Abdominal ultrasonography of the normal St. Kitts vervet monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus).

BACKGROUND: Normal ultrasonography of non-reproductive abdominal and male reproductive anatomy in the vervet monkey were prospectively assessed. This has not been previously reported. METHODS: Ten non-sexually active male and 10 non-gravid female clinically healthy vervet monkeys between 5 and 12 years of age and weighing between 3.13 and 6.85 kg were evaluated with ultrasound. Individuals were randomly divided by gender groups into one of two immobilization protocols and scanned at 18.0 MHz. RESULTS: High-quality images of the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, urinary bladder, spleen, adrenal glands, gastrointestinal tract, and testes were acquired. The prostate was never visualized. Abdominal lymph nodes other than an ileocolic, the pancreas, and the female reproductive tract were not evaluated. Gastric and duodenal motility were significantly different between immobilization protocols (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal sonographic anatomy was successfully characterized and normal size parameters for non-reproductive abdominal viscera and the testes were established.

Gelatinous marrow transformation and hematopoietic atrophy in a miniature horse stallion.

Gelatinous marrow transformation, or serous atrophy of bone marrow fat, has been noted in livestock, laboratory animals, and wildlife in association with an inadequate plane of nutrition, inanition, or intoxication. This is a report of gelatinous marrow transformation and hematopoietic marrow atrophy in a 5-year-old miniature horse stallion. The horse had oral malformations leading to poor food assimilation and emaciation. A bone marrow biopsy obtained to investigate persistent anemia and leukopenia showed hematopoietic atrophy and replacement of fat with a granular extracellular substance, which stained with alcian blue, consistent with acidic mucopolysaccharide content. Surgical correction of the dental abnormalities resulted in improved food assimilation, weight gain, and resolution of cytopenias. In humans, gelatinous bone marrow transformation and hematopoietic atrophy are commonly associated with malnutrition from anorexia nervosa and other causes. The cause of hematopoietic atrophy is unknown but may relate to a nonsupportive marrow microenvironment and inadequate hematopoietic substrate availability. Similar pathogenic mechanisms were suspected in this horse.