Iancu Morar

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia with concurrent aplasia of the pericardium in a foal

BackgroundIn veterinary medicine congenital abnormalities of the diaphragm and pericardium are rare, idiopathic malformations, being reported mainly in dogs. This report documents an unusual case of developmental defects in a foal consisting of diaphragmatic hernia concurrent with pericardial aplasia.Case presentationFollowing a normal delivery, a full term, female Friesian stillborn foal with the placenta was presented for necropsy. External morphological examination indicated a normally developed foal. At necropsy, a large oval defect (approximately 20 × 15 cm in size) was observed in the left-dorsal side of the diaphragm (left lumbocostal triangle). This defect allowed the intestinal loops, spleen and partially the liver to translocate into the thorax. The loops of the left ascending colon, including the pelvic flexure and partially the small intestine covered the cranial and dorsal posterior parts of the heart due to the complete absence of the left pericardium. The remaining pericardium presented as a white, semi-transparent strip, partially covering the right side of the heart. The left lung and the main bronchus were severely hypoplastic to approximately one-fifth the size of their right homologue. The intermediate part of the liver, containing mainly the enlarged quadrate lobe was translocated in the thorax, severely enlarged and showed marked fibrosis. Histologically in the herniated lobes we diagnosed hepatic chronic passive congestion, telangiectasia and medial hypertrophy of blood vessels.ConclusionConcomitant malformation involving diaphragmatic hernia and pericardial aplasia in horses have not been previously reported. Moreover, this is the first case describing pericardial aplasia in horse.

Metastatic cholangiocarcinoma in a llama (Lama glama)

A 2-year-old female llama (Lama glama), from a private zoological park, with anorexia, ataxia, dyspnea, ascites, and emaciation, was necropsied. Gross inspection, and cytological, histological, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed. A firm, white, multinodular mass, 25 cm in diameter was found in the liver parenchyma. Similar nodules up to 3 cm were found in lymph nodes, lung, diaphragm, and peritoneum. Histologically, the affected organs were replaced by an infiltrative growth of undifferentiated neoplastic cells. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells were positive for pancytokeratin (panCK), CK20, and CK19, and negative for thyroid transcription factor 1, CK7, and carcinoembryonic antigen. A diagnosis of poorly differentiated metastatic cholangiocarcinoma was made.

Equine Embryo Sexing and Ultrasonographic Foetal Sexing - Interests and Applicability.

The ability to choose the sex of the offspring is of upmost economic importance for horse breeders. Unlike other species, horses present several reproductive peculiarities that interfere with assisted reproductive technologies used in other large animals (such as bovine) and make them difficult to apply. Thus, there is a great interest to determine the sex of the offspring as soon as possible. This has led to the development of several technologies to serve this purpose, which can be classified into two categories. One is equine embryo sexing by either non‐invasive biotechnological methods, such as monitoring of X‐linked enzymes before X chromosome inactivation and detection of sex‐specific antigen, or by invasive biotechnological methods, such as cytogenetic analysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The other one is equine foetus sexing using ultrasound scanning in different stages of its development (early, mid or late), by different approaches (transrectally or transabdominally). This can be performed with classic B‐mode ultrasound machines or using 3D‐mode and Doppler‐mode scanners. This review article offers a comprehensive overview of the current status of these procedures as well as an assessment of their interests and applicability.

Researches Concerning the Stimulation of Local and General Immune Factors in the Management and Control of the Puerperal Period in Dairy Cows

The natural therapy in puerperal disorders comes as a necessity for farmers, due to the high economic losses suffered when antibiotics are used for this purpose. The new phytotherapy with Plantistim and EucaComp allows the stimulation of the local and general immune factors while helping to obtain a physiological puerperal period in dairy cows. The cows taken into consideration for this research were clinical healthy at the beginning of the puerperal period. Three batches were formed: batch I - five cows that were treated with EucaComp suspension, batch II - five cows that were treated with Plantistim suspension and batch III was the control group. For an accurate results blood samples and uterine secretions were colected from all the cows. This samples were collected in order to determine various metabolic and immunologic parameters: glycemia, proteins, albumins, cholesterol, GOT, GPT, Ig G, lysozyme, lymphoblastic transformation, phagocytic index. The immunologic parameters that were determined show the local and general immunomodulatory effect of both natural products, justifying the high healing percentage following the treatment. We recommend the use of both these natural products for the management and control of this delicate period of the reproductive system of dairy cows.

Morphological Aspects of Optic Disk in Animals

This paper is a study of the normal variations of animal optic disk, insisting on aspects like optic disc form, color and dimension. The study applies indirect ophthalmoscopy technique, and we used indirect ophthalmoscope Heine Omega 2C. For this paperwork we use animals from canine and ovine species, 150 dogs and 200 sheep by different breed, sex and age. The results had been as we expect , we find major differences in color , shape in the same species, but we find important elements too, who became a species characteristic, and made this component an important clue in recognition of that species eye fundus.

Research on the Use of Enzyme Proteolyitic Based Products in Salpingites, Peri and Parametritis Treatment in Cows

This paper aims to assess the opportunity of including in therapy protocols for localized puerperal affections with acute and subacute evolution in bovine species, of products containing proteolytic enzymes (alpha-chymotrypsin, trypsin and papain) in order to lyse the deposits of fibrin resulted from the performance of localized inflammatory processes. Research has been conducted on 180 cattle from three exploitations of intensive farming in the county Cluj-Napoca, diagnosed with localized puerperal disease (salpingitis, peri-and parametritis) with acute and subacute evolution. Protocol of administration of preparations containing proteolytic enzymes involves making three parenteral (IM) administrations, at 48 hours interval. Using proteolytic enzymes in the classical protocols of such therapy resulted in cure of disease, confirmed after transrectal ultrasound exam, followed by a gestation rate of 65% of cattle in the lot of research compared with a recovery of only 20% to the witness group.

Researches Regarding Recovery and Identification of Mare Oocytes for In Vitro Maturation

During March to May 2009 morphological studies on the mare oocytes were carried out harvested by two methods (aspiration and scrape), from different classes of ovarian follicles. Ovaries were obtained from 16 slaughtered mares in an approved abattoir and transported to the laboratory at a temperature of 5 degrees C. A total number of 181 antral follicles were identified in the macroscopic evaluation of ovaries. They were engaged in three classes based on size, and were collected using the aspiration method (n = 85) and scrape (n = 96). Recovery rate was 64.7% when harvesting by aspiration and 63.5% for scrape follicles. Oocytes were evaluated in terms of morphological, after standard criteria. Of the total 116 oocytes recovered 50 (43.1%) were considered good for in vitro maturation and a number of 66 (56.9%) were considered fallow. The largest percentage recovery was obtained in the case of follicles first class, 66%.. Oocytes Class II and III were recovered in the number of 20 (43%) and 10 (25%) were considered good for in vitro maturation and 26 (57%) and 30 (75%) were considered fallow. Most oocytes obtained from ovarian follicles of Classes II and III were in various stages of degeneration.