Correction: Gross anatomy, histology and blood vessel topography of the alimentary canal of the Inland Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps).

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234736.].

Blood Vessel Topography of the Feet in Selected Species of Birds of Prey and Owls.

Birds of prey and owls are susceptible to diseases of and traumatic injuries to their feet, which regularly require surgical intervention. A precise knowledge of the blood vessel topography is essential for a targeted therapy. Therefore, the metatarsal and digital vasculature was examined in eight species of birds of prey and owls. The study included contrast micro-computed tomography scans and anatomical dissections after intravascular injection of colored latex. In all examined species, the dorsal metatarsal arteries provided the main supply to the foot and their branching pattern and number differed between species. They continued distally as digital arteries. All examined species showed a basic pattern of four collaterally located digital blood vessels per toe: a prominent artery and small vein on one side and a small artery and prominent vein on the other side. Digital veins united to form common digital veins, most of which joined into a superficial, medially located metatarsal vein. This vein provided the main drainage of the foot. The detailed visualization of the topography of pedal blood vessels will help veterinary surgeons during surgical procedures. In addition, differences in the plantar arterial arch between hawks and falcons were discussed regarding their possible influence on the prevalence of pododermatitis (bumblefoot).

Comparative morphometric study of the mimic facial muscles of brachycephalic and dolichocephalic dogs.

Excessive breeding of dogs has led to a disadvantageous morphology in some breeds, for example extreme brachycephaly, which is responsible for many health issues. We hypothesize that alterations of the mimic muscular system are present in brachycephalic dogs and could contribute to behavioural problems due to a restricted mimic display. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to compare the mimic muscular systems of brachycephalic with dolichocephalic dogs. Mimic muscles were measured and set in ratio to measurements of the head and calculated indices. When bringing the length of the muscles m(x) in proportion to the length of the head, highly significant differences (p < .0001) and significant difference (p < .05) were found in all but two of the examined muscles. Calculations of the m(x) divided by the cranial index and the square index showed significant differences for all muscles. For example, the musculus (m.) levator nasolabialis was morphologically different from the one of dolichocephalic dogs. Muscle fibres of the m. levator nasolabialis were localized in the fold over the nasal bridge of brachycephalic dogs. The raphe of the m. orbicularis oris was not always apparent in brachycephalic dogs. The proportions of the muscle lengths and the length of the eye slots to the size of the skull have shifted considerably in brachycephalic dogs. We conclude that many alterations contribute to the strong shift in the proportions of the head of brachycephalic dogs versus that of dolichocephalic dogs. Our findings suggest that brachycephalic dogs have reduced mimic skills that can lead to ambiguous communication.

Gross anatomy, histology and blood vessel topography of the alimentary canal of the Inland Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps).

Imaging techniques have proved to be crucial for diagnosis in reptile species. The topography of the internal organs of bearded dragons has been described in recent studies as meeting the small animal practitioners´ demand for knowledge concerning their anatomy. However, the nomenclature in the respective literature is not uniform, which could lead to misunderstandings concerning the respective and/or affected parts of the alimentary canal. Therefore, the aim of this study was to provide clear information on anatomy and histology of the alimentary canal of bearded dragons including supplying blood vessels. For the dissection of the alimentary canal, 11 Inland Bearded Dragons (Pogona vitticeps) were used (five males, six females), which had been euthanised for clinical reasons other than those concerning the digestive tract or had died spontaneously. The supplying arteries were demonstrated by injecting red latex into the aorta, while the intestinal veins were filled with blue latex via the portal vein. Microscopic examination was carried out on specimens of seven additional bearded dragons using routine histologic procedures. Macroscopically, the sections of the alimentary canal from oral to aboral were distinguished into oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, colic ampulla, colic isthmus, rectum and cloaca. Differentiation of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum was only possible when considering the bile duct, the vasculature and the histology of the organ wall. Arteries supplying the oesophagus and the final straight part of the large intestine originated from the aorta in a segmental manner. Between these, three unpaired arteries arose from the aorta. Their branches supplied stomach and intestine excluding its last part. Based on the findings of the present study, a nomenclature for the different parts of the alimentary canal and the supplying blood vessels of bearded dragons is suggested which is well understandable for veterinary practitioners and is based on zoological knowledge of reptiles.

Specific anatomy and radiographic illustration of the digestive tract and transit time of two orally administered contrast media in Inland bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps).

The aim of this study was to describe the specific gross and radiographic anatomy of the digestive tract of inland bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps). Eleven bearded dragon cadavers of both sexes (6 females, 5 males) were dissected to examine, measure, and document the specific gross anatomy of the alimentary canal. Measurements collected from the cadavers included snout-vent length, total length of the alimentary canal, and the lengths of the individual sections of the gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, ampulla coli, isthmus coli, rectum, and the distance from the coprodeum to the vent opening. Twenty-two healthy adult bearded dragons (13 females, 9 males) maintained under standardized husbandry conditions underwent a physical examination, blood collection, and whole-body dorsoventral and lateral survey radiographs; these animals were used to provide the radiographic images of the complete digestive tract. For the subsequent contrast passage studies, two different contrast media, barium sulfate (BaSO4, Barilux suspension) and an iodinated ionic radiocontrast agent (Sodium meglumine amidotrizoate [SMAT], Gastrografin), were used. Water-diluted Barilux suspension (dose 9 ml/kg) was administered orally to 5 bearded dragons, while Gastrografin (dose 5ml/kg) was administered orally to 21 bearded dragons. Four animals were used for both contrast media studies, but received a break of four weeks in between. Dorsoventral and laterolateral radiographs were collected at 0 (baseline), 15, 30, and 45 minutes and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 30, and 36 hours after each contrast medium was administered. Both contrast media were found to illustrate the alimentary tracts in the adult bearded dragons. Transit time was substantially faster with SMAT, and SMAT illustrated the entire gastrointestinal tract within 36 hours; BaSO4 did not fully illustrate the gastrointestinal tract in 36 hours. These results might serve as a guideline for the interpretation of subsequent contrast studies in this lizard species.

Radiographic Morphometry of the Lumbar Spine in Munich Miniature Pigs.

The incidence of human spinal column disease remains high, and animal models still play important roles in prophylactic, diagnostic, and therapeutic research. Because of their similar size to humans, pigs remain an important spine model. For pigs to serve as a model for the human spine, basic similarities and differences must be understood. In this study, morphometric data of the lumbar spine of Munich miniature pigs (Troll) were recorded radiologically, evaluated, and compared with recorded human data. Whereas humans have a constant number of 5 lumbar vertebrae, Munich minipigs had 5 or 6 lumbar vertebrae. Compared with their human counterparts, the lumbar vertebral bodies of the minipigs were remarkably larger in the craniocaudal (superior-inferior) direction and considerably smaller in the dorsoventral and laterolateral directions. The porcine vertebral canal was smaller than the human vertebral canal. The spinal cord extended into the caudal part of the porcine lumbar vertebral canal and thus did not terminate as cranial, as seen in humans. The lumbar intervertebral spaces of the pig were narrower in craniocaudal direction than human intervertebral spaces. These differences need to be considered when planning surgical actions, not only to avoid pain and irreversible damage to the minipigs but also to achieve accurate scientific results.

[Osteolysis of the hip joint in an eastern river cooter (Pseudemys concinna concinna)]. / Osteolyse des Hüftgelenks bei einer Hieroglyphen-Schmuckschildkröte (Pseudemys concinna concinna).

Lameness in freshwater turtles is rarely seen and is mostly caused by bite injuries, other traumata or inflammatory processes. A 17 year old female eastern river cooter which was pretreated for disseminated shell necrosis a few months ago was presented due to acute lameness of the right hind limb. Diagnostic imaging revealed complete lysis of the hip joint and was classified as necrotizing osteomyelitis by histopathology. Septicemic spreading of pathogens and thus a link to the previous shell necrosis could not be identified. The patient developed wound complications and died a few days after the surgical procedure. Postmortem, a pronounced subacute pneumonia was diagnosed as presumed cause of death, which has not been clinically manifest during the whole medical history.

[Congenital cardiac anomalies (pentalogy of Fallot) in a two year old ram with brachygnathia inferior]. / Kongenitale Herzanomalien (Fallotsche Pentalogie) bei einem zweijährigen Schafbock mit Brachygnathia inferior.

In a nearly two-year-old ram, descending from a breeding trial to investigate the effects of shortness of the lower jaw (brachygnathia inferior), a congenital cardiac anomaly was observed. At the age often months the affected animal, a cross breed of Cameroon Sheep and East Friesian Milk Sheep, showed exercise-induced respiratory distress for the first time. Auscultation revealed a loud systolic heart murmur (grade 5) on both sides of the thorax, most prominent over the left third intercostal space at shoulder height. Postmortem examination of the ram's heart showed a pentalogy of Fallot, consisting of a pulmonic stenosis, a ventricular septal defect, an overriding aorta, a right ventricular hypertrophy and a patent foramen ovale. A genetic defect has to be considered as a possible reason.

Cartilage thickness of the trochlea of the talus, with emphasis on sites predisposed to osteochondrosis dissecans, in clinically normal juvenile and adult dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cartilage thickness of the talus (especially at sites predisposed to osteochondrosis dissecans [OCD]) in growing and adult dogs not affected with OCD. SAMPLE: Tarsocrural joints from cadavers of 34 juvenile (approx 3 months old) and 10 adult dogs. PROCEDURES: Tarsal cartilage thickness was examined via a stereophotography microscopic system. Articular cartilage thickness was determined at 11 locations on longitudinal slices of the trochlear ridges and the sulcus between the ridges and at 2 locations in the cochlea tibiae. Cartilage thickness was measured at the proximal, proximodorsal, dorsal, and distal aspects of the trochlear ridges; proximodorsal, dorsal, and distal aspects of the trochlear sulcus; and craniolateral and caudomedial aspects of the cochlea tibiae. Differences within a joint and between sexes were evaluated. RESULTS: Mean cartilage thickness decreased from proximal to distal in juvenile (lateral trochlear ridge, 1.52 to 0.41 mm; medial trochlear ridge, 1.10 to 0.40 mm) and from proximal to dorsal in adult (lateral trochlear ridge, 0.41 to 0.34 mm; medial trochlear ridge, 0.33 to 0.23 mm) dogs. Cartilage was thickest at the proximal aspect of the lateral trochlear ridge in both groups. Differences in proximodorsal, dorsal, and distal aspects of the ridges were not evident. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Healthy tarsocrural joints did not have thicker cartilage in sites predisposed to development of OCD. Evaluation of affected tarsocrural joints is necessary to exclude influences of cartilage thickness. These data are useful as a reference for distribution of cartilage thickness of the trochlea of the talus in dogs.