Iranian Journal of Veterinary Surgery
Volume:16 Issue: 1, Winter-Spring 2021

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the relationship between vertebral heart score and cardiac sphericity and to evaluate gender variation in both dimensions in apparently normal Nigeria indigenous dogs. Twelve (six males and six females) apparently normal Nigerian indigenous dogs were selected from dogs in Zaria, Nigeria. Radiographic evaluations involved left lateral views of the thoracic region of the dogs. The vertebral heart size was measured as the sum of the long-axis and short-axis at its greatest diameter then compared with the vertebra bones starting at T4. Cardiac sphericity was obtained by computing the ratio of the long-axis to the short-axis. The mean ± SD for vertebral heart score and cardiac sphericity index in apparently normal Nigerian indigenous dogs were 9.3 ± 0.44 and 0.77 ± 0.06 respectively. Pearson coefficient revealed a significant (p = 0.001) and very strong correlation (p = 0.81) between vertebral heart score and cardiac sphericity index in Nigerian indigenous dogs. There were no gender variations in both dimensions. This study revealed the existence of a strong relationship between vertebral heart score and cardiac sphericity index in dogs in apparently normal Nigerian indigenous dogs, and both dimensions demonstrated no gender variation. Vertebral heart score and cardiac sphericity index in apparently normal Nigerian indigenous dogs are expressed as ideal cardiac dimensions which are suggested to be useful quantitative and objective parameters in the diagnosis of cardiac disorders in dogs.

The aim of the present study was to assess the wound-healing activity of extract of Allium stipitatum. Thirty-six male Wistar rats were used in this study. The rats weighing approximately 160-180 g and seven weeks of age were randomized into three groups of 12 rats each: Control surgery group (Control) including the creation of wounds and no treatment, base formulation groups positive (POS) with the creation of wounds and application of base formulation ointment, treatment group 1 (T1) with 2 g of powder extract of the plant material in the ointment. A wound was induced by an excisional based wound model in male rats. The mature green leaves of Allium stipitatum were collected and authenticated. Extractions of dried leaves were carried out. For wound-healing activity, the extracts were applied topically in the form of ointment and compared to control groups. The healing of the wound was assessed based on the wound area, histomorphometry, and hydroxyproline estimation studies. Reduction in the wound area and hydroxyproline contents indicated that there was a significant difference (p = 0.001) between group T1 and other groups. Quantitative histological studies and mean rank of the qualitative studies demonstrated that there was a significant difference between group T1 and other groups (p = 0.001). The extract of Allium stipitatum leaves enhanced wound-healing activity significantly in both the wound models studied. Enhanced wound contraction, decreased epithelialization time, increased hydroxyproline content, improved histological characteristics studies suggested Allium stipitatum leaves extract might have therapeutic benefits in wound healing.

Injury and degeneration of tendons can be highly debilitating and can result in substantial pain, disability, and healthcare costs. Nano-sized fibers have a much wider surface area than conventionally produced fibers, which can hold composite materials more compactly and thus provide greater mechanical capabilities. In this study, the injured tendon was treated by electrospun PVA mats containing eucalyptus extract and histopathological results of healing were evaluated. For this study, 45 male Wistar rats were prepared and a partial thickness tenotomy was created on right hindlimbs. All rats were divided into three groups (n = 15) and three sub-groups (n = 5) including, eucalyptus extract-loaded nanofibers, PVA nanofibers, and without any treatment as a control group. Histological samples were taken on days 14, 28, and 42. The histological analysis on day 14 indicated no significant difference was observed between all groups (p  > 0.05). While on days 28 and 42 post-rupture indicated a higher regenerating activity and capacity in the eucalyptus extract-loaded nanofibers than PVA nanofiber and control groups (p  ≤ 0.05). In summary, these results suggest that the eucalyptus extract-loaded nanofibers mats promoted the healing process of damaged Achilles tendon in rats.

Ischemia/reperfusion is one of the emergency cases that frequently occurs in testis. This pathologic event is one of the reasons for infertility in men. Inflammation and oxidative stress induce ischemia/reperfusion injury in testis. Consequently, agents possessing antioxidant activity are applied in the treatment of testicular ischemia/reperfusion. In the present study, the effect of berberine administration in the treatment of testicular ischemia/reperfusion injury is investigated. In this experiment, 24 Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 6): Sham (receiving normal saline 0.9%), control (ischemia/reperfusion), treatment I (ischemia/reperfusion receiving 50 mg/kg berberine), and treatment II (ischemia/reperfusion receiving 100 mg/kg berberine). All injections were performed through the intraperitoneal route. Histopathological findings demonstrated that in the Sham group, testis has normal structure and normal spermatogenesis occurs. In the control group, severe hyperemia, coagulative necrosis, and interstitial edema are observed and spermatogenesis has severe damage. In treatment I group moderate interstitial edema, hyperemia, and coagulative necrosis are observed. Besides, spermatogenesis has moderate damage. In treatment II group all damages are mild. This experiment reveals that berberine exerts its protective impact in a dose-dependent manner so that the highest protective impact is observed in the group treated with 100 mg/kg of berberine. With respect to the major role of testicular ischemia in infertility and the results of the present study, berberine can be used as a valuable plant extract in the treatment of testicular ischemia and preventing its harmful impacts.

There has not been any report about the use of the Alfaxan-CD(R) in common buzzard. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Alfaxan-CD(R) as an intravenous anesthetic agent for inducing anesthesia in the common buzzard and describe some of its clinical pharmacological effects. Eight healthy adult common buzzards (Buteo buteo) of unknown sex, weighing 750–1000 grams, kept in captivity at the Dilek Peninsula National Park located in Aydin, Turkey, and appropriately fed (i.e.: rats, mice, rabbits, and day-old chicks) were included in this study. Birds were given alfaxalone (10 mg/kg, by 2-4 mg/kg boluses) intravenously. Variables measured before, and 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 90 minutes after induction were the followings: heart rate (HR, beats/min), respiratory rate (RR, breaths/min), cloacal temperature (CT), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), ionized calcium (iCa++), arterial pH (pHa), arterial oxygen tension (PaO2), arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2), bicarbonate concentration (HCO3) and base excess (BE). All buzzards survived the alfaxalone anesthesia. In this study, alfaxalone provided excellent muscle relaxation and a moderate level of anesthesia. Buzzards given alfaxalone developed primary respiratory acidosis. Base excess and HCO3 were within the reference range and did not significantly change, indicating a primary respiratory acidosis without metabolic component. All physiologic parameters, except cloacal temperature, returned to approximate baseline values at recovery after anesthesia with alfaxalone. This study indicated that alfaxalone produced good to excellent anesthesia in buzzards, characterized by rapid induction of anesthesia, excellent muscle relaxation, unresponsiveness to noxious stimuli, and smooth, uneventful recovery from anesthesia. Hypoventilation and apnea were uncommon at clinically relevant doses but became the most important adverse effects when larger doses were administered rapidly IV.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the superiority of rostral maxillary nerve blocks using the combination of lidocaine and bupivacaine or pre-operative administration of meloxicam in controlling the pain following the surgery in dogs undergoing dental pulpotomy in the rostral maxilla. Twelve dogs with healthy teeth were included in this study. Under general anesthesia, each dog was randomly assigned to receive either rostral maxillary nerve block with the combination of lidocaine and bupivacaine (0.4 ml per site) (Group A) or intravenous meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg) (Group B) prior to pulpotomy. Pulpotomy was performed in the right or left upper corner incisor teeth of each dog using a single technique. The score of pain was recorded using UMPS at 3, 5, and 24 hours after surgery and assessment of serum level of cortisol and indicators of oxidative stress including Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and value of malondialdehyde (MDA) in hemolysis of red blood cells prior to surgery and at 30 min, 3 and 24 hours post-operatively. The highest score of pain was recorded at 5 hours after a pulpotomy, which was significantly higher in group B in comparison to group A (p = 0.026). Mean ± SD level of cortisol was significantly higher in group B at 30 min, 1 and 3 hours after pulpotomy in dogs of group B compared to group A (p < 0.05). TAC values were significantly lower in group A compared to group B. (p < 0.05). However, Mean ± SEM values of MDA were significantly higher in group A at different time intervals in comparison to group B. (p < 0.05). It is concluded that rostral maxillary nerve block by using the combination of lidocaine and bupivacaine in painful dental procedures seems more effective than administration of meloxicam to control pain resulted from pulpotomy in dogs in early hours.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate systemic and local effects of cefepime alone and/or in combination with vancomycin in the prevention of experimentally implanted Dacron and ePTFE vascular grafts infected with Staphylococcus aureus in rat. Ninety healthy adult male Wistar rats were divided into two groups of 45 animals each. Then, each group was subdivided into nine subgroups of 5 animals each. Following anesthesia, in each rat one cm2, sterile Dacron or ePTFE graft was implanted aseptically into dorso-lumbar subcutaneous pocket. The grafts were infected by inoculation of one ml of (5 × 107 CFU/ml) Staphylococcus aureus suspension. The rats received vancomycin or cefepime locally, intraperitoneally, or in combinations. The grafts were removed seven days after implantation and evaluated by quantitative culture. Combinations of cefepime with vancomycin resulted in enhanced efficiency of antibiotics in bacterial growth inhibition. Local vancomycin was more effective than local cefepime in the reduction of graft contamination. A combination of intraperitoneal vancomycin, as well as local cefepime, was more effective than a combination of intraperitoneal cefepime as well as intraperitoneal vancomycin in the Dacron group. Local vancomycin-intraperitoneal cefepime combination could be suggested to prevent Dacron and ePTFE vascular graft infected with Staphylococcus aureus. Local treatment alone, vancomycin for Dacron graft and cefepime for ePTFE graft, and intraperitoneal treatment alone, vancomycin for ePTFE graft, could also be suggested.

Pyloric stenosis is an uncommon but important gastric outflow disease. Heineke-Mikulicz (H-M) pyloroplasty is one of the pyloroplasty techniques used for the treatment of such diseases. A laparoscopic pyloroplasty is an effective and preferred alternative technique to conventional surgeries. This study aims to compare the duration of surgery, surgical stress level measurement, and postoperative pain in laparoscopic H-M pyloroplasty in normal dogs with a conventional pyloroplasty technique. Eight intact adult mixed breed dogs (5 females and 3 males) were used in this study. Animals were randomly divided into two groups of conventional open (n = 4) and laparoscopic (n = 4) H-M pyloroplasty. Blood glucose concentration, plasma cortisol level, as well as pyloric features including a pyloric lumen, pyloric diameter, pyloric width with ultrasonography, and gastric emptying time with contrast radiography and the University of Melbourne Pain Scale (UMPS) value, were measured in both groups. The mean operation time in the laparoscopic group was longer than that of the conventional group (55.00 ± 15.00 vs. 35.00 ± 4.56 min); however, this difference was not statistically significant. Blood glucose concentration in the laparoscopic group elevated rapidly until 3 hours after the operation and then decreased in 24 hours while blood glucose concentration in the conventional group slowly increased until 24 hours. The UMPS value at 3 hours after conventional H-M pyloroplasty was higher than that of laparoscopic H-M pyloroplasty (19.25 ± 0.75 vs. 6.50 ± 0.96, p < 0.001). Gastric emptying time significantly decreased in both groups. According to the results, in addition to reducing pain and stress, laparoscopic H-M pyloroplasty decreased gastric emptying time in all patients with no morbidity and appears to be a less invasive alternative technique for the management of gastric outflow disease.

Injuries to tendons are among the most common injuries in competition horses and represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The present study aimed at an eight -week period ultrasonographic and biomechanical assessments of collagenase induced tendinitis in forelimb superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in donkeys. Four healthy male donkeys were used. 1000 U collagenase type I from Clostridium histolyticum was injected in the center of the SDFT guided by ultrasonography. Ultrasonographical images of the SDFT were recorded prior to injury and 8 weeks after confirmation of tendinitis on a weekly basis. Images were digitized and lesion area to cross-sectional tendon area ratio (LA/TA ratios) was measured. At the end of the study period, the animals underwent tenectomy and tendon samples were evaluated biomechanically. Collagenase induced tendinitis was confirmed ultrasonographically 10 days post-injection. The animals showed swelling and response to palpation, however, no lameness was found in animals within the study period. There were significant differences between the first and the fifth weeks in operated limbs ultrasonographically (p < 0.05). The eight-week period is sufficient to assess the effect of various modalities in tendon healing in the collagenase-induced model in the donkey. The development and expansion of collagenase induced tendinitis until week six after confirmation of tendinitis may disturb findings of the healing effect of various modalities in the tendon, in which tendinitis is still expanding and may mask the healing effect of the modalities used.

Methylphenidate (MPH) and nicotine (NCT) have deleterious effects on testicular tissue, individually. Methylphenidate intake could increase the tendency to use NCT. In this study, the possible synergistic effects of MPH and NCTon the intensity of structural and functional changes of testicular tissue were evaluated using experimental animal study. Eighty male mature Wistar rats were used. MPH (5 and 10 mg/kg, IP) and NCT (2 and 4 mg/kg, IP) were administrated individually (MPH or NCT) or simultaneously (MPH + NCT) to eight treated groups of adult rats (n = 10/group) once a day for eight weeks. After the recording of body and testicular weight, the plasma level of pituitary gonadotropins, testosterone, and malondialdehyde (MDA) as lipid peroxidation index were measured. Also, testes samples were prepared for tissue lipid peroxidation assay, histomorphology, immunohistochemistry of p53 protein, and electron microscopy. Moreover, sperm analysis was performed on cauda epididymis. There was not any significant difference in initial and final body weight between groups. Testicular weight and testicular to body weight ratio were reduced in treated groups. LH, Testosterone, and plasma and tissue MDA were increased and FSH decreased dose-dependently in the most treated groups. Most of the histomorphometric, cell population, and sperm analysis parameters were decreased in treated groups in a dose-dependent manner. The light and electron micrographs showed various alterations in testicular tissue which were more obvious in higher doses of NCT or MPH and NCT + MPH groups. Immunostaining of testicular tissue revealed upregulation of p53 in treated groups, particularly in NCT + MPH groups. The results of this study showed that simultaneous administration of NCT and MPH could induce more alterations in the structure and function of testicular tissue compared to their individual administration.

Epididymal agenesis is described as the complete or partial lack of the epididymis. In this paper, a two-year-old Pekingese dog with epididymal agenesis is reported during routine castration. The dog was presented to a private pet hospital for conventional castration. Anatomically unilateral epididymal agenesis was observed during orchiectomy. Also, pathologically segmental unilateral epididymal agenesis and atrophy of testis were implied. The dog was neutered. Epididymal agenesis is a highly rare phenomenon in all breeding dogs. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of epididymal agenesis in small breeding dogs. This kind of animal should not use for breeding programs and practitioners pay attention to this anomaly while encountered infertility in dogs.

A ten and half-year-old spayed female Shih Tzu-terrier dog was presented with swollen mass in the right pelvic limb. The mass was first noticed by the owner three months prior to the presentation but it had enlarged significantly during the past seven days before presentation resulting in pain and lameness. Clinical examination revealed the presence of a large fluctuant mass with soft tissue consistency in the caudal region of the right stifle joint with pain elicited during joint flexion. A well circumscribed large fatty tumor situated between the semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscles was encountered during surgical exploration of the affected area under general anesthesia which was completely removed. Diagnosis of intermuscular lipoma was confirmed based on clinical findings, the gross appearance of the tumor, and the presence of mature adipocytes in histological sections. This report describes clinical signs, physical examination, and diagnostic imaging findings along with surgical treatment of canine intermuscular lipoma, a rare form of lipoma, and benign mesenchymal tumor of adipose tissue situated between muscle bellies which is not locally invasive and does not metastasize. To the best of our knowledge, this type of canine tumor has not been previously reported in Iran.