The fact that ultrasound is generally perceived as a safe imaging modality due to its use of non-ionizing radiation encouraged its increasing use in the diagnosis of cyesis in Veterinary practice. Ultrasound heating during obstetric scans has the potential of increasing body temperature via absorption. The study was conducted to determine the effect of multiple prenatal ultrasounds scanning on haematological parameters of rabbit fetuses. The research involves in vivo experimental model using 16 pregnant does and exposing them to ultrasound for average of 5 minutes at day 7, 12, 15, 20, 25, 27 and 29 of gestation. They were divided into two groups as insonated and control, the restrain and scanning procedures were mimicked on the group of does that were not scanned (positive control). Upon parturition, blood samples were collected from the kits via jugular venesection into ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid containing tubes for haematology. There was a significant reduction (p < 0.05) of red blood cell count and haemoglobin concentration of insonated group. Values of packed cell volume and platelet were lower but not significant (p > 0.05) in insonated as against the control while a non-significant slight increase in total white blood cell count was seen in the control. Therefore, ultrasound heating from multiple in-utero exposure can possibly cause alterations in haematological values in Rabbits. Keywords: Fetus, Haematology, Insonation, In-utero, Rabbit, Ultrasound

Due to the increased use of ultrasound in the diagnosis of cyesis, it is necessary to study the possible adverse effect of insonation on thyroid hormone in fetuses. Sixteen (16) adult rabbit does that had kindled at least once were used for the study and were scanned using a Medison S600V ® Ultrasound machine with a 6.5MHz transcutaneous curve-linear probe. All does were mated naturally by the introduction of a doe to a buck and then divided randomly into two groups. The does that were scanned (insonated)-, were properly restrained on dorsal recumbency, liberally shaved; aquasonic gel applied and scanned using a transcutaneous curve-linear probe for 5 minutes on the 5 th day post coitus and thereafter on days 7, 12, 15, 20, 25, 27 and 29. The restrain and scanning procedures were mimicked on the group of does that were not scanned (non-insonated). Upon parturition, blood was collected from kits and serum was extracted and used to assay for total thyroxine (tT4) and triiodothyronine (tT3). Fetal thyroid glands were also harvested for histologic study. Mean tT3 concentration was 1.60 ± 0.90 µg/dl and 1.58 ± 0.03 µg/dl while mean tT4 was 1.46 ± 0.10 µg/dl and 1.39 ± 0.07 µg/dl for the non-insonated and insonated groups, respectively. P values of 0.610 and 0.132 for tT3 and tT4 concentration respectively showed that there is no statistically significant difference in the values even though there was a numerical difference between the groups. No histopathologic change on fetal thyroid gland from both groups was observed. In conclusion, although the values were not significantly different, the numerical decrease of both tT3 and tT4 in the insonated rabbits suggest the possibility that insonation could alter their values in fetuses when the threshold of ultrasound waves are increased and insonation prolonged.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between ultrasonographic kidney volume and modified body mass index through evaluating the kidney architectural appearance, variations between right and left kidney dimensions and correlation between ultrasonographic kidney volumes and modified body mass index in clinically healthy Nigerian indigenous dogs. The ultrasonography was performed to obtain the kidney dimensions in centimeter for the length (bipolar length), width and height of the kidney for both right and left kidneys to compute for the kidney volume in centimeter cube using the formula for the volume of an ellipsoid (L X W X H X 0.523), while the modified body mass index for dogs was obtained by taking the body weight in kilogram of each dog against the squared length of the trunk. The serum creatinine and urea parameters are within normal limits in dogs used for this study. This research revealed normal kidney architecture with hyperechoic renal capsules, hypoechoic renal cortex, anechoic medullary pyramids and hyperechoic renal pelvis. Left kidneys are significantly larger than the right kidneys and there was a weak positive correlation between right (r 2 = 0.21) and left (r 2 = 0.18) kidney volumes with modified body mass index in clinically healthy in Nigerian indigenous dogs. In conclusion, the left kidney appeared larger than the right kidney and there is a positive but weak relationship between ultrasonographic kidney volume and modified body mass index in healthy Nigerian indigenous dogs.

The effects of graded levels of dietary protein on some haematological parameters in pubertal Yankasa rams were studied. They were randomly divided into three treatment groups (A, B and C). Groups A, B and C received 10%, 15% and 20% crude protein respectively. All rams were fed a basal diet of hay (Digitaria spp) ad-libitum and given a supplement ration of concentrate mixture at 2% body weight/day. Blood was collected once weekly via jugular venepuncture into heparinised test-tubes, and transported to the laboratory for determination of red blood cell counts, packed cell volume, white blood cell counts and total protein for twelve weeks. The overall mean red blood cell values obtained were 4.2 ± 0.1 ×106 µl, 5.2 ± 0.1 106 µl and 5.06 ± 0.1 ×106 µl, for groups A, B and C respectively. The difference between values obtained for groups B and C were not significantly different (P > 0.05). Mean packed cell volumes obtained in this study revealed that rams fed 15% crude protein had significantly (P < 0.05) higher values (31.3 ± 0.9%) than those fed 10% (25.9± 0.7%) but similar to those fed 20% (30.33 ± 0.56%) crude protein. There were no significant (P > 0.05) differences in mean white blood cell counts and total protein concentrations between all groups of animals fed 10% CP. Feeding rams diets containing 15 % CP (cotton seed cake and palm kernel cake) gave better values in terms of packed cell volume and red blood cell counts, than feeding diets containing 10% and 20% C.P. While graded levels of dietary protein was shown to affect packed cell volume and total protein concentration, it had no significant effect on red blood cell and white blood cell counts.