Iranian Journal of Veterinary Surgery
Volume:4 Issue: 1, Summer-Autumn 2009

To determine the effects of growth hormone (GH) therapy on bone density in controlled conditions in healthy adult rabbits.Design: Experimental in vivo study.Animal: 20 healthy, adult New Zealand White rabbits.Procedures: The rabbits were divided into 2 groups; receiving Human GH (0.006 mg/kg/d) and controls; receiving placebo for 3 months. The density of radius and tibia was measured in the proximal epiphysis, mid shaft and distal epiphysis while the density of vertebral column was measured in the fourth lumbar vertebra (L4) using aluminum step-wedge and appropriate software. Measurements were performed in 5 stages, one before the start of therapy and 4 times after the administration of GH or placebo, with 3 weeks interval. The mean level of serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) was increased significantly after GH therapy (p<0.05) in the test group (222 ± 51 vs. 270 ± 64 ng/l). The mean level of IGF-I did not change significantly in control group. Densitometric measures in mid shaft of radius was increased significantly in test group after GH therapy while it did not have any significant variation in control group (p<0.05).Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: The difference between the long bones and vertebrae in terms of GH responsiveness is similar to what was reported in human acromegaly. Decrease in density in the second stage in some regions that followed by increasing in the next stages was similar to what was reported in treatment of patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). This study suggests that rabbits might be a useful model to assay GH effects on bone density in acromegaly, GHD, or healthy human adult.

Laminitis is one of the main causes of lameness in dairy cattle. In thissituation the corium blood circulation is disrupted and the production of healthy hornyhoof wall is reduced. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the arteriographic patternof the digital arterial branches in the laminitic digits and to compare them with the normaldigits.Design: Original study.Animals: Thirty eight laminitic and four normal hooves from hind limbs of the Holesteindairy cattle were collected from Shiraz slaughter house, Fars province, Iran. Procedure: The dorsal digital artery of each limb was catheterized, followed by the injection of a 20 ml contrast media into each artery, in order to obtain appropriate radiographs from dorso-plantar and latero-medial positions. The arteriograms were studied and digital vascular alterations were recorded. The number of arteries, diameter of the arteries, the number of missing arteries, the number of extra arteries and angiogenesis were finally recorded. The overall vascular alterations were 52.6% and 47.3% in the lateral and medial hooves, respectively, which were not significantly different (P>0.05). Angiogenesis and new blood vessels were observed both in the lateral and medial hooves in 31.5% of the cases. No alteration in the vascular pattern of the heel area in the lateral arteriograms was observed compared to the healthy hooves. All the proven vascular changes from both lateral and medial digits of the hind limbs did not show any significant differences (P>0.05) implying that laminitis is a systemic disease and its effect is equally induced on the vascular pattern of both digits. Lame cattle affected by laminitis develop vascular alterations in digits andneed urgent care to reduce further complications.Clinical Relevance: Prevention of lameness in dairy cattle.

To evaluate the potential effects of uncultured adipose derived stromal vascular fraction on tendon healing.Design: Prospective descriptive study.Animals: Twenty five adult male New Zealand white rabbits, weighing 2.5-3.0 kg were used. Five rabbits were used as donors of adipose tissue and the rest were divided into control and treatment groups.Procedures: The injury model was unilateral complete tenotomy through the middle one third of deep digital flexor tendon. Immediately after suture repair, either fresh stromal vascular fraction from enzymatic digestion of adipose tissue or placebo was intratendinously injected at tendon stumps in treatments and controls, respectively.Immobilization with cast was continued for two weeks after surgery. Animals were sacrificed at three and eight weeks after surgery and tendons underwent histological and immunohistochemical evaluations. By histology, superior fibrillar organization and remodeling of neotendon were observed in response to the treatment at both time points. As the main finding of immunohistochemistry, treatment at the later time point resulted in significant increase in collagen I and decrease in collagen III expression compared to controls.Conclusions and clinical Relevance: The present study showed that intratendinous injection of uncultured adipose derived stromal vascular fraction resulted in improved structural properties of tendon repairs and it could be an effective modality for treating tendon injury.

To assess the effect of lameness on culling of dairy cows in Tehran province.Design: Historical cohort study.Study population and procedures: 7067 first- and second-parity Holstein dairy cows that calved from March, 21 2007 to March, 20 2008 were until next calving or culling. Logistic regression was conducted data.The overall lactational culling rate for eligible cows in the study was 22.09% (95% CI: 19.26-24.9%). Lameness was an important factor in the model and increased odds of culling (OR= 1.32; 95% Confidence interval = 1.15-1.51). Moreover, parity, 60-day cumulative milk yield, and herd size increased culling odds. We did not find evidence for a significant effect of calving season on culling. Lameness is an important factor in culling decision in dairy herds in thisarea.

The aim of this study was to compare the use of Polypropylene mesh Prolene) and Sepramesh, a coated Polypropylene mesh with a protective layer of Seprafilm on its visceral side, for the repair of abdominal wall defects in horses. We also aimed to quantify the consequent visceral adhesion and tissue inflammation.Study Design: Experimental study.Animal Population: Ten horses. The horses were divided into the control group, where a 4×8 cm defect was created through the midline of the abdomen and repaired with polypropylene mesh, and the experimental group, where the same defect was made and closed sepramesh. Both meshes were placed intraperitoneally and sutured to the cut margins of peritoneum and the opponeurosis of external abdominal oblique muscle contacting in viscera in a tensionfree technique. The severity and extent of adhesions were significantly lower in the experimental group (B) than the control group (A) (P<0.05). Horses that received a Polypropylene mesh experienced higher levels of inflammation, both on the day of operation and at two weeks, but significant differences were not apparent after 4 weeks. This study confirmed the advantages of Sepramesh over Polypropylene mesh in the repair of abdominal wall defects in horses.Clinical Relevance: There are many causes of abdominal wall defects in horses, including congenital and traumatic. This experiment suggests that the use of Sepramesh could strengthen the healing of abdominal wounds, prevent incisional hernias, and reduce intraabdominal adhesions.

to assess the normal ultrasonographic findings of kidney in the Raiini goat.Design: Experimental study.Animals: 10 female Raiini goats.Procedures: Necropsy was carried out and Kidneys were measured in length, width, and diameter after fixation in formalin. Ultrasonography was carried out by longitudinal and transversal planes to evaluate all renal structures. Echogenicity and size of cortex, medulla, and renal sinuses were evaluated. In longitudinal and transverse scans, cortex, medulla and renal sinuses were seen. Renal pyramids could not be counted in ultrasonography.Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: Evaluation of shape, size and condition of renal tissue is possible by ultrasonography and this study

In the present study the role of essential oil of Salvia rhtidia (SR), in ameliorating renal ischemia reperfusion (IR) injuries is evaluated.Design: Experimental in vivo study.Animals: 48 male healthy Wistar rats between 250-300 grams.Procedures: The animals were randomly divided into eight groups of six rats. In ischemic groups (groups A-D), under general anesthesia both renal pedicles were approach from ventral midline and occluded for 40 min by Rumel tourniquet. Groups A and B received SR essential oil 48, 24 and 1 h before operation, whereas group C and D received the same volume of normal saline (NS). In Sham groups (E-H) all the procedures were like groups A-D, except occluding the renal pedicles. The period of reperfusion in groups A, C, E, and G was 1hour, whereas in groups B, D, F, and H was 24 hours, when blood samples were taken to evaluate blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine followed by sacrificing the animals for histopathological and ultrastructural studies. IR resulted in increase in BUN and Creatinine significantly. The most increase was in group D (40min ischemia, 24h reperfusion with NS). Histopathogically and ultramicroscopically the most prominent changes including severe acute tubular necrosis (ATN), hemorrhage and thiroidization, cytoplasmic vacuolization, swollen mitochondria with reduction in the number of cristae, pyknotic nuclei with abnormal chromatin condensation were also in group D.Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: This study showed that SR essential oil can protect the kindly from IR injuries, due to antioxidative effects of the drug.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the analgesic properties of Metoclopramide, a frequently prescribed antiemetic, for relieving postoperative pain following ovariohysterectomy in dogs.Study design: Experimental studyAnimals: Sixteen intact bitches, mean weight 15±2 kg. The dogs were randomly placed into two equal groups(A and B). Prior to surgery, the dogs in group A, received Metoclopramide (0.5mg/kg/ IV) and the dogs in group B, received the same volume of saline placebo intravenously. Under general anesthesia (acepromazine [0.1mg/kg/IM], thiopental Na [8 mg/kg/IV] and inhalation of 1.6 % isoflurane in 100% oxygen) traditional midline ovariohysterectomy was performed in all dogs. Pain scores were recorded using a University Melbourne Pain Scale (UMPS) before surgery and at 0.5, 1, 3, 6 and 24 hours following surgery. All data were analyzed by SPSS software using the student's t test for normally distributed data and the Mann- Whitney U and Wilcoxon signed-rank test for skewed data. P-value less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. The mean of recovery time was significantly higher in group B (18.6±2.3) in compared to group A (11.4±2.3)(P=0.001). Median pain scores were significantly higher in the group B than group A at all postoperative times (P<0.05) except 24 hours following the surgery (P=0.6). Median postoperative pain scores were significantly higer than preoperative pain scores at 0.5, 1, 3 and 6 hours in both groups (P<0.05). It is concluded that metoclopramide has analgesic properties and can alleviate postoperative pain following ovariohysterectomy in dogs during 6 hours after surgery. In addition following injection of the drug duration of recovery time is significantly decreased.

The aim of this study was to determine the first possible time for pregnancy recognition and several features of developing embryo between days 8 to 44 of pregnancy.Design: Experimental studyAnimals: Six healthy registered Caspian maresProcedures: Daily ultrasound examinations were conducted from days 8 to 44(ovulation = day 0) of pregnancy to monitor the conceptus in Caspian mares (No. of pregnancy= 9). Embryonic vesicle was observed for the first time on day 9.67 ± 0.33 (mean ± SEM, range 9-11 days) in 7.17 ± 0.48 mm diameter. The vesicle was fixed in distal part of uterine horn on day 16.44 ± 0.24 (age range 15-17 days). The vesicle was spherical from days 9 to 16 (mean ± SEM growth rate, 2.16 ± 0.14 mm/day), and non spherical from days 16 to 19 with reduced growth rate from day 18-27 (0.60 ± 0.12 mm/day) and then averagely grew at a rate of 1.27 ± 0.15 mm/day until day 44 of pregnancy. Embryo proper and heartbeat were first detected on days 20 ± 0.37 and 23.11 ± 0.35, respectively. Formation of allantoic sac at the same time of decreasing of yolk sac was initiated on day23.55 ± 0.44 and it was completed on day 35.33 ± 0.55.Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: The dates of occurrence of morphologic features of developing Caspian mare embryo were similar to the previous reports in mares and jennies and also ultrasound measurement of embryo and embryonic vesicle is an accurate tool and simple way for estimating the age of pregnancy in Caspian mares.

To evaluate the effects of venesection and vitamin C on systemic renal and hepatic lesions after limb ischemia-reperfusion in rabbit.Design: Experimental study.Animals: 20 male white New Zealand rabbits between 2.5-3 kg, randomly assigned in 5equal groups.Procedures: After general anesthesia right femoral artery and vein were approached from inguinal region. In treatment and control groups the ischemia was induced by occlusion of both vessels for six hours, using a Rumel tourniquet. The same procedures were performed for sham groups, except the occluding of the vessels. In treatment1 and sham1 groups, 500 mg/kg vitamin C was injected intramuscularly during 30 min before occluding of the vessels and before the end of the operation, respectively. The same volume of normal saline was injected in control and sham 2 groups. For animals in the treatment 2 group, at the end of the ischemic period, the arterial tourniquet was released to allow arterial inflow before commencement of venous aspiration. The venous blood was aspirated into a syringe (0.5% of the animals, body weight). After 72 hours, the animals were sacrificed and tissue samples were harvested from the kidney and the liver, to assess for histological evidence of injury in these organs. Limb I/R injury resulted in glomerular and epithelial alterations in the kidney, and also necrosis, capillarization, biliary hyperplasia, thrombosis and hemorrhage in the liver. Minimal microscopic renal and hepatic changes were seen in ischemic rats which treated by vitamin C.Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: This study showed that venesection was not successful in preventing kidney and liver from destruction. However, vitamin C therapy protected both organs against acute and lethal lesions due to limb I/R injury.

to consider the influence of Aloe vera L fresh gel on healing process histopathologically.Design: Experimental studyAnimals: Five adult male mixed breed dogs aged 2-4 years Procedures: Eight symmetrical full-thickness wounds were surgically created on the back of all five dogs under general anesthesia and sterile condition. After wound creation, 1 ml fluid containing 105 CFU of S. aureus was inoculated on each wound. Right wounds were covered with 1 ml Aloe vera fresh gel whereas the left wounds were not received any therapeutic material. Wounds’ biopsies were assessed on days 7, 15, 21 and 28 in treatment and control groups. In microscopic examinations density of collagen fibers in the superficial (P = 0.039) and deep (P = 0.042) sections of 28-days old wounds were significantly higher in treatment group compared to control group. Also these fibers had more diameter and better alignment in treatment group. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were seen in other indices including fibrocytes, fibroblasts and inflammatory cells between treatment and control wounds.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: It seems that Aloe vera in addition to antibacterial effects, probably exerts its main effects on the characteristics of collagen fibers. These positive effects could cause the improvement of quality and quantity of collagen fibers and their structures.

Case description: a goat-kid with anorexia, weakness, depression, reluctant to move, poor condition, and generalized unthriftiness was admitted to the Veterinary Clinic of Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman.Clinical body temperature, heart and respiratory rates, hematologic indices including PCV, total and differential WBC and total RBC count were normal. In clinical examination, a ventral abdominal mass was palpable, but not visible. Radiography confirmed presence of dilated stomach which distended with gas or food material and displaced the intestines caudally. According to the history, physical findings, vital signs, hematologic indices and radiography, a severe ruminal impaction was diagnosed which confirmed by exploratory laparotomy and ruminotomy.Treatment and Outcome: After ruminotomy and evacuation of impacted ingesta, all clinical signs subsided after 10 days.Clinical Relevance: this case was reported because it illustrates some important consideration when dealing with cases of impaction. While feed impactions are moderately frequent in occurrence, ruminal impaction in goat-kids is rare, but can occur and must be noted.