Gross anatomy of the female genital organs of the domestic donkey (Equus asinus Linné, 1758).

Although donkeys play an important role as companion or pack and draught animals, theriogenological studies and anatomical data on the genital organs of the jenny are sparse. To provide anatomical descriptions and morphometric data, the organa genitalia feminina, their arteries and the ligamentum latum uteri of 10 adult but maiden jennies were examined by means of gross anatomical and morphometric techniques. In comparison with anatomical data of horses obtained from literature the genital organs of jennies appear to be more voluminous in relation to the body mass and the position of the ovaries is slightly further cranial than in mares. In asses, the ovaries contain large follicles reaching a diameter of up to 40 mm. The mesosalpinx is much wider than in the horse forming a considerably spacious bursa ovarica. The asinine ligamentum teres uteri reveals a very prominent cranial end, the 'appendix'. Tortuous mucosal folds occur in the wall of the jenny's cervical channel. The vascularization of the female genital organs of asses is very similar to that of horses. One of the examined specimens reveals a large mucosal fold dividing the cranial part of the vagina into a left and right compartment.

[Medico-surgical treatment of occlusion of the left pulmonary artery by extension of ductal tissue (pulmonary coarctation)]. / Traitement médico-chirurgical de l'occlusion de l'artère pulmonaire gauche par extension de tissu ductal (coarctation pulmonaire).

The authors report the results of surgical treatment completed by interventional catheterisation of occlusion of the left pulmonary artery by extension of ductal tissue. Since 2001, 7 patients operated for occlusive coarctation of the left pulmonary artery at an average age of 11 months (3 to 37 months) had a restenosis. The cardiac malformation was pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (N=4), tetralofy of Fallot (N=2) and critical pulmonary valvular stenosis (N=1). Pulmonary artery surgery consisted of resection anastomosis in 4 cases and a plasty in 3 cases. A primary angioplasty was performed 5 to 170 months (median 12 months) later, at an average age and weight of 3.4 years (0.7 to 16.9 years) and 14 Kg (8 to 52 Kg) with implantation of 3 stents. The median diameter increased from 5 mm (1 to 9 mm) to 10 mm (6 to 16 mm). Tc-99m scintigraphy showed an increase in mean left pulmonary perfusion from 9% (6 to 28%) to 28% (18 to 42%). Secondarily, 3 repeat angioplasties were necessary with a total of 6 stents implanted in 7 patients. After an average of 2.9 years (0.8 to 6.3 years) follow-up, the patients were asymptomatic with normal right ventricular pressures and a mean left pulmonary perfusion of 33% (24 to 45%). The authors conclude that the treatment of left pulmonary occlusion by coarctation requires a medico-surgical approach in which angioplasty and stenting complete successfully the surgical revascularisation.

Radio-telemetry as an aid to environmental contaminant evaluation of mobile wildlife species.

Radio transmitters are a useful tool in determining the degree of use of and extent of movement from contaminated sites by highly mobile wildlife species. Programs monitoring wildlife species for environmental contaminants from localized sources can maximize the amount of information obtained from an individual animal by using radio-telemetry to ascertain residence history. The use of radio-telemetry techniques on two mobile wildlife species, mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos), to document their use of and movement from low-level radionuclide contaminated waste ponds are described.

Radionuclide concentrations in mule deer with reference to waste-management ponds on the Hanford Site.

A comparison was made between the amount of time 17 radio-collared mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) spent near low-level waste-management ponds on the Hanford Site and the levels of radionuclides found in samples of their muscle, liver, bone and rumen contents. All deer had low, but detectable, amounts of 137Cs in their muscle, liver and rumen contents and 90Sr in their bone. Several other radionuclides were detected in the rumen samples, but were apparently not incorporated into the muscle and liver tissue. There was a positive, significant correlation between the amount of time deer spent near the waste-management ponds and the levels of 137Cs in their muscle and liver and 90Sr in their bone. The concentrations of 137Cs in rumen samples did not appear to be related to the amount of time deer spent near waste-management ponds. The variability of 137Cs in muscle was higher in those deer living near the waste-management ponds than in individuals residing in areas remote from the ponds. In general, the levels of radionuclides in Hanford Site deer appear to be reduced from that observed in the 1960s.