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Background: Ultrasonography had diagnostic importance in the evaluation of different diseases in buffaloes, including cardiovascular diseases. Aim: The current work describes the normal echocardiographic findings in healthy buffaloes, along with establishing reference values for echocardiographic dimensions for both sides of the heart, i.e., left and right ones. Methods: About 30 healthy adult buffaloes that belonged to private farms in Assiut, Egypt, were included in this study. Each animal underwent a complete clinical evaluation as well as hematological analyses, lipid profile indices, liver functions, cardio-thoracic radiography, and echocardiography to confirm no diseased conditions were detected. The study was conducted on healthy buffaloes (n = 30) in Assiut Governorate, Egypt. Results: The obtained results reported healthy buffaloes with normal clinical findings as well as indices of blood pictures and serum biochemicals that were within the reference intervals. Radiography revealed a free reticulum and a welldefined diaphragm. The heart was seen as a typical radio-opaque organ. Ultrasonographically, using grayscale B-mode and M-mode, the heart was commonly imaged from the left fourth intercostal space. Different echocardiographic views were described, including the four chamber view, i.e., right atrium (RA), right ventricle (RV), tricuspid valve (TCV), left atrium, left ventricle, mitral valve, and interventricular septum (IVS), and the right ventricular outflow tract, i.e., RA, TCV, RV, pulmonary artery (PA), and pulmonary valve. Cross sections in each of the apex and base of the heart were described. Echocardiographic dimensions during cardiac diastole and systole, including diameters and wall thickness of each of the atria and ventricles, were demonstrated. Interventricular septal thickness wall thickness as well as diameters of the aorta and PA, were stated. Conclusion: The work tried to put reference values on the normal echocardiographic dimensions using 2-D B-mode gray scale ultrasonography in healthy adult buffaloes. These echocardiographic reference dimensions with normal echocardiographic imaging will be very helpful in enhancing the diagnostic efficacy of ultrasounds for recognizing abnormal findings related to cardiac disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, various anaesthetic agents and mixtures had been evaluated for caudal epidural analgesia in cattle with a variety of results. Caudal epidural analgesia is a routine and established technique for a variety of surgical and obstetrical procedures in cattle and might depend on the volume of local analgesic. The objective of the present work to compare between the analgesic efficacy of xylazine alone and that of Xylazine-epinephrine combination in caudal epidural analgesia through studying the clinical and behavioral changes as well as estimating degrees of ataxia, sedation and analgesia in cows throughout monitoring their efficacies pre-epidural (Minute 0) injection or post-epidural injection (Minutes 10, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180). The study was conducted on clinically healthy non-pregnant cross cows (n=20). They were classified into two equal groups. The first one received epidural injection of 0.05 mg/kg xylazine and thus was referred as Xylagr. The second group was epidurally treated through injection of combination of 0.05 mg/kg xylazine and Epinephrine and thus was referred as Xyla-Epingr. All animals were subjected for through clinical examination as well as monitoring of different degrees of ataxia, sedation and analgesia parameters. There was no statistically significant difference in the onset of analgesia between xylazine epidural injection (11.85±1.25 minutes) and xylazine with epinephrine (12.01±1.05 minutes). Epidural administration of xylazine with epinephrine produced a significantly longer duration of analgesia (161.0±7.62 minutes) than that produced by epidural injection xylazine alone (136.20±7.13 minutes). Administration of xylazine alone resulted in mild to moderate sedation with mild ataxia, as well as cutaneous analgesia for the perineal region while xylazine with epinephrine produced mild sedation without ataxia, as well as cutaneous analgesia for the perineal region. The study concluded the higher efficacy of xylazine-epinephrine combinations as a caudal epidural analgesic drug compared with that of xylazine alone. Xylazine-epinephrine combination has more rapid onset of recovery from signs of ataxia and sedation than xylazine alone, which make it more suitable than xylazine in cattle as an intraoperative and postoperative analgesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study provided a standard database of normal podometric characteristics and magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the front feet in donkeys. podometric study was performed on twenty non lamed donkeys and podometric measurements for both front hooves were recorded using graduated tape and image analysis (Image-J). MRI was performed on twelve cadaver specimens. T1 weighted spoiled gradient echo (SPGR) and T2 weighted gradient echo (GRE) in sagittal, dorsal and transverse planes were done on recently euthanized cadaver. Results indicated some podometric differences between horse and donkey. On T1 weighted MRI images, the cancellous bone in the distal phalanx (DP) and the lower part of middle phalanx (MP) had intermediate signal intensity and appeared light grey while the cortical bone of such phalanges was hypo-intense and appeared darker. The synovial fluid appeared with low signal intensity and black in color. Deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) within the foot appeared bilobate and its ensheathed fibers had low signal intensity with clearly demarcated margins. On T2 weighted images, all cancellous bones within the hoof, had intermediate signal intensity. The signal intensity of DP appeared heterogonous and ranged between black to white. DDFT appeared black in color. The articular cartilage of the coffin joint had an intermediate signal intensity and was distinguished from the synovial fluid which appeared hyper-intense and bright in such sequence. Donkeys were not like horse. MRI of donkeys’ feet provided an accurate noninvasive method for evaluation of the donkey's foot which help clinicians to perform better diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthy eyes with good vision were important to any animal, to safely exist in their environments, for quality of life, and to successfully compete for food. The aim of present study was to set normal values for biometric intraocular dimensions in healthy mules for the right and left eyes in males and females. The study was conducted on clinically healthy mules (n=40) which were classified into two groups; male (n=20) and female mules (n=20). Complete clinical examination and ultrasonographic characterization of ocular structures were carried out for all clinically healthy mules. Biometric intraocular dimensions of the right eye and the left eye included anterior chamber depth (ACD), axial globe length (AGL), central lens thickness (CLT), lens pole diameter (LPD) and vitreous chamber depth (VCD), were described using ocular ultrasonography. It also showed normal intraocular structures of the right eye and the left eye that included, anterior chamber (AC), cornea (C), iris (I), lens (L), optic disk (OD), optic nerve (ON), retinochoroid unit (RCU), retrobulbar fat (RF), retrobulbar muscles (RM) and vitreous body (VB). Ocular ultrasonography reported no significant variations for biometric intraocular dimensions of the eye between male and female mules as well as between right and left eyes either in male mules or in female mules. The study reported normal values for ultrasonographic biometric intraocular dimensions of the right and left eyes in clinically healthy male and female mules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ketosis is one of the most critical metabolic disorders that occur in dairy cows after parturition due to negative energy balance around calving. Aim: The study evaluated a specific therapeutic regimen of ketosis in Holstein dairy cattle by using the combination therapy including hormones, corticosteroids, propylene glycol, and vitamin B12 as well as the use of milk yield rates, insulin, insulin sensitivity, and abomasal functions monitors as diagnostic biomarkers for the recovery of ketotic cows either pre-therapy (0 days) or post-therapy (7 and 14 days). Methods: This study was conducted on ketotic cattle (n = 20) belonged to different dairy farms in Cairo and Giza governorates, Egypt. The diseased cows were undergoing clinical and biochemical investigations for the estimation of serum insulin. Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (RQUICKI) and abomasal functions monitor mainly serum levels of gastrin, pepsinogen, and chloride. Results: The milk production rates, cost: benefit analysis ratio, and benefit of the dairy farm in ketotic animals were significantly increased post-treatment. An improvement of insulin sensitivity was stated as serum insulin, and RQUICKI were remarkably increased in post-therapeutic ketotic cows. Monitors of the abomasal function revealed abomasal functions improvement through the significant elevation of blood gastrin and a substantial reduction in serum pepsinogen due to treatment. Conclusion: The study revealed high efficacy of the applied therapeutic strategy regime. It led to a high recovery rate and a very low relapse rate for ketosis. An improvement in milk yield rates, insulin sensitivity, and abomasal function monitors was reported. Hypoinsulinaemia was still reported, however, serum insulin was improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No one can deny the role of radiography in the diagnosis of different affections of the different regions of the animal's body especially the thoracic cavity and its structures. Therefore, the present study was carried out to compare different radiographic projections on the positional variation, the visibility, and the measurements of different thoracic structures in goats. Moreover, the different angles formed between some of these structures were determined, measured, and their uses were declared. Twelve healthy native-breed goats were assigned for this study. Their ages and weights ranged between 2̵ 4 years and 13̵ 21 kg, respectively. The goats were subjected to a thorax examination using 4 different radiographic projections: right lateral view (RLV), left lateral view (LLV), dorsoventral view (DVV), and ventrodorsal view (VDV). The findings exhibited on both RLV and LLV were compared, and the DVV and VDV were also differentiated. The radiographic examinations included the inspection of the sternum, ribs, thoracic vertebrae, diaphragm, and its crura, and some of the intra-thoracic structures. Cardiac short axis (CSA), cardiac long axis (CLA), vertebral heart score (VHS), and different angles between the different thoracic structures were measured. The results conclusively revealed that there was no significant difference between the RLV and LLV regarding the values of different thoracic structures except for the cranial lobar pulmonary (CLP) arteries and veins, CSA, the ventral wall of caudal vena cava (CVC), and the mean length of CVC. The visibility of the CLP vessels had a more clear presentation on LLV. The RLV clearly identified the CVC, while the LLV enabled a better visualization of the aorta. The measured values obtained from the sternal (DVV) and dorsal (VDV) views were nearly similar, except; the shape of the heart, the heart shifted into left on the VDV and the CVC and aorta were better seen on VDV and DVV, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]