Macro and Microscopic Characteristics of the Gastrointestinal Tract of the Cattle Egret (Bubulcus Ibis)

Abstract

Introduction: Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) is widely spread in Egypt and acts as a reservoir for many diseases. Few study described the anatomical and histological picture of its gastrointestinal tract which plays an important role in its nutrition habits in correlation to transmission of diseases. Materials and Methods:The present work was carried out on ten cattle egrets of different age and sex. After euthanized; five birds were subjected to normal dissection to study their gross anatomy by injection of 10% formalin. The GIT of the other five birds were sampled and directed to the microscopic anatomy (light, electron microscopy and histochemical study). Results:The lining epithelium and glands all over the GIT, except the alveolar cells of the proventriculus, were strong alcian blue and Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) positive. The cone shape proventriculus was covered internally with an eosinophilic mucous layer, the C shape gizzard, and spherical pyloric part of the stomach was covered internally with soft gel likeeosinophilic mucous koilin layer and desquamated cells. The U-shape duodenum and the thicker wall jejunum till the Michel's diverticulum, after this diverticulum ileum starts with straight, short and less numerous intestinal villi. The single left cecum of lymphoid type with nodular lymphoid tissue. Enteroendocrine cells were observed all over the stomach and intestine which demonstrated by Grimelius' silver method. Methyl green pyronin method used demonstrates Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). Conclusion:All micro and microscopic features in the study indicate that the cattle egret is carnivores' bird.

Morphological features of the gastrointestinal tract of Garganey (Anas querquedula, Linnaeus 1758)—Oesophagus to coprodeum

“…The tunica submucosa composed of connective tissue fibres. This agrees with Rodrigues, Oliveira, et al (), Zaher et al () and Hussein and Rezk (). The tunica musculosa consisted of thick inner circular layer and outer thin longitudinal layer of smooth muscle fibres, and this come in alignment with Abd El‐Aziz (), Rodrigues, Abreu, et al (), Zaher et al () and Hussein and Rezk ().…”

“…The jejunal villi were longer than the duodenal villi, but the ileal villi appeared with different length, while Nasrin et al () reported that the jejunal and ileal villi were shorter than that found in the duodenum, and moreover, Kadhim, Zuki, Noordin, Babjee, and Zamri‐Saad () documented that the duodenal villi height was greater than the jejunal and ileal villi. At the bases of the villi, the intestinal crypts were present, and this coincide with that obtained by Hussein and Rezk (). Moreover, Illanes, Fertilio, Quijada, Leyton, and Verdugo (), Monteiro de Souza de Carvalho and de Souza () and Rodrigues, Oliveira, et al () recorded that the duodenal villi is longer that the jejunal villi, while the ileal villi appeared with variable length.…”

“…The muscularis mucosa of the small intestine was thin and consisted of longitudinally arranged smooth muscle fibres, and this agrees with Zaher et al (), while Hussein and Rezk () mentioned that it was represented by a narrow part of longitudinally arranged smooth muscle fibres towards the side of the submucosa, but on the side of the lamina propria it is represented by vertically arranged smooth muscle fibre strands. The tunica submucosa composed of connective tissue fibres.…”

“…The mucosa of the rectum was thrown into long villi lined by simple columnar epithelium with goblet cells. The same results obtained by Banks (), Bacha and Bacha () and Hussein and Rezk (), but Matsumoto et al () did not find the villi. The lamina muscularis mucosa composed of longitudinally arranged smooth muscle fibres.…”

“…The tunica musculosa consisted of inner circular layer and outer longitudinal layer, while Udoumoh et al () reported that the inner and outer longitudinal layer and middle circular layer. Some lymphoid follicles were presented deep to the tunica musculosa, whereas Hussein and Rezk () recorded that they were present in the mucosa and the submucosa.…”