Cranial osteological development and abnormalities in northern palm ruff,Seriolella violacea (Guichenot, 1848), larvae and juveniles

Seriolella violacea, a new species to be potentially farmed in Chile and Peru, has shown cranial malformations during farming that could adversely affect its commercial development. This study seeks to generate early knowledge of the osteological development and type of cranial abnormalities that this species presents under culture conditions. Larvae from wild caught broodstock were reared from 1 to 60 days post hatching (DPH) (4.8 ± 0.1 mm TL and 11.8 ± 1.0 mm TL respectively). Larvae samples were collected throughout the experimental trial for recording cranial osteological development and abnormalities in cartilage and bone. At 5.7 ± 0.1 mm TL, coraco‐scapular, sclerotic, ethmoid plate and quadrate cartilages were present. At 8.0 ± 0.6 mm TL, early ossification was observed in the jaw, premaxilla and maxilla. At 11.8 ± 1.0 mm TL, the branchiostegal rays, jaw, maxilla and opercular complex were ossified. The first cartilaginous structures observed were the Meckel's cartilage, the branchial arches and the suspensory ligament. The first cranial malformations were detected at 5.7 ± 0.1 mm TL, coinciding with mouth opening. The most frequent malformations were a curvature of the lower jaw (23.1%), abnormal separation between branchial arches and the Meckel's cartilage (19.4%) and bulging jaws (15.7%).     

Prevalence of incidental humeral intracondylar fissures in brachycephalic breed dogs in CT studies

Humeral intracondylar fissures (HIF) have been predominantly reported in spaniel breeds and proposed to be possible risk factors for humeral condyle fractures (HCF). We hypothesized that the prevalence of incidental HIF in French Bulldogs may be greater than that of other brachycephalic breeds. A retrospective, observational, prevalence study was performed using CT examinations of French bulldogs and other brachycephalic breed dogs presenting for an unrelated condition. Two European College of Veterinary Diagnostic and Imaging-certified radiologists reviewed the images of the humeral condyles of these dogs. A classification system was devised to grade the findings. We considered a Score 1 to be normal, Score 2 to have centralised sclerosis, Score 3 to have a partial fissure and Score 4 to have a complete fissure. A total of 228 elbows were reviewed from 122 dogs. Of this population, 145 elbows were from French Bulldogs, 54 were from Pugs, and the remainder were from a mix of other brachycephalic breeds. The prevalence of HIF (score 3 or 4) in elbows of the French bulldog, pug and other breed groups was 6.9% (CI 2.8–11%), 5.6% (CI 0–11.7%), and 3.4% (CI 0–10.15%), respectively. At a dog level, the prevalence of HIF (score 3 or 4 present in at least one elbow) was found to be 11.8% (CI 4.6–19%) in French Bulldogs, 11.1% (CI 0–22.9%) in Pugs, and 5.26% (CI 0–15%) in the other breed group. There was no significant difference between the breed groups. The inter-reviewer reliability for CT scoring of HIF based on Cohen's weighted kappa was low at 0.19.     

Injuries associated with the cartilages of the foot

There is a growing body of evidence that uniaxial or biaxial ossification of the cartilages of the foot should not be discounted as irrelevant in a lame horse, especially if extensive. Potential causes of pain and lameness include primary injury of an ossified cartilage and/or the ipsilateral aspect of the distal phalanx, injury of the chondrocoronal or chondrosesamoidean ligaments and desmopathy of the collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint.     

矛尾虾虎鱼仔稚鱼脊柱及附肢骨骼系统的发育观察

采用软骨-硬骨双染色技术,研究矛尾虾虎鱼(Chaeturichthys stigmatias)仔稚鱼(体长范围为4.7~45.1 mm)脊柱及附肢骨骼系统的形态发育特征。结果显示:4.7 mm个体脊索为无分节的长圆柱形;5.3 mm个体随着髓弓、脉弓和尾下骨的出现,脊柱开始发育;7.1 mm个体髓弓与脉弓延伸形成髓棘与脉棘,脊柱出现分节的硬骨环,并从前往后硬骨化;22.9 mm个体脊柱形成40~43枚椎骨(躯椎15枚,尾椎25~28枚)。矛尾虾虎鱼附肢骨骼系统的发育顺序依次为胸鳍、尾鳍、第二背鳍与臀鳍、第一背鳍与腹鳍。4.8 mm个体可见软骨质的胸鳍支鳍骨和乌喙骨-肩胛软骨,以及部分骨化的匙骨;16.8 mm个体肩带开始骨化。腹鳍支鳍骨最早在8.9 mm个体出现,在17.0 mm个体开始骨化。6.6 mm个体脊索上方中部与肛门后端分别出现13和11枚软骨质的支鳍骨;第二背鳍先于第一背鳍出现,背鳍支鳍骨与臀鳍支鳍骨分别在13.0 mm和12.1 mm个体中开始由前向后骨化,第二背鳍与臀鳍第1枚鳍条分别在22.7 mm和20.6 mm个体中锐化成背棘与臀棘。5.8 mm个体最早出现2枚尾下骨,随着脊索末端向上弯曲,10.9 mm个体尾鳍基本成型,共有2枚尾上骨、1枚尾杆骨、1枚尾椎髓体、1枚侧尾下骨和3枚尾下骨,且第2枚与第3枚尾下骨已愈合完全,24.3 mm个体尾鳍骨化基本完成。矛尾虾虎鱼仔稚鱼骨骼发育研究结果对其分类鉴定和早期发育功能趋向有重要作用。     

EVALUATION OF THE VARIABLY OSSIFIED COLLATERAL CARTILAGES OF THE DISTAL PHALANX AND ADJACENT ANATOMIC STRUCTURES IN THE FINNHORSE WITH COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

Six Finnhorse cadaver forefeet were selected to represent radiographically different types and grades of ossification of the collateral cartilages of the distal phalanx. These cartilages and adjacent tissues were evaluated with computed tomography (CT) and high field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In CT the internal structure of the cartilages was consistent, but in MRI some differences were noted. The shape of the collateral cartilages and their ligamentous attachments varied. The border between ossified and non-ossified cartilage appeared distinct, with considerable variation in the extent of the ossified area in regard to the cross-sectional area of the cartilage. Ossification originating from the palmar processes and extending in the proximaVpalmaroproximal direction, without separate centers of ossification, generally appeared smooth and inactive. Palmar ossification followed the irregular shape of the cartilage. Separate centers of ossification had a medullary cavity or were sclerotic. Presence ofamedullary cavity or sclerosis were also found at the base of the cartilages. The incomplete fusion lines between separate centres of ossification and the ossified base of the cartilage varied from congruent and inactive to reactive with marked sclerosis, flared margins and parachondral changes. Incomplete fusion may be clinically significant. Local conformational adaptations of the hoof were also documented with extensive ossification of the collateral cartilage.     

Foetal Growth in the Reindeer

In connection with reindeer, slaughter 348 foetuses were collected at different foetal developmental stages and studied together with 20 full-term newborn calves with respect to weight, crown-rump length, metacarpal bone length and appearance of ossification foci. On the basis of these measurements polynomial growth curves were constructed. Weight gain was most rapid during the last trimester of gestation, but total and metacarpal bone length gain showed only minor acceleration towards the end of pregnancy. Ossification was apparent at an age of about 6 weeks. Undernutrition during late winter was observed to retard the foetal growth.     

Postnatal Osteological Development of the Hyoid Bone in the New Zealand White Rabbit

This study augments knowledge of bone growth by observing the development of the hyoid bone in the New Zealand White rabbit. Preserved hyoid bones representing five different age periods, each period including five individuals and the total number of animals being 25, were fixed in 3.5% formaldehyde solution and 95% ethanol, followed by a pure acetone bath. They were then stained with an alcian blue–alizarin red combination. The mode of bone formation was intracartilaginous type ossification. While the basihyoideum and thyrohyoideum were observed to start ossifying first at prenatal stage, indicating that they are the main skeletal structures of the hyoid apparatus, the ceratohyoideum and lingual process began to ossify in the second and third periods. The separately occurring primary ossification centres fused completely among themselves in the fifth period. Because no further ossification centers were observed and the ossified parts continued the development and growth, the research was terminated after 10 weeks of age.     

Ectopic Bone as a Nidus for Calcium Oxalate Urocystolithiasis in a Cat

A 7‐year‐old female spayed domestic shorthair cat was referred to the urology service for nonsurgical urocystolith removal. A urolith was attached to the urothelium by ectopic bone. Interventional removal without surgery was successful. Follow‐up evaluation 3 years after urolith removal revealed recurrent uroliths, bladder wall mineralization, and marked renal mineralization. This case illustrates the metaplastic potential of the urothelium and that ectopic bone should be included among the pathological factors that promote lithogenesis.     

SOST基因在淇河鲫肌间骨骨化过程中的表达研究

为探索硬化蛋白(sclerostin,SOST)基因在淇河鲫肌间骨骨化过程中的调控作用,本研究以淇河鲫仔稚鱼为研究对象,利用整体骨骼染色法对肌间骨的形态发生进行观察,并采用q RT-PCR、Western Blot和免疫组织化学技术检测SOST基因在肌间骨不同骨化阶段的m RNA和蛋白表达变化情况。结果显示,淇河鲫发育至24 dpf(day post fertilization),肌膈中出现纤维束;25 dpf髓弓小骨出现,28 dpf脉弓小骨出现,33 dpf髓弓小骨出现分叉,45 dpf肌间小骨发育完全。SOST基因在肌间骨骨化发生各阶段均有表达,23 dpf的表达量最低(P0.05),随着肌间小骨的骨化发育,SOST基因呈递增趋势,45 dpf表达量显著高于其他骨化阶段(P0.05);SOST蛋白在45 dpf时显著高于23和27 dpf(P0.05),与其他发育阶段无显著差异(P0.05)。SOST m RNA和蛋白变化趋势基本相同,都在23dpf处于最低,肌间骨全部出现后表达量达到最高,与淇河鲫肌间骨的形态发生趋势一致。因此,推测SOST与淇河鲫肌间骨骨化具有一定的相关性,可调控肌间骨的分化和形成。     

Radiological Evaluation of Juvenile osteochondral Conditions in Brazilian Warmblood Horse

The term juvenile osteochondral condition (JOCC) has been used to identify developmental changes in the growth plates. The condition is characterized by a set of changes with similar pathogenesis that affect the immature skeleton and joints of growing foals. The aim of the current study is to investigate the prevalence and degree of severity of osteochondral changes in Brazilian warmblood (BW) foals in two farms in the south of Brazil. Radiological evaluation was applied to the metacarpophalangeal (MCP), carpal (C), metatarsophalangeal (MTP), tarsal (T), and femorotibiopatellar (FTP) joints of 90 foals (47 females and 43 males) in the age group 16–36 months. The evaluation was made before the animals started their athlete performance. Changes were classified as a degree of severity 0 to 4. Changes were diagnosed in 56 foals (58%) that had 105 affected joints. Thirty-three (59%) out of the 56 animals had changes in more than one joint; 57% (19/33) of them had bilateral changes. MTP and MCP were the joints with the most severe changes, respectively (severity 2 and 3), followed by FTP, T, and C. Osteochondral fragments (59%), tarsal arthropathies (48%), irregularities and radiolucency in the FTP joint (7%), and subchondral cystic lesion in the FTP joint (1%), were the most observed changes. BW foals recorded the high prevalence of osteochondral alterations; although MTP and T were the most affected joints, MTP and MCP presented the most severe changes. The present study confirmed significant JOCC prevalence in BW. Further studies should be carried out in different properties.