Background:As pupillary diameter is exclusively regulated by the autonomic nervous system, the assessment of pupil size (pupillometry) provides an indirect measure of sympathetic nervous system activity and hence an estimation of the degree of stress in the patient. A reliable, objective and non-invasive measure of stress is useful in achieving optimal animal welfare standards, especially with exotic or zoo animals. Hence, we compared the iris-pupillary ratios in populations of wild and zoo monkeys to determine the suitability of using this ratio as a non-invasive index of stress. Materials and Methods: Digital photographs of wild (n=32) and zoo (n=19) monkeys were used to measure the iris-pupillary ratio of both eyes using NIH Image-J software. The data are represented as Mean ± SD and were compared using unpaired t test with Welch's correction. Results: The ratio of the iris-pupillary area in wild monkeys (17.03 ± 7.01) was significantly (p<0.0001) higher compared to zoo monkeys (8.80 ± 5.58). We observed a similar trend in the ratio of iris-pupillary perimeter (4.04 ± 1.22 Vs 2.91 ± 0.86). A lower ratio of iris-pupillary area or perimeter among zoo monkeys indicates pupillary dilation due to higher sympathetic activity and hence a higher level of stress. It is likely that the captive environment is a potential source of stress among zoo animals. We also evaluated the ratio of iris-pupillary mean grey values (1.58 ± 0.52 Vs 1.34 ± 1.09) and the ratio of irispupillary integrated density (27.69 ± 17.05 Vs 29.50 ± 10.95). These parameters were similar in the digital images of both wild and zoo monkeys, suggesting that the light conditions were similar in both groups. Conclusion: The data from this study support the utility of iris-pupillary area ratio as an objective, reliable and non-invasive index of degree of stress, which we believe will be a useful tool in managing the animal welfare of exotic animal species.
In this study, six adult feline cadavers were examined using CTA, 3D printing, and casts injected with epoxy. The aorta, the portal vein, and the gallbladder of 3 feline cadavers were separately injected with a 50% mixture of colored vulcanized latex and hydrated barium sulfate as contrast medium to analyze by CT the arterial, venous and biliary systems. The other three cadavers were injected with a mixture of epoxy resin in the aorta, gallbladder and hepatic veins, separately. After the corrosion and washing process, hepatic vascular and biliary casts were obtained. The images obtained by CT showed the vascular and biliary system using a soft tissue window. For the identification of vascular and biliary structures, the 3D prints together with the 3D reconstructions were analyzed, and the results were compared with the casts obtained with epoxy resin. Each of the arterial, venous and biliary branches associated with each of the liver lobes were identified with the help of the printings. In conclusion, the creation of 3D prototypes of nonpathological feline hepatic parenchyma can be used in the veterinary clinic as a basis for the detection of pathological problems in addition to obtaining future pathological hepatic 3D models.
As a result of many factors, including climate change, unrestricted population growth, widespread deforestation and intensive agriculture, a new pattern of diseases in humans is emerging. With increasing encroachment by human societies into wild domains, the interfaces between human and animal ecosystems are gradually eroding. Such changes have led to zoonoses, vector‐borne diseases, infectious diseases and, most importantly, the emergence of antimicrobial‐resistant microbial strains as challenges for human health. Now would seem to be an opportune time to revisit old concepts of health and redefine some of these in the light of emerging challenges. The One Health concept addresses some of the demands of modern medical education by providing a holistic approach to explaining diseases that result from a complex set of interactions between humans, environment and animals, rather than just an amalgamation of isolated signs and symptoms. An added advantage is that the scope of One Health concepts has now expanded to include genetic diseases due to advancements in omics technology. Inspired by such ideas, a symposium was organised as part of the 19th International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA) Congress (August 2019) to investigate the scope of One Health concepts and comparative anatomy in contemporary medical education. Speakers with expertise in both human and veterinary anatomy participated in the symposium and provided examples where these two disciplines, which have so far evolved largely independent of each other, can collaborate for mutual benefit. Finally, the speakers identified some key concepts of One Health that should be prioritised and discussed the diverse opportunities available to integrate these priorities into a broader perspective that would attempt to explain and manage diseases within the scopes of human and veterinary medicine.
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