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Background: Lameness has been associated with compromised animal welfare and reduced productivity in dairy cattle herds worldwide. However, little is known about the prevalence of claw lesions in the dairy buffalo population in Egypt. Furthermore, the optimum measurements for claw trimming in buffalo are unknown. A cross-sectional cadaver study was conducted where 135 pair buffalo hind feet were collected from 4 slaughterhouses and examined for the presence of claw lesions. The proportion and associated 95% confidence interval (CI) of each type of lesion were calculated. A separate set of healthy claws (n = 26) underwent ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT). The agreement between US and CT measurements was assessed using Passing-Bablok regression and intraclass correlation coefficient. The CT measurements were used to calculate trimming recommendations., Results: At least one lesion was identified in 242 claws (89.6%, 95% CI = 85.4-93.0). In healthy claws, poor to moderate agreement was identified between US and CT measurements which could be due a sample size of the study. The average ± standard deviation (SD) minimum recommended external wall length of the lateral and medial claws in heifers was 7.1 ± 0.36 cm and 7.5 ± 0.35 cm, respectively. The average ± SD minimum recommended external wall length in buffaloes over five years of age was 8.2 ± 0.27 cm and 8.4 ± 0.39 cm for the lateral and medial claws, respectively., Conclusions: The study found a high prevalence of claw lesions in buffalo in Egypt, the clinical significance of which requires further elucidation. Recommended measurements will help guide claw trimming in buffalo to minimise lesions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The skin wound age determination in living subjects is an imperative task for forensic experts. In this study, we investigated the time-dependent expression of high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) and toll-like receptors 2 and 4 (TLR2 and 4) in rat skin wounds using real-time PCR and seek their forensic potentials during the skin wound repair process. In addition, the levels of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6)), as well as nitric oxide (NO) production, were measured. The wound tissue and serum samples were collected after 30 min, 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 1 day, 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days after incision. As a control (zero time), skin specimens and blood samples were collected without incision. The results reveal that the HMGB1, TLR2, and TLR4 expression levels were increased in a time-dependent manner until the first day where the peak level was achieved for the three tested genes compared with the zero time. On the 7 th  day, the statistical significance was lost for TLR2 and TLR4 but persisted for HMGB1. The serum TNF-α, IL6, and NO levels peaked within 30 min and 1 st  and 3 rd  day after injury, respectively. On the 7 th  day after incision, no significant differences exist in the TNF-α serum level compared to the control group, but the statistical significance persisted for IL6 and NO. It was apparent that the analyzed genes in the wound tissues showed higher R2 values rather than the serum biochemical indicators. Of note, a strong positive correlation was evident between the HMGB1 and that of TLR2 and TLR4 relative expression as well as IL-6 serum level. Conclusively, based on the observed changes in the analyzed markers in wound tissues and serum and R2 values obtained from mathematical models established to determine the wound age, the relative expression of HMGB1, TLR2, and TLR4 could be a reliable indicator for wound age determination in living subjects. Further investigation of these markers and mathematical models in human tissues is necessary., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a common devastating malignant splenic tumor with high mortalities in dogs. Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) is safe and gold standard technique for diseases required splenectomy. However, LS operation is a sensitive approach, which requires a restricted control for the vascular sealing procedures., Aims: We modified the LS technique through the application of hemostatic clips assisted-LS as an improved approach for the treatment of splenic HSA., Methods: Twelve dogs were admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Zagazig University, Egypt for investigation of splenic HSA. Abdominal ultrasonography reveals the presence of large hypoechoic splenic masses with no further abnormalities within the peritoneal cavity. Thoracic radiographs, hematological assays, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and histopathological investigations were done., Results: Hemostatic clips assisted-LS showed no major intra or post-operative complications. Laboratory analysis revealed anemia with an increase in TNF-α. Significant increase in platelets count with a slight increase in TNF-α was detected post-operative., Conclusion: Application of the improved hemostatic clips-assisted-LS is cost effective, with shorter operative time, feasible method for vessel sealing, as well as having few complications during the HAS treatment in dogs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Abomasal ulcers are difficult to diagnose clinically with limited therapeutic approach to combat the disease. Omental bursitis (OB) and local peritonitis (LP) are known sequelae of abomasal ulcer in cows. In this study, differentiation between OB and LP in regard to clinical symptoms, biochemical analyses and the response to treatment in Buffaloes was done. Twenty buffaloes ( Bubalus bubalis ) were admitted with a history of intermittent appetite, wasting and mild abdominal distension during the period between March 2016 and August 2018. All cases were female (12 recently calved, 2 pregnant, 6 non-pregnant) aging from 3 to 9 years and weighing 350-600 kg. For comparison, 10 apparently healthy non-pregnant female buffaloes were used as controls. Abdominal ultrasonography confirmed the presence of 11 OB and 9 LP in admitted cases. Laboratory analysis revealed hyperproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia in OB. Hypokalemia and hypochloremia were detected in both OB and LP. Ultrasonography showed hypo-anechoic content with echoic stippling surrounded by echogenic wall in OB, whereas echogenic strands interspersed with anechoic fluid was reported in LP. Intra-lesional lavage by normal saline was applied several times under ultrasongraphic guidance followed by gentamicin 10% intramuscular and H2 antagonist intravenous for 5 days as well as parenteral and enteral fluid therapy. Seven cases of OB clinically improved, whereas no improvements were found in LP cases. OB secondary to abomasal ulcer has a good prognosis in contrast to LP. Ultrasonography provides a useful diagnostic tool and therapeutic guidance for such diseases.

Background and Aim: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a clinical disorder that results from cardiac dysfunction with subsequent fatal outcomes in most cases. Several diseases are incriminated in occurrence of CHF. Therefore, the aims of this study were to identify CHF etiology and associated clinical findings in 67 cows and to investigate the relationship between CHF and the other body organs using ultrasonographic examination., Materials and Methods: Sixty-seven cows affected by CHF admitted to the clinic with a history of loss of appetite, decrease in milk production, constipation, and brisket edema were thoroughly investigated clinically and ultrasonographically. In addition, ten apparently healthy cows were used as a control group., Results: Clinically, cows with CHF manifested jugular engorgement and pulsation (88.1%), brisket and/or intermandibular edema (77.6%), and muffled heart sounds (76.1%). Based on the ultrasonographic examination, traumatic pericarditis (82.1%) was the most prevalent etiology of CHF. Extracardiac etiology of CHF identified were exudative pleurisy (10.4%) and mediastinal abscesses (7.5%). Hepatomegaly (88.1%) and pleural effusion (61.2%) were the most documented consequences., Conclusion: Both cardiac and extracardiac diseases could be associated with CHF in cattle. Ultrasonographic changes in liver and pleura secondary to CHF were the most common findings. Ultrasonography is a good tool for the diagnosis of cardiac and extracardiac etiologies of CHF in cattle., (Copyright: © Abd El Raouf, et al.)