspartate aminotransferase, and uric acid) could be performed due to financial constraints, but all where within reference range. Unspecific antibiotic treatment was started and the bird responded well initially, but had to be readmitted 2.5 weeks after initial presentation. Four weeks after initial presentation the owner finally consented to taking whole body radiographs and a diagnosis of an intestinal foreign body could be made. The foreign body was surgically removed 2 days later. The bird recovered uneventfully after surgery and was still in good health 1 year after surgery. This article emphasises the importance of diagnostic imaging in the avian patient. A brief review of avian gastrointestinal foreign bodies is given (concentrating on the psittacine patient) and the importance of distinguishing metallic from non-metallic gastrointestinal foreign bodies are discussed.
Subject(s)
Bird Diseases/diagnosis , Foreign Bodies/veterinary , Intestine, Small , Parrots , Animals , Bird Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Bird Diseases/surgery , Female , Foreign Bodies/diagnosis , Foreign Bodies/surgery , Intestine, Small/diagnostic imaging , Intestine, Small/surgery , Radiography , Treatment OutcomeSubject(s)
Cytotoxicity, Immunologic/immunology , Dendritic Cells/immunology , Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/immunology , Killer Cells, Natural/immunology , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/immunology , Lymphocyte Activation , Major Histocompatibility Complex/immunology , Peptide Fragments/immunology , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , CD8 Antigens , HLA-A Antigens/immunology , Humans , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/metabolism , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/therapy , Tissue Donors , Transplantation, HomologousABSTRACT
A standard radiographic procedure was developed for the thoraco-abdominal cavity of female nonbreeding ostriches. Positioning, collimation, centering and a technique chart were defined to give reproducible and consistently good quality radiographs. Radiographs were obtained from one adult ostrich cadaver, two adult female ostriches as well as two growing ostriches at various stages. A 6-frame technique was established for lateral views taking the topographic tissue distribution into consideration and using easily palpable landmarks as centering points. Standing true right lateral radiographs are recommended for standard procedures. For dorsoventral exposures a 3-frame technique in the recumbent ostrich was found to be optimal. Birds should be fasted if possible. A technique chart for lateral exposures is provided.
Subject(s)
Radiography, Abdominal/veterinary , Radiography, Thoracic/veterinary , Struthioniformes/anatomy & histology , Struthioniformes/growth & development , Animals , FemaleABSTRACT
Ultrasonographic examinations were performed on clinically healthy growing and adult nonbreeding female ostriches. Multiple acoustic windows and the normal ultrasonographic appearance of the coelomic viscera were described. Good images of the heart and its major vessels, proventriculus, ventriculus, intestines, liver, and kidneys could be obtained. Additionally, an anechoic structure, believed to function as an urinary bladder, could be imaged in the cloacal region. The pancreas, spleen, thyroid glands, ovary, and adrenals could not be seen in this study. General limitations were the size of the ostriches, massive leg and dorsal muscles, large sternum, the extensive air sac system, compact convoluted intestines, and varying amounts of gastrointestinal gas. Ostriches do not posses a gall bladder, and thus it could not be used as a landmark or acoustic window. The extensive air sac system and feathers did not limit the use of ultrasonography as much as anticipated. Imaging of air sacs should, however, be considered to detect pathology such as air sacculitis, which may result in consolidation. Veterinary
Subject(s)
Struthioniformes/anatomy & histology , Viscera/anatomy & histology , Viscera/diagnostic imaging , Animals , Cardiovascular System/anatomy & histology , Cardiovascular System/diagnostic imaging , Digestive System/anatomy & histology , Digestive System/diagnostic imaging , Female , Respiratory System/anatomy & histology , Respiratory System/diagnostic imaging , Struthioniformes/growth & development , Ultrasonography/methods , Ultrasonography/veterinary , Urinary Tract/anatomy & histology , Urinary Tract/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
This study provides a reference for the radiographic anatomy of the thoraco-abdominal cavity of female ostriches as a representative of ratites. One ostrich cadaver, 2 adult and 2 growing ostriches were used. Right lateral radiographs produced by a 6-frame technique and 2 dorsoventral radiographs produced by an adapted 3-frame technique were selected and schematic illustrations of these were labelled to illustrate normal radiographic anatomy. Differences from other avian species and unique features of the ostrich are briefly discussed.