2007 - 76 (6)

Paper in Dutch

In this case report, a 720 degree torsion of the spermatic cord in a 2.5-year-old Warmblood stallion is described.Diagnosis was made through palpation and ultrasonography, and since future breeding potentialwas not important, a bilateral orchidectomy was performed. The main pathology of testicular torsion isischemia and reperfusion injury of the testis. Several antioxidant agents such as allopurinol and melatonincould be effective in preventing testicular ischemia and reperfusion injury.

A long digital extensor tendon avulsion is reported in a 15-month-old intact male Great Dane with aright pelvic limb lameness of 2-week duration. The orthopedic, radiographic, computed tomographic, arthroscopic,surgical and histological findings are described. Surgical excision of the avulsed bone fragmentand re-attachment of the tendon to the lateral joint capsule of the stifle joint was successful and the dogwas free of lameness 6 and 12 months after therapy.

Because of the elective use of Caesarean Section (CS), the Belgian Blue (BB) breed is being criticized byanimal health organizations in Europe and it also has economical consequences. Within the selection for the reductionof CS, the increase of pelvic dimensions plays a crucial role. Correct information about the pelvic canalis a very important condition to perform this selection. Measurements of the pelvic canal in living animals canbe performed by using a Rice pelvimeter. The present paper describes a study of the repeatability between twodifferent technicians and within one technician of pelvic measurements in double muscled BB cows using a Ricepelvimeter. Additionally, changes within the pelvic dimensions at parturition were examined by measurementsat three different points around calving (one month before, within 24 hours and two weeks after parturition). Nosignificant differences were found for the pelvic height between the two technicians. The variation coefficient ofthe measurements of the second technician proved to be smaller but not significantly different from technician1, for pelvic width as well as for pelvic height. Only the pelvic height measured at parturition significantly differed (0.48 cm) from the measurements taken one month before calving (P < 0.05). Based on these results we candecide that the measurements taken by the Rice pelvimeter are repeatable within one technician and between twodifferent technicians. Finally, parturition can have an effect on the pelvic measurements.

The age-related degree of ossification of the sternum and the long leg bones (femur, tibiotarsus andtarsometatarsus) of chickens was determined both macroscopically and radiographically in ten broilersranging from 7 to 14 weeks in age, and in four laying hens of different ages and breeds. The caudal halfof the sternal crest was still cartilaginous in 14-week-old broilers. This relatively slow ossification rate ofthe sternum interfered with accurate age determination. The length of the long bones of the shank variedwith age but was also breed dependent. In contrast, the diaphyseal diameter of the long leg bones and thethickness of the articular cartilage covering the femoral head, femoral condyles and proximal tibiotarsalsurface varied little in 7 to 14-week-old broilers. The thickness of the femoral and proximal tibiotarsalarticular cartilage was more than 3 mm in broilers and less than 1 mm in the older laying hens. The closureof the growth plates in the tibiotarsus and the tarsometatarsus was the most reliable criterion for agedetermination in broilers.

In order to gain insight into the process of evaluating the hip quality of potential breeding dogs, we estimatedinter-observer agreement on the assessability of radiographs, on the morphological observationsandon the final scoring of canine hip dysplasia. One hundred radiographs were assessed in terms of theirradiographic quality and the morphological traits of the hips by six individual observers and by two groupsof two observers each. These six observers and two groups were also asked to evaluate the radiographs inaccordance with the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) instructions. There was no consistentpattern between observers in the evaluation of the technical quality of the radiographs. For some of theobservers there was a small amount of agreement in the evaluation of the morphological characteristics.The agreement between the evaluations of the two groups was greater (harmonization between observers).The level of agreement in final scoring (FCI; A, B, C, D, E) was low between some observers, but acceptablebetween others. These results suggest that the assessment of the quality of ventrodorsal extended radiographsof hips, the assessment of the morphological traits of hips and the final scoring of the hip qualityis highly variable between observers, ranging from total disagreement to nearly full agreement. Solutionsmust be found for maximizing the agreement between the different observers.

Paper in Dutch

A portosystemic shunt is an erroneous venous communication between the portal vein and the systemiccirculation. Surgery is the treatment of choice. Progressive attenuation of the shunt is indicated in mostcases to prevent portal hypertension. Gauged attenuation using silk was the first method used. Differentmethods are used to estimate the degree of closure that can be tolerated by the patient and will not causeportal hypertension, but they are time-consuming and not always equally reliable. If only partial closure ispossible, a second surgery may be needed. Gradual attenuation can be achieved using an ameroid constrictor(AC), cellophane banding (CB), a hydraulic occluder or thrombogenic coils. There is great interpatientvariability between the rate and degree of shunt closure when using an ameroid constrictor or cellophanebanding. Thrombogenic coils and hydraulic occluders appear to give a more controlled shunt closure, butfurther investigation is needed.

According to EG-regulation 1/2005, animal transporters and handlers have to attend a training program toobtain a certificate of professional competence, which will come into force from the 5th of January 2008 foranimal transport with an economic impact. Current Belgian actors, that is animal transporters and handlers,managementof slaughterhouses and livestock markets, supermarkets, consumer and animal rights organizations,were inquired to know their enthusiasm and opinion concerning a course on livestock transport. Except for theanimal transporters, the actors showed minor enthousiasm to answer the inquiry. According to the majority (66%)of the inquired animal transporters, it is not necessary to participate in an animal transport training program. Theactors are not explicitly interested in topics which should be explained in detail during the training course. Thislack of interest will direct a future Belgian training program which will be based on EG-regulation 1/2005 andthe existing animal transport training courses in other countries.