Venous drainage of the heart of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes).

BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to reveal the coronary venous system of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) heart. The hearts used in the study were obtained from six red foxes that were brought to the Kafkas University Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre after serious injuries due to firearms or traffic accidents and could not be saved despite all interventions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Latex was injected from the cranial vena cava and caudal vena cava to expose the coronary vasculature. Hearts were photographed after dissection. RESULTS: It was determined that venous drainage of the red fox heart was provided by the great cardiac vein, middle cardiac vein, right cardiac veins, and the smallest cardiac veins. The strongest of these veins was determined to be the paraconal interventricular vein with a diameter of 3.03 ± 0.44 mm. It was determined that the paraconal interventricular vein was accompanied by a strong vein with a diameter of 2.09 ± 0.43 mm in five of six fox hearts examined. It was observed that left atrial oblique vein participated in the formation of the coronary sinus in four hearts, and the great cardiac vein, middle cardiac vein, and the left marginal ventricular vein were seen to be drained into the coronary sinus in the other two hearts. It was determined that the paraconal interventricular vein and middle cardiac vein collected the venous blood of septum interventriculare via septal veins in all hearts. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the smallest cardiac veins were clearly identified for the first time, and the myocardial bridge was revealed in a wild animal for the first time.

Investigation of haptoglobin, serum amyloid A, and some biochemical parameters in calves with omphalitis.

AIM: In this study, it was aimed to determine the concentration of some important acute phase proteins (APPs) and some biochemical parameters pre-operative and post-operative in calves with omphalitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 calves were used in the study and they consist of 10 clinically healthy calves that were used as a control and 10 calves with omphalitis were used as the treatment group. Blood samples were collected from Vena jugularis of animals to tubes with anticoagulant (sodium citrate) and without anticoagulants, pre-operative (day 0), and post-operative (day 7). Samples were used to determine the concentration of haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid A (SAA), ceruloplasmin (Cp), fibrinogen, glucose, total protein, albumin, urea, total bilirubin, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) concentrations. RESULTS: While the Hp, SAA, Cp, fibrinogen, urea, creatinine, total bilirubin, ALP, and GGT concentrations were statistically and significantly increasing rather than the control group during the pre-operative period for calves with omphalitis, they decreased to the post-operative period. Moreover, an insignificant increase in the glucose, total protein, and AST concentrations and an insignificant decrease in the albumin, calcium, and phosphorus concentrations were statistically determined. CONCLUSION: We have the opinion that the assessment of biochemical parameters and especially APP levels in calves with the omphalitis together with the clinical findings may be important in terms of the treatment and prognosis.

Relationship between hepcidin and oxidant/antioxidant status in calves with suspected neonatal septicemia.

AIM: This study has been conducted for the purpose of determining serum hepcidin, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and Fe levels in calves with suspected neonatal septicemia before and after treatment and the clinical significance of hepcidin in calves with suspected neonatal septicemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study material consisted of 15 calves of different ages and sexes brought to the Training, Research and Application Center at the Kafkas University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine with suspected neonatal septicemia. 8.5 mL of blood was drawn from the jugular vein of each animal into coagulant tubes before and after treatment for one-off biochemical analyses and centrifuged. After this, the serum was separated. Hepcidin, TAS, TOS, and Fe levels in the serum were measured. RESULTS: While pre-treatment hepcidin levels were 58.42±3.46 ng/mL, post-treatment levels were 46.87±2.98 ng/mL (p<0.05). Pre-treatment Fe levels were 60.13±7.27 µg/dl, while post-treatment levels were 83.1±8.09 µg/dl (p<0.05). The changes in the TAS and TOS levels were also found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSION: In light of the fact that hepcidin plays a role function in the regulation of Fe as well as the fact that Fe is a significant nutritional source for many microorganisms, it was concluded that hepcidin may play a significant role in nutritional immunity and the pathogenesis of diseases.