Computed tomography of the abdomen of calves during the first 105 days of life: I. Reticulum, rumen, omasum and abomasum.

Computed tomographic (CT) images of the reticulum, rumen, omasum and abomasum of five healthy Holstein-Friesian bull calves were compared with anatomical transverse cadaver sections of the same calves. The calves were scanned in the transverse plane from the 5th thoracic vertebra to the sacrum six times three weeks apart from birth to 105 days of age. Multiplanar reconstruction was used to create images in sagittal and dorsal planes. After subjective assessment of various anatomical structures, the rumen, omasum and abomasum as well as the ruminal strata (gas cap, fibre mat and fluid phase) were measured. After the last CT scan, all calves were euthanised, and four were kept at -18 °C in sternal position for 14 days. Transverse sections 1.0 to 1.5 cm thick were made from two calves and dorsal and sagittal sections were made from one calf each using a band saw. The CT images and anatomical slices were compared and the structures on the CT images identified. Very clear CT images were obtained from the reticulum, rumen, omasum and abomasum and there was excellent agreement between images and anatomical slices.

Dans le présent travail, on décrit les constatations tomodensitométriques sur la panse, le bonnet, le feuillet et la caillette de 5 veaux mâles en bonne santé dans les 105 premiers jours de vie et on les compare avec les résultats des examens post-mortem. Les veaux ont été examinés au total 6 fois par tomodensitométrie à intervalle de 3 semaines. L'examen a été réalisé par coupes transversales de la 5ème vertèbre thoracale jusqu'au sacrum. On a également reconstitué les structures dans les plans sagittal et dorsal au moyen de reconstruction multi planaires. Après l'examen subjectif, on a défini diverses structures, comme l'extension de la panse, du feuillet et de la caillette et celle des phases gazeuses, liquides et solides de l'ingestat de la panse. Tous les veaux ont été euthanasiés après les examens tomodensitométriques. Quatre d'entre eux ont été congelés durant 14 jours en position sternale à -18 °C. Deux veaux ont ensuite été sciés transversalement en tranches de 1.0 à 1.5 cm d'épaisseur. Un veau a été scié en tranches dorsales et un en tranches sagittales. Les coupes ont été comparées aux images tomodensitométriques afin d'identifier les structures visualisées. Le bonnet, la panse, le feuillet et la caillette ont pu être visualisés de façon exacte par tomodensitométrie. La topographie des images tomodensitométriques et des coupes anatomiques correspondent très bien.

Computed tomography of the abdomen of calves during the first 105 days of life: II. Liver, spleen, and small and large intestines.

Computed tomography (CT) findings of the liver, spleen and intestines of five healthy calves during six examinations in the first 105 days of life were compared with corresponding cadaver slices. The liver was located in the right hemiabdomen adjacent to the diaphragm and right abdominal wall. The caudal vena cava was seen dorsomedially and the portal vein further ventrally. The umbilical vein was seen running from the navel to the liver in all calves in the first scan and in four calves in the second scan. The spleen ran dorsoventrally adjacent to the costal part of the left abdominal wall and appeared sickle-shaped on transverse images. Differentiation of small and large intestines was only possible when the former contained fluid content and the latter gaseous content. The small intestine was in the left hemiabdomen dorsal to the abomasum and caudodorsal to the rumen at the first two examinations. Growth of the forestomachs caused displacement of the small intestine to the right and toward the ventral abdomen caudal to the liver and adjacent to the right abdominal wall. The large intestine was located caudodorsally, and the typical features of the spiral colon were apparent in the dorsal plane. The location of the caecum varied from dorsal to the spiral colon to adjacent to the right abdominal wall with the apex always pointing caudally. The rectum was easily identified in the pelvic region. The size, volume and density of the described organs throughout the study are shown in several tables.

Dans le présent travail, on décrit les constatations tomodensitométriques sur le foie, la rate et les intestins de 5 veaux mâles en bonne santé dans les 105 premiers jours de vie et on les compare avec les résultats des examens post-mortem. Le foie se situait dans la moitié droite de l'abdomen et était accolé au diaphragme et à la paroi abdominale droite. La veine cave caudale et, légèrement ventralement à elle, la veine porte étaient reconnaissables. Lors des deux premiers examens, on pouvait en outre visualiser la veine ombilicale qui va du nombril au foie. La rate présentait dans son plan transverse une forme de faux. Elle se situait juste à côté de la paroi abdominale gauche soutenue par les côtes et s'étendait de dorsal à ventral. La différentiation entre intestin grêle et gros intestin était possible lorsque le grêle contenait du liquide et le gros intestin du gaz. Lors des deux premiers examens, l'intestin grêle se situait à gauche de la ligne médiane, dorsalement à la caillette et caudalement à la panse, dans la partie dorsale de l'abdomen. L'augmentation du volume des pré-estomacs repoussait ensuite l'intestin grêle vers la droite, de sorte qu'ils se trouvaient caudalement au foie dans la partie ventrale de l'abdomen, contre la paroi abdominale droite. Le gros intestin se trouvait dans la partie caudo-dorsale de l'abdomen. On pouvait reconnaitre dorsalement l'organisation typique du colon ascendant (anse spirale) sur la plaque mésentérique. La position du caecum variait entre dorsalement à l'anse spirale du colon et le côté droit, le long de la paroi abdominale, la pointe du caecum étant toujours dirigée vers l'arrière. Le rectum était facilement identifiable dans la zone pelvienne. L'extension, le volume et la densité des divers organes au cours des 6 examens tomodensitométriques sont résumés dans plusieurs tableaux.

Computed tomography of the abdomen of calves during the first 105 days of life: III. Urinary tract and adrenal glands.

Computed tomographic (CT) findings of the urinary tract and adrenal glands of five healthy male calves in the first 105 days of life were compared with corresponding cadaver slices. The structures seen on CT images were identified using the corresponding cadaver slices. CT produced exact images of the kidneys, urinary bladder, urethra and adrenal glands, but reliable images of the ureters were only obtained near the renal hilus. There was excellent agreement between the structures on the CT images and the tissue slices. The structure and vessels of the kidneys, the origin of the ureters, the location, size and content of the urinary bladder and the course of the urethra in the pelvis and penis were evident on images. The size and volume of the kidneys and the length and width of the adrenal glands increased significantly during the study, but the ureteral and urethral diameters changed little.

Dans le présent travail, on décrit les constatations tomodensitométriques sur l'appareil urinaire et les surrénales de 5 veaux mâles en bonne santé dans les 105 premiers jours de vie et on les compare avec les résultats des examens post-mortem. Il est possible de visualiser exactement les reins, la vessie, l'urètre et les surrénales par tomodensitométrie alors que les uretères ne peuvent être identifiés de façon sûre que dans la zone du hile rénal. La topographie des organes et leur structure correspondent très bien aux coupes anatomiques. Il est possible de visualiser la structure et les vaisseaux des reins, le début des uretères, la position, la taille et le contenu de la vessie et le parcours de l'urètre dans le bassin et le pénis. L'extension et le volume des reins augmentent de façon significative entre le premier et le sixième examen. Il en est de même pour la longueur et la largeur des surrénales, alors que les diamètres des uretères et de l'urètre ne changent presque pas.

Bilateral congenital lacrimal fistula in a Brown Swiss bull.

A five-year-old Brown Swiss bull was referred to the Department of Farm Animals, University of Zurich, because of bilateral epiphora that was unresponsive to treatment. Clinical examination revealed a fistulous opening medial to the medial canthus of both eyes and mucopurulent discharge from both openings. Attempts to flush the nasolacrimal duct via the lacrimal points resulted in the fluid exiting via the fistulous opening. Retrograde flushing of the nasolacrimal duct from the nasolacrimal opening resulted in the flush fluid flowing back out the nasolacrimal opening. Bilateral lacrimal fistula medial to the medial canthus of the eye was diagnosed based on the findings. The same anomaly was diagnosed a year later in 4 related female animals referred to our Department for other reasons. Three of the cases were sired by the bull described above and one was sired by his half-brother. Therefore, an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance of this anomaly was assumed. Clinical, epidemiological and molecular studies of the offspring of both bulls are underway to further investigate this anomaly.

[Clinical application of computed tomography in cattle]. / Klinische Anwendung der Computertomographiebeim Rind.

Computed tomography involves the use of x-rays to produce cross-sectional images of body regions. It provides non-overlapping, two-dimensional images of all desired planes as well as three-dimensional reconstruction of regions of interest. There are few reports on the clinical use of computed tomography in farm animals. Its use in cattle is limited by high cost, the application of off-label drugs and the need for general anaesthesia. In cattle computed tomography is indicated primarily for diseases of the head, e.g. dental diseases and otitis media, and neurological disorders. Less often it is used for diseases of the vertebrae and limbs. In valuable cattle, the results of computed tomography can be an important part of preoperative planning or be used to avoid unnecessary surgery when the prognosis is poor.

Geochemistry of apollo 15 basalt 15555 and soil 15531.

Major and trace element concentrations have been determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, colorimetry, and isotope dilution in Apollo 15 mare basalt 15555 from the Hadley Rille area; trace element concentrations have also been determined in plagioclase and pyroxene separates from basalt 15555 and in soil 15531 from the same area. Basalt 15555 most closely resembles in composition the Apollo 12 olivine-rich basalts. The concentrations of lithium, potassium, rubidium, barium, rare-earth elements, and zirconium in basalt 15555 are the lowest, and the negative europium anomaly is the smallest, reported for lunar basalts; this basalt might be the least differentiated material yet returned from the moon. Crystallization and removal of about 6 percent of plagioclase similar to that contained in the basalt would account for the observed europium anomaly; if plagioclase is not on the liquidus of this basalt, a multistage origin is indicated. Mineral data indicate that plagioclase and pyroxene approached quasi-equilibrium. Most of the chemical differences between basalt 15555 and soil 15531 would be accounted for if the soil were a mixture of 88 percent basalt, 6 percent KREEP (a component, identified in other Apollo soils, rich in potassium, rare-earth elements, and phosphorus) and 6 percent plagioclase (anorthosite?).

Potassium, rubidium, strontium, barium, and rare-Earth concentrations in lunar rocks and separated phases.

Concentrations of potassium, rubidium, strontium, barium, and rareearth elements have been determined by mass spectrometric isotope dilution for eight Apollo 11 lunar samples and for some separated phases. Potassiumn and ritbidium are at chondritic levels, strontium at 15 times, and barium and rare earths at 30 to 100 times chondritic levels. There are trace element similarities between the lunar samples and basaltic achondrites, terrestrial dredge basalts and the bulk earth. The trace element data appear to be consistent with these lunar samples being the result of limited partial fusion of some material similar to the brecciated eucrite meteorites.

Rubidium-strontium age of the bosumtwi crater area, ghana, compared with the age of the ivory coast tektites.

Rocks from the vicinity of Bosumtwi crater, Ghana, and a repre-sentative collection of Ivory Coast tektites have been analyzed mass spectrometrically for rubidium, strontium, and strontium isotopic composition. The data from the rocks of the crater area yield an age of 1.97 x 10(9) years (lambda(gb) = 1.47 chi 10(-11) year(-1)). The data for the Ivory Coast tektites fall on this isochron. This identity of age values for the Ivory Coast tektites and the Birrimian basement rocks of West Africa strongly supports the hypothesis of terrestrial formation for these tektites. The evidence available at present suggests that the Ivory Coast tektites are most probably the fusion products of meteoritic impact at the Bosumtwi crater site.