Computed tomography of the abdomen in Saanen goats: I.reticulum, rumen and omasum Computed tomography of the abdomen in Saanen goats: I. reticulum, rumen and omasum AbstractComputed tomography (CT) of the reticulum, rumen and omasum was carried out in 30 healthy goats and the images were compared to corresponding body sections obtained at postmortem. A multidetector CT was used to examine goats in sternal recumbency. A setting of 120 KV and 270 mA was used to produce 1.5-mm transverse slices from the fifth thoracic vertebra to the sacrum. Soft tissue structures were assessed in a soft tissue with a window width (W) of 400 Hounsfield Units (HU), and a window level (L) of 40 HU. The layering of the ruminal contents was assessed in an ingesta window with a W of 1500 HU and an L of 30 HU. After subjective evaluation, the size of the rumen and omasum, the thickness of the walls of the reticulum, rumen and omasum and the height of the gas cap and fibre and liquid phases of the rumen were measured. Fifteen goats were euthanised after CT examination, placed in sternal recumbency and frozen at -18 ºC for three to 10 days. Thirteen goats were then cut into 1.0-to 1.5-cm-thick transverse slices. One goat was cut in dorsal-plane slices and another in sagittal slices. The structures in the CT images were identified by using the corresponding anatomical slices. et al., 2008a, 2008b, 2009a, 2009b). The methods used to diagnose disorders of these organs include 50 physical examination, haematologic and serum biochemistry analyses, faecal analysis, radiography 51 and ultrasonography (Steininger, 2009; Braun und Steininger, 2010; Jacquat, 2010 After subjective evaluation, the various structures were measured using a window that provided the Results 118In all animals, the reticulum, rumen and omasum could be identified on all anatomic sections and the 119 corresponding CT images (Fig. 1). The reticulum and rumen could be seen between the fifth thoracic vertebra and the sacrum; both 123 organs were consistently seen between the eighth thoracic vertebra and the fifth lumbar vertebra in all 124 the goats. In the transverse plane, the reticulum appeared as a round structure and was almost 125 completely filled with ingesta except for an area of gas in the dorsal aspect (Fig. 2). The reticular 126 structure of the mucosa was seen in the gas-filled dorsal region of the reticulum. The mean thickness 127 of the reticulum wall was 0.2 cm ( Table 1). The reticulum bordered the lungs via the diaphragm (not 128 visible) craniodorsally, the left lobe of the liver on the right and the apex of the heart cranioventrally. 129In the sagittal plane the reticulum and heart, separated by the diaphragm, were seen immediately 130 adjacent to each other over a distance of a few centimetres (Fig. 3), and dorsal to this area of contact (Fig. 4) and the vertical grooves divided the anterior and 138 the two posterior blind sacs from the remaining main part of the rumen (Fig. 5). The craniocaudal 139 extent of the rumen was best evaluated in the sagitta...

This study describes the findings of computed tomography (CT) of the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder and adrenal glands in 28 healthy female Saanen goats. CT examination and anatomical slice preparation postmortem was performed as described in the first communication. After subjective evaluation of the CT images, various variables including the size, volume and density of the kidneys, the diameter of the ureters and the size of the adrenal glands were measured. The targeted organs could be accurately visualised using CT and there was very good topographical agreement between the CT images and the anatomical preparations. The kidneys, renal vessels, ureters, urinary bladder and adrenal glands were seen in all goats. This study describes the findings of computed tomography (CT) of the kidneys, ureters, urinary 10 bladder and adrenal glands in 28 healthy female Saanen goats. CT examination and anatomical slice 11 preparation postmortem was performed as described in the first communication (Braun et al., 2010). 12After subjective evaluation of the CT images, various variables including the size, volume and 13 density of the kidneys, the diameter of the ureters and the size of the adrenal glands were measured. 14 The targeted organs could be accurately visualised using CT and there was very good topographical 15 agreement between the CT images and the anatomical preparations. The kidneys, renal vessels, 16 ureters, urinary bladder and adrenal glands were seen in all goats. 17 18

This study describes the results of computed tomography (CT) of the liver, spleen, abomasum, small intestine and large intestine in 30 healthy Saanen goats. CT examination and anatomical slice preparation postmortem were performed as described in the first communication. After subjective evaluation of the CT images, various variables including the length/size, volume and density of the liver, spleen and gallbladder, the wall thickness of the abomasum, small intestine and large intestine and the diameter of the intestine were measured. The liver, spleen, abomasum, small intestine and large intestine could be accurately visualised using CT.

This case report describes the clinical, ultrasonographic and postmortem findings in an alpaca with Mycobacterium kansasii infection. The alpaca was referred because of chronic weight loss and weakness. The results of clinical examination, haematology and serum biochemistry were not diagnostic. Ultrasonography of the liver revealed multiple, hyperechogenic lesions with a diameter of 1 to 3 cm. Histological evaluation of a liver biopsy sample showed acute, multifocal, suppurative, necrotising hepatitis. Despite treatment with antibiotics, the alpaca died. Postmortem examination revealed nodular to coalescing lesions in the liver, lungs, mediastinum, pleura and greater omentum, which could not be differentiated macroscopically or histologically from lesions caused by tuberculosis. Ziehl-Neelsen staining showed massive numbers of rods within epithelioid macrophages, which were identified as Mycobacterium kansasii by polymerase chain reaction analysis.

Cows with haemorrhagic bowel syndrome were examined by ultrasonography. A 5.0 MHz linear transducer was used to scan the right side of 63 standing, non-sedated cows. The small intestine was found to be dilated and had a diameter of 4.3 to 12.0 cm (mean [sd] 6.76 [1.78] cm), and there was markedly reduced or absent small intestinal motility in all the cows. In 22 (34.9 per cent) cows, empty poststenotic segments of small intestine were seen in addition to empty prestenotic intestine. In 12 (19 per cent) cows, the intestinal lumen contained localised hyperechoic material consistent with blood clots. Fluid with or without fibrin was seen between intestinal loops in 39 (61.9 per cent) cows. Accumulation of ingesta in the abomasum and sometimes in the omasum and rumen was seen in 14 (22.2 per cent) cows. Ultrasonography was considered to be a useful tool for the diagnosis of ileus. However, this imaging modality could be used to make a definitive diagnosis of haemorrhagic bowel syndrome only when a blood clot was seen in the intestinal lumen. (61.9 %) cows. Accumulation of ingesta in the abomasum and sometimes in the omasum and rumen was seen in 14 (22.2 %) cows. Ultrasonography was considered to be a useful tool for the diagnosis of ileus. However, this imaging modality could only be used to make a definitive diagnosis of HBS when a blood clot was seen in the intestinal lumen.