Radiographic Analysis of the Beef Cattle Digits Slaughtered after 114 Days of Confinement.

Foot disorders are responsible for up to 5% of confinement losses. Identifying the cause of lameness and applying the correct treatment are crucial measures. The possibility of determining the probable origins of digital lesions, their extension, and assistance in cases in which it was not possible to reach a definitive clinical diagnosis demonstrates that the radiographic evaluation provides information of great importance on cattle digits. Thus, this study aimed to investigate possible radiographic changes in the hoof, bone structures, and soft tissues of the digits of Nelore bulls at the end of the confinement period. Regarding the main signs, 100% (n = 24) showed proliferation of enthesophytes and osteophytes and irregular contours, 62.5% (n = 15) enlargement of vascular channels, 37.5% (n = 9) osteolysis, 33.4% (n = 8) gas content in the white line region, 20.84% (n = 5) gas content in the dorsal lamina region, and 4.16% (n = 1) presented palisade periosteal reaction. Ten (41.7%) out of 24 (100%) animals evaluated at the end of the confinement presented lameness, three animals of score three, four animals of score two, and three animals of score one. The higher the score indicating the severity of the signs observed in the visual assessment of the radiographs, the higher the internal angle values (moderate correlation of 0.5 and p < 0.05). A higher prevalence of osteo-proliferative radiographic changes was identified at the end of the 114-day confinement period in the third phalanx of Nellore cattle even in animals that had no lameness.

Morphological and radiological study of the shoulder and elbow joints of the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla).

The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) has specialized thoracic limbs to forage by breaking the walls of anthills and termite mounds. They also play critical roles in defense posture and locomotion. This study aimed to provide a morphological and radiographic description of the shoulder joint and elbow joint of the giant anteater. Both joints of 13 tamanduas were assessed by morphological dissections and histological evaluation and radiographies without and with positive contrast. The radiographic projections selected to this study were the mediolateral and craniocaudal projections. The radiographic and anatomical findings were compared with the following results: the shoulder joint had a continuous joint capsule with the tendon sheaths of the short head and long head of the biceps brachii muscle, which could be visualized with an injection of 3 ml of intra-articular contrast. The shoulder joint arthrography was performed with the needle positioned cranially to the joint for contrast injection. The elbow joint presented three articular compartments, and the insertion of the joint capsule was proximal to the radial fossa and distal to the radial tuberosity in the radial notch of the ulna, which were possible to identify with 2 ml of intra-articular contrast. The elbow joint arthrography was performed with the needle positioned laterally to the joint for contrast injection. Moreover, the joint capsule presented a caudomedial distention and fat pads. The powerful muscles of the forelimb play a fundamental role in maintaining the shoulder joint and elbow joint stability due to bony adaptations and the absence of usual ligaments. The morphological and radiological study provided relevant information on the soft-tissue characteristics of shoulder and elbow joints, which may aid clinical-surgical and diagnostic imaging procedures.