Spectrum of congenital heart diseases in an African population: A necropsy study

Background: The spectrum and incidence of congenital heart diseases amongst African population are not well defined in literature. There is the need to further elucidate the spectrum and epidemiology of congenital heart diseases amongst African. Aim: This study was conducted to highlight the spectrum and occurrence of congenital heart diseases in an African population. Methodology: All paediatric patients who were autopsied over a 98-month period were checked for occurrence of congenital heart diseases. Attempts were made to ascertain the primary disease and causes of death. We noted their bio-data, ages, sexes and causes of death. The results were analysed with SPSS version 17. The results formed the basis for discussion and recommendations. Results: There were 135 cardiac related deaths and 36 of them were in paediatric age brackets. The mean age was 4.7 + 1.08 months with a standard deviation of 6.27. M:F ratio was 1:1.1. The commonest anomaly was ventricular septal defect. There was a weak association with other congenital anomalies. The commonest cause of death was bronchopneumonia. Discussion and Recommendation: The disease pattern showed reasonable similarity with reports from other parts of the world. However, there is need for development of capacity for prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart diseases in Africa. This will widen the net of diagnosis and improve accuracy of incidence studies in Africa.

Implementation of a New Solution for the Preservation of Anatomical Specimens Made of Non-Toxic Substances

The preservation of anatomical pieces in Veterinary Anatomy is essential since it is not possible to dissect all domestic species. Most techniques use reagents with high levels of toxicity such as formaldehyde. The objective of this work was to develop a new preservation technique that uses reagents with zero toxicity and that allows obtaining preserved pieces suitable for anatomical studies. The alcohol propylene glycol technique was developed, the method of which uses a fixation step with alcohol, sodium chloride, commercial vinegar and subsequently the impregnation of the preservation solution made from propylene glycol and commercial vinegar, which are non-toxic. As a result of this work, adequately preserved sheep hearts were obtained that preserved their morphology with slight changes in size and weight, which did not affect their external and internal anatomical structure. Its coloration was not substantially affected, remaining a little lighter. The pieces obtained showed flexibility which allowed dissections to be carried out. The time to develop the technique was 20 days. A comparative study was carried out with the phenolated glycerin technique that uses toxic reagents (formaldehyde and phenol) and the pieces obtained with the alcohol propylene glycol technique were of better quality, observing that the pieces with phenolated glycerin tend to darken and are more rigid. And the time to develop the technique is 24 days. In conclusion, a preservation technique for anatomical pieces was developed that allowed the preservation of the organs under study, which allow their use for anatomical studies, and which have been preserved without changes until the time of this publication (8 months) and there are pieces preserved with this technique for 2 years.

The importance of post-mortem examinations in cetacean biology:A report of a necropsy on Stenella coeruleoalba(Meyen,1833)(Cetacea:Delphinidae),from the Azores,Northeastern Atlantic

This article reports the necropsy of a specimen of striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba found stranded in the north coast of Terceira Island,Azores,Portugal.Here,the importance of standard protocols in post-mortem examinations and the need to adequately proceed were discussed.Stranded marine mammals are valuable specimens for several studies of pathology and other veterinary medical aspects.Although the causa mortis was not determined,the full access to stranded specimens was crucial,not only for pathology studies but also for a proper training to veterinary medicine students whenever possible.

ENDOMYOCARDIAL FIBROSIS IN CHINA

To introduce the epidemical, pathological, and clinical characteristics as well as the diagnostic and therapeutical experiences of endomyocardial fibrosis(EMF) in China. [WT5”BX] Data sources.[WT5”BZ]A CMBdisc search was done of the Chinese language literature published from January 1983 through June 1997 about EMF and/or restrictive cardiomyopathy. A manual search was then done for other contributions, including abstracts, between January 1965 and June 1997. [WT5”BX] Results. [WT5”BZ]Eighty seven Chinese cases of EMF were collected in this paper. There were 49 men and 38 women, with a mean age of 28±13 years(range, 8 to 68 years). The distribution of the cases is mainly in the south of China. Combined right and left ventricular disease occurs in 48 percent of cases, with pure right ventricular involvement occurring in 42 percent and pure left ventricular involvement in the remaining 10 percent of patients who are examined postmortem. The diagnosis of EMF was confirmed in 21 cases at autopsy, and in 66 cases by echocardiography, angiocardiography, and/or endomyocardial biopsy which showed the characteristic changes. Clinically, right sided disease is the commonest variety. Endocardiectomy and tricuspid(n=7) or mitral(n=1) valves replacement have been performed in 8 patients. There were 2 operative deaths. Six patients had a satisfactory recovery postoperatively and living well in the follow up duration. [WT5”BX] Conclusion.

“Alas poor Yorick”: What retrospective analysis of canine skulls can tell us about the impact of environmental factors on health

Necropsies and extensive histological evaluation for clinical and sub-clinical disease of approximately three hundred Portuguese Water dogs are available as part of an ongoing study to assess their state of health at the end of life. Throughout life these dogs enjoyed a variety of lifestyles and environments. Here we carry out retrospective quantitative assessments of life-time dietary input and physical activity for each dog. To do this, collagens from skull vault bone and from dentine have been analyzed for ratios of stable isotopes to determine differences in diet that individual dogs experienced during late or early life respectively. Robustness of skull bone (weight/unit of skull size) was used as a relative indicator of the amount of physical activity experienced during a dog’s lifetime. These environmental parameters were correlated with the frequency and severity of specific disease processes determined at necropsy. Both measures were shown to exert significant low-level

Diagnosis and Prevention of Colibacillosis in Chickens

The characteristics of chicken colibacillosis are introduced from the aspects of pathogen,epidemiology,clinical symptoms and necropsy,and clinical comprehensive diagnosis and laboratory diagnosis methods are given.The disease is distinguished from diseases with similar symptoms such as chicken chlamydia,chicken streptococcus,chicken necrotic enteritis,broiler ascites syndrome and chicken paratyphoid infections.Eventually,the preventive and therapeutic measures against the disease are put forward.

Diagnosis and Prevention of Duck Virus Enteritis

The characteristics of duck virus enteritis(DVE)are introduced from the aspects of pathogen,epidemiology,clinical symptoms,autopsy pathological changes,etc.,and clinical comprehensive diagnosis and laboratory diagnosis methods are given.The disease is distinguished from similar diseases including duck necrotic enteritis,duck candidiasis,duck hemorrhage,duck coccidiosis and duck vitamin A deficiency.Eventually,the prevention and treatment measures of the disease are put forward.

Prevalence of Canine Heartworm Disease in Stray Dogs of Grenada, West Indies

Dirofilariasis (heartworm disease) has been reported in Grenadian dogs. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in stray dogs (n = 523) from the six Parishes of Grenada. Necropsy records were reviewed;information on the distribution and lesions of Dirofilaria immitis was recorded. A total of 144 from 523 dogs (27.5%;95% CI: 23.9% to 31.5%) were positive for Dirofilaria immitis on necropsy. This study shows that heartworm disease is prevalent in stray dogs in all the Parishes of mainland Grenada. This is a progressive, life-threatening disease and thus, there is a need to screen and prevent it within the stray dog population of Grenada.

Histopathological changes of Macaca mulatta infected with Plasmodium knowlesi

Objective To study the histopathological changes of relevant intemal organs of Macaca mulatta infected with Plasmodium knowlesi ( P. knowlesi).Methods Histopathological examination of 3 monkeys who died of P. knowlesi infection, 2 P. knowlesi infected monkeys who died of treatment failure with artesunate suppository and 1 P. knowlesi infected monkey that was cured by piperaquine phosphate (PQP) but died of trauma and necrosis of the fore limb.Results The heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, brain, pancreas, parathyriod, pituitary and lymph nodes showed severe pathological changes in 3 monkeys (No. 1, 7 and 12) who died of P. knowlesi infection and 1 infected monkey (No. 72) who died of treatment failure with artesunate suppository. Red blood cells containing rmalarial parasites and pigments were concentrated in the capillaries of these organs. Malarial pigments were deposited in many organs or phagocytized by macrophages in 1 monkey (No. 131 ), it was cured by piperaquine phosphate but died of trauma and necrosis of the fore limb; cellular atrophy and disappearance of pancreatic islets, parathyroid and pituitary cells were also observed. One monkey (No.33) treated with artesunate suppository, showed that blood parasites became negative but recrudesced and pituiary later died from a gavage accident. Its organs showed a significant difference to those of the infected monkeys receiving no treatment. Only the liver Kupffer cells and cerebral matrix contained malarial parasites and pigments; many relevant intemal organs showed repair.Conclusion The pathological changes of relevant internal organs of Macaca mulatta infected with P. knowlesi were examined in detail, especially cellular atrophy and the disappearance of pancreatic islets, parathyoid and pituitary cells and myolysis of cardiac muscles. These changes have not previously been reported elsewhere.