The arterial supply of Meckel's diverticulum in geese (Anser anser domesticus)

Colonic mucinous adenocarcinoma in a tufted deer: differential diagnosis and literature review

An 18-y-old female tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus) had a short history of chronic diarrhea, progressive weight loss, and hindlimb instability. Given the poor prognosis, the deer was euthanized and submitted for postmortem examination. The most significant gross finding was segmental and multinodular mural thickening of the proximal colon. On cut surface of the affected colonic segments, 0.5-2-cm diameter, intramural, multiloculated, cystic structures containing gray, translucent, gelatinous material elevated the edematous mucosa. Microscopically, the intramural cystic structures were filled with mucinous matrix admixed with foamy macrophages, and lined by discontinuous segments of well-differentiated columnar, pancytokeratin-positive epithelium with basilar nuclei. Multifocally, transition was observed from hyperplastic mucosal crypt epithelium to dysplastic or neoplastic columnar and flattened epithelium lining submucosal and serosal cysts. Cyst lumina were irregularly disrupted by polypoid ingrowths of collagenous tissue covered by attenuated epithelium. Based on these findings, we diagnosed a well-differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma. Although intestinal adenocarcinomas have been described in humans and animals, they are considered uncommon in most domestic species, except for sheep, for which genetic and environmental factors appear to influence occurrence. Our report addresses the knowledge gap regarding intestinal adenocarcinomas affecting cervids and specifically the tufted deer, a less-studied, near-threatened Asian cervid.

Content and location of lymphocyte subpopulations with markers CD4+, CD8+ and CD20+ in the esophageal tonsil of chickens and the Meckel diverticulum of ducks

Immune formations of birds' digestive organs, including the esophageal tonsil and Meckel’s diverticulum, protect the body from foreign antigens that enter the body with food and water and play an important role in maintaining the genetic constancy of its internal environment. This unique property of the immune system is formed during ontogenesis and is associated with maintaining the selection of lymphocyte clones that are able to respond to foreign antigens and carry out a specific immune response of two types: humoral and cellular. This article presents the results of a study of T- and B-lymphocyte subpopulations of the esophageal tonsil of Shever 579 cross chickens at the age of 25, 180 and 300 days, the Meckel diverticulum of the Blagovarsky cross ducks at the age of 30, 150 and 180 days. Immunohistochemical and statistical research methods were used to determine the localization and quantitative parameters of cell populations of lymphocytes (CD4+, CD8+, CD20+) using monoclonal antibodies and the DAKO EnVision FLEX+ imaging system (Dako Cytomation, Denmark). Separate subpopulations of T-lymphocytes (CD4+ - helpers, CD8+ -cytotoxic / T-suppressors) and mature B-lymphocytes (CD20+) were found in the esophageal tonsil and Meckel diverticulum of birds. Their presence confirms that antigen-independent proliferation and differentiation of lymphocytes into effector cells occur in the immune formations of the digestive system. The lymphoid tissue of these formations is represented mainly by a well-defined diffuse form and nodules with light centers (secondary). In the esophageal tonsil of chickens, these structures are located in the tunica mucosa and tela submucosa, and in the Meckel diverticulum of ducks – also in the tunica muscularis. The content of lymphocytes with these markers predominates in diffuse lymphoid tissue compared to that in secondary lymphoid nodules. In the diffuse lymphoid tissue of the esophageal tonsil, lymphocytes are located mainly near the adenomeres and excretory ducts of the esophageal glands, blood vessels, and under the surface epithelium, and in Meckel’s diverticulum – around the crypts, in their epithelium and in the epithelium of the villi. They are also found in the light centers of lymphoid nodules and on their periphery. The indices of the content of lymphocytes with the indicated markers in the esophageal tonsil and Meckel diverticulum which we determined were associated with age characteristics of the poultry in the postnatal period of ontogenesis. According to our observations, the content of CD20+ lymphocytes was the highest, while the populations of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes were much smaller. This indicates an increase in the activity and predominance of the humoral immunity over the cellular one. The content of CD20+ lymphocytes was highest in birds at the age of 180 days, that is, during their sexual maturity. The data presented in the work can be used by morphologists researching the organs of the immune system, immunologists, poultry specialists involved in breeding, using and raising poultry and in educational work.

The Arterial Vascularization of the Small and Large Intestine in Adult Male Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo)

The aim of this study was to reveal the blood supply of the intestinal tract in male adult turkey. Five healthy birds were collected from local suppliers at Baaqoba province. All birds were euthanized and their coelomic cavity was dissected. The descending aorta was cannulated and injected with colored latex, and then the course of arteries along the intestinal tract investigated. Small intestine received the blood by celiac artery, cranial and caudal mesenteric artery. Celiac was split into two branches right and left, the right branch of celiac artery supplied the proventriculus, gizzard, duodenum, pancreas, jejunum and distal part of ileum and cecum while left branch supply the stomach. The crania mesenteric artery nourished the terminal parts of duodenum, jejunum ileum and cranial part of the two ceca, on the other hand. Caudal mesenteric artery was the third artery that supplied the intestine which was short branch originated from descending aorta and divided into two groups cranial groups supplied distal part of ileum and base of ceca while the caudal groups supplied the rectum and cloaca and anastomosed with cranial mesenteric artery. Form the above results, it was concluded that the small and large intestine are nourished by the three major arteries namely Celiac, Cranial and Caudal mesenteric arteries and its branches.

Imaging diagnosis--duodenal diverticulum in a dog

A young female Boxer had a history of chronic soft stool. Survey abdominal radiographs were unremarkable. A duodenal diverticulum was identified in abdominal ultrasound and barium upper-gastrointestinal contrast examinations. Before surgery a 99mTc-pertechnetate study was performed to evaluate for ectopic gastric mucosa in the duodenal diverticulum. Focal abnormal increased radioactivity was identified in the right caudal abdominal quadrant. The diverticulum was excised. Upon histopathologic examination of the duodenal diverticulum, ectopic gastric mucosa was not identified but ectopic pancreatic tissue was found. Mild eosinophilic inflammation within the diverticulum was suspected to be the cause of the mild 99mTc uptake seen in this dog.