Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most versatile and informative imaging modality for the diagnosis of locomotor injuries in many animal species; however, veterinary literature describing the MRI of the dromedary camel tarsus is lacking. Our purpose was to describe and compare the MRI images of twelve cadaveric tarsi, examined in a 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner, with their corresponding anatomical gross sections. Turbo spin-echo (TSE) T1-weighted (T1), T2-weighted (T2), proton density-weighted (PD), and short tau inversion recovery (STIR) sequences were obtained in 3 planes. Tarsi were sectioned in sagittal, dorsal, and transverse planes. MRI images from different sequences and planes were described and compared with the anatomical sections. Results The soft and osseous tissues of the dromedary camel tarsus could be clearly defined on MRI images and corresponded extensively with the gross anatomic sections. The obtained MRI images enabled comprehensive assessment of the anatomic relationships among the osseous and soft tissues of the camel tarsus. Several structure were evaluated that cannot be imaged using radiography or ultrasonography, including the transverse inter-tarsal ligaments, the talocalcaneal ligament, the short dorsal ligament, branches of the short medial and lateral collateral ligaments and the tarsometatarsal ligaments. Specific anatomical features regarding the dromedary camel tarsus were identified, including the fused second and third tarsal bone, an additional bundle of the short medial collateral ligament connecting the talus and metatarsus and the medial and lateral limbs of the long plantar ligament. Conclusions MRI images provided a thorough evaluation of the normal dromedary camel tarsus. Information provided in the current study is expected to serve as a basis for interpretation in clinical situations.

In the present study, thirty clinically healthy donkeys were used to establish the reference values and repeatability for Pulsed Wave Doppler echocardiographic variables of the mitral valve, aortic valve and myocardial performance. 2-dimensional Color flow mapping and spectral Doppler modes were performed. For the mitral valve, the mean velocity, pressure gradient and duration of E-wave were 57.7 ± 12.5 cm/s, 1.4 ± 0.7 mmHg and 0.4 ± 0.13 s, respectively. The velocity, pressure gradient and duration of the A-wave were 32.3 ± 9.1 cm/s, 0.3 ± 0.04 mmHg and 0.3 ± 0.1 s, respectively. The mitral valve area, pressure half time, pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI) and velocity time integral (VTI) were 1.8 ± 0.5 cm2, 66 ± 17 ms, 2.8 ± 1.4, 0.9 ± 0.03 and 19.1 ± 5.7 cm, respectively. For the aortic valve, the mean velocity was 64.9 ± 10.4 cm/s, pressure gradient was 1.8 ± 0.4 mmHg, pulsatility index was 1.4 ± 0.3, resistance index was 0.9 ± 0.02, VTI was 25.02 ± 6.2 cm, systolic/diastolic was 19 ± 4.7 and heart rate was 95.7 ± 28.9 per minute. For Myocardial Performance Index (LV)–Tei Index, the mean ejection, isovolumic relaxation, isovolumic contraction time and myocardial performance index were 0.24 ± 0.01, 0.14 ± 0.01, 0.14 ± 0.02 and 1.2 ± 0.1 s, respectively. The results of the present study provide the reference values of PW echocardiographic parameter measurements in normal adult donkeys. Such reference values are helpful, especially when confronted with clinical cases with cardiovascular disorders.

This study was designed to compare the effectiveness of US-guided and blind IA injection techniques of buffaloes foot. Twenty adult buffalo cadaveric hind feet were randomly assigned to blind (n=10) and US-guided (n=10) injections of the fetlock, pastern, and coffin joints. Methylene blue (1%) and Iopamidol® 300 (5 ml) were used as indicative markers for IA injection. The same injection strategy was also used in vivo on 10 live sound buffaloes. The injection criteria were comparatively evaluated between the two injection techniques. The US-guided injection technique showed a significant increase in the injection parameters of the fetlock, pastern, and coffin joints in the foot of buffaloes compared with the blind technique. However, the difficulties of the injection and several trials weresignificantly higher in the blind IA injection than in the US-guided injection. The performance time was significantly shorter with the US-guided injection as compared to blind IA injection. Compared to the blind approach, US-guided injection had the highest specificity for intra-articular injection procedures at 86.66%. In conclusion, US-guided IA injection of buffaloes feet showed promising results in enhancing the quality of diagnostic and therapeutic IA injections compared to blind injections.

This study was designed to compare the effectiveness of US-guided and blind IA injection techniques of buffaloes foot. Twenty adult buffalo cadaveric hind feet were randomly assigned to blind (n=10) and US-guided (n=10) injections of the fetlock, pastern, and coffin joints. Methylene blue (1%) and Iopamidol® 300 (5 ml) were used as indicative markers for IA injection. The same injection strategy was also used in vivo on 10 live sound buffaloes. The injection criteria were comparatively evaluated between the two injection techniques. The US-guided injection technique showed a significant increase in the injection parameters of the fetlock, pastern, and coffin joints in the foot of buffaloes compared with the blind technique. However, the difficulties of the injection and several trials weresignificantly higher in the blind IA injection than in the US-guided injection. The performance time was significantly shorter with the US-guided injection as compared to blind IA injection. Compared to the blind approach, US-guided injection had the highest specificity for intra-articular injection procedures at 86.66%. In conclusion, US-guided IA injection of buffaloes feet showed promising results in enhancing the quality of diagnostic and therapeutic IA injections compared to blind injections.

This study was conducted to establish a detailed anatomic reference for the carpal joint of apparently healthy donkeys using ultrasonography (US), computed tomographic (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ten orthopedically sound adult donkeys were used for US examination of the carpal joint in each forelimb. Additionally, the carpi of ten donkey cadavers were subjected to CT and MRI examinations. The carpal joint was divided into four zones to simplify examination. US assessment of the carpal joint included transverse and longitudinal sonograms. CT was performed using three planes: axial, sagittal, and coronal. MRI was performed using axial and sagittal planes with two sequences: gradient-echo T1-weighted and proton density. The donkeys’ carpus US, CT, and MRI images were labeled and serially interpreted based on references and anatomical cross-sections. The anatomical characteristics of the carpal joint and the surrounding soft tissue structures were thoroughly described and precisely differentiated on US, CT, and MRI scans. It can be concluded that US, CT, and MRI are effective noninvasive diagnostic imaging tools for evaluating the carpal joint in donkeys. Moreover, these imaging modalities can aid in establishing a reference database for the carpal joint of donkeys, which differs from that of horses.