OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of gastroscopy and biopsy of the proventriculus and ventriculus in pigeons (Columba livia). ANIMALS 15 adult pigeons. PROCEDURES Each pigeon was anesthetized, and the upper gastrointestinal tract (from the cervical portion of the esophagus to the ventriculus) was endoscopically evaluated by use of a rigid endoscope inserted orally. Saline (0.9% NaCl) solution was orally infused to achieve lumen dilation and visibility. Two mucosal biopsy specimens were collected from each of the proventriculus and ventriculus, histologically evaluated, and graded for crush artifacts and depth. Pigeons were monitored for adverse effects for 3 to 6 days after the procedure, after which they were euthanized for necropsy. RESULTS Gastroscopy via the oral approach provided excellent visibility of the lumen and mucosal surfaces of the proventriculus and cranial portion of the ventriculus and was safe provided that appropriate precautions were taken. Two intraoperative deaths occurred at the beginning of the study; following procedure refinement, no additional deaths occurred. No major adverse effects of the procedure were detected in the remaining 13 pigeons during the postoperative monitoring period or at necropsy. Diagnostic quality of proventriculus specimens was adequate for 10 of 13 pigeons. Eight of 13 ventriculus specimens were of inadequate quality, and only 3 were of adequate quality. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Gastroscopy was useful for evaluating the lumen and mucosal surface of the proventriculus and ventriculus in pigeons, and biopsy of those organs was safely performed with the appropriate technique. Further evaluation of these techniques is needed in birds with clinical disease and birds of other species.

The aim of this study was to investigate the course and distribution of the celiac artery in Hooded crows and to extend our knowledge on the captured crows. Scarce information in the field of veterinary comparative anatomy and the available literature on the celiac artery and its distribution is provided. So, the present study tried to declare the confusion about the course and distribution of the celiac artery in the Hooded crows. Therefore, 10 apparently healthy Hooded crows of different ages and sexes were captured. The birds were anaesthetized by IM injection of 0.5 cc of 2% xylazine HCL (3 mg/kg). Colored gum milk latex (60%) was then injected through the descending aorta. Then, specimens were subjected to fine dissection to demonstrate the origin, course and distribution of the celiac artery. The celiac artery erupted laterally from the right face of the descending aorta opposite to the distance between the 5th and 6th vertebral rib, on a level with the junction of the esophagus and the proventriculus. It proceeded ventrally and slight caudally, where it gave off the esophageal artery after, 5 cm from its origin, the dorsal proventricular artery, splinc arteries and at the middle of spleen then bifurcated into left and right branches. The left branch of the celiac artery gave rise to right hepatic artery, ventral proventricular artery, pyloric branches, ventral gastric artery and then continued as the A. gastrica sinistra. The right branch of the celiac artery released the caudal group of splenic arteries, A. gastrica dextra, then continued as A. pancreaticoduodenalis.

Objective: To determine 2-deoxy-2-fluoro (fluorine 18)-d-glucose (18FDG) biodistribution in the coelom of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Animals: 8 healthy adult bald eagles. Procedures: For each eagle, whole-body transmission noncontrast CT, 60-minute dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) of the celomic cavity (immediately after 18FDG injection), whole-body static PET 60 minutes after 18FDG injection, and whole-body contrast CT with iohexol were performed. After reconstruction, images were analyzed. Regions of interest were drawn over the ventricular myocardium, liver, spleen, proventriculus, cloaca, kidneys, and lungs on dynamic and static PET images. Standardized uptake values were calculated. Results: Kidneys had the most intense 18FDG uptake, followed by cloaca and intestinal tract; liver activity was mild and slightly more intense than that of the spleen; proventricular activity was always present, whereas little to no activity was identified in the wall of the ventriculus. Activity in the myocardium was present in all birds but varied in intensity among birds. The lungs had no visibly discernible activity. Mean ± SD standardized uptake values calculated with representative regions of interest at 60 minutes were as follows: myocardium, 1. 6 ± 0.2 (transverse plane) and 1.3 ± 0.3 (sagittal plane); liver, 1.1 ± 0.1; spleen, 0.9 ± 0.1; proventriculus, 1.0 ± 0.1; cloaca, 4.4 ± 2.7; right kidney, 17.3 ± 1.0; left kidney, 17.6 ± 0.3; and right and left lungs (each), 0.3 ± 0.02. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: The study established the biodistribution of 18FDG in adult eagles, providing a baseline for clinical investigation and future research.

Objective: The objective of this research was to study the histological structures of proventriculus by light and scanning electron microscope and to investigate the localization of glucagon immunoreactive cells within the turkey proventriculus. Materials and methods: Ten adult healthy turkeys were used in this study. The specimens were fixed in 10% buffered neutral formalin. The tissue samples were studied through routine histological and immunohistochemical techniques. Other samples were used for scanning microscope. Results: This study confirmed that the turkey proventriculus was formed from four tunics; tunica mucosa, tunica submucosa, tunica muscularis and tunica serosa. The lamina epithelialis was simple columnar and gave positive reaction in Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) stain. The lamina propria contained simple tubular glands lined with columnar cells with lymphocyte infiltration. The submucosa contained proventricular glands formed with many round lobules. Each lobule was consisted of secretory tubules radiating from the central lumen of the lobule. The lining epithelium of the central lumen was columnar epithelium. The epithelium of the secretory tubules was cuboidal. Scanning electron microscopic observations showed the mucous membrane was consisted of many macroscopic papillae that formed from many folds which separated by furrows. Immunohistochemical observations revealed that glucagon immunoreactive cells were mainly determined inside the proventricular glands than within the surface epithelium mainly in the basal portion of the lobules and in the epithelium of central lumen of gland lobules. Conclusion: The structure of proventriculus structure in turkey has some variations as compared to other species of birds, and this may be attributed to the diet and its nutritious behavior. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2018; 5(3.000): 290-298]