BACKGROUND: Dew claws of ruminants are rudimentary of 2 and 5 digits and usually do not  have  functional action. Most studies about the dew claws were done on the diseases and shape-abnormality. OBJECTIVES: Because  no comprehensive study has been done on the normal features of dew claws, especially in the water buffalo which is an important animal in  Khouzestan, this study was performed on anatomy and radiology of the dew claws in the water buffalo and cow. METHODS: 136 dew claws from 11 water buffaloes and 6 cows were examined morphologically, morphometrically, and radiologically and their similarities and differences were clarified. RESULTS: Morphologic result showed that the dew claws were prismatic in shape; their bases were attached to skin at the level of the palmar or plantar surfaces of the fetlock joints. They had two bony ossicles in most cases as proximal and distal ones, but the ossicles in lateral dew claws of thoracic limb in the water buffalo were 3 in number. Proximal ossicles of the water buffalo were dumbbell-shaped, and were irregular or drop-shaped in the cow. Distal ossicles were nearly similar to the third phalanges of the main claws which were pyramid-shaped in water buffalo and triangle-shaped in the cow. Morphometrically, the measurements of the hoof and bony structures of the dew claws in the water buffalo were muchgreater than those of the cows. CONCLUSIONS: Although dew claws in both animals morphologically shared some similarities, there were morpho- metrically significant differences between the dew claws of the water buffalo and the cow. Being larger than the structures in the water buffalo may provide better adaption in static and dynamic of the animal in soft and swamp grounds. Radiologically, the best view for examination of dew claws and their elements was oblique view.

BACKGROUND: The study of animal development by a dynamic perspective on gross anatomy often provides amplified pattern to reveal the more complex anatomy of the adult. This is especially helpful in understanding system whose components drastically change their relation positions during developmental growth, such as urogenital organs. OJECTIVES: The aim of present study was to study morphologic and morphometric development of sheep kidneys during fetal period. METHODS: Sixty fetal kidneys obtained from 30 sheep fetuses were divided into three groups (70-100, 100-120, 120-145 days) according to body length. Topography, dimensions, and weight of kidneys were evaluated. RESULTS: The kidneys were located totally in the lumbar region of the sides of the median plane. The position of kidneys relative to the transvers process of lumbar vertebrae was different in the age groups. The fetal kidney was not located at the same level of adult position even at the end of fetal period. The right kidney was consistently slightly cranial to left kidney. The left kidney was in contact with dorsal sac of rumen in all age groups. The right kidney was covered by ventral surface and a small part of the lateral surface of right lobe of liver, but with advancing age, the contact are of right kidney with caudate process of liver showed tangible reduction and such a contact limited eventually to the cranial pole of kidney. Means of dimensions and weight of kidneys increased with gestational age during fetal period. There were no sex and laterality differences in any parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Topography of fetal sheep kidneys relative to the lumbar vertebrate and their contact area of the kidneys with right lobe and caudate process of liver differed extremely from that of adult sheep kidney. It seems that the emergence of positional asymmetry of kidneys and changing contact area of right kidney exhibited an intimate relationship with the cranial shift and grow rate of right lobe and caudate process of liver during fetal development. The morphmetric results of fetal sheep kidneys were in agreement with the morphometric findings of humans and bovine kidneys.

Recent studies have discussed the importance of snakes, going beyond the context of Public Health (snakebites). Promising research demonstrates the utility of snake venom in several fields, including oncology, diagnosis, anticoagulant therapy, and pain treatment. Nevertheless, there are still gaps in the basic knowledge on these animals, specifically regarding the histological characterization of the gastrointestinal tract, which ultimately hinder comparative histology and pathology studies. In this context the present study intends to contribute with the advance of current knowledge on snake histology by describing and analyzing histological samples of the gastrointestinal tracts of Bothrops jararaca and Crotalus durissus. Samples were collected from 12 individuals (six from each species), up to 6 months of age and equally distributed between males and females. Histological slides were prepared from the organs collected and were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff and alcian blue. The slides were photographed with a high-resolution camera to create a portfolio representative of the histology of the gastrointestinal systems of these animals.

Introduction: Reindeer are adapted to long distance migration. This species can cope with variations in substrate, especially in ice and snow environment. However, few detailed studies about reindeer hoof are available. Thus this article describes the results of studies on macro- and micro-structures of reindeer hoof.Material and Methods: The gross anatomy of the reindeer hooves was examined. Stereo microscope (SM) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to observe four key selected positions of reindeer hooves. Moreover, element contents of the three selected positions of reindeer hooves were analysed using the SEM equipped with energy dispersive spectroscope.Results: Hoof bone structures were similar to other artiodactyl animals. In the microscopic analysis, the surfaces of the ungula sphere and ungula sole presented irregular laminated structure. Ungula edge surfaces were smooth and ungula cusp surfaces had unique features. Aside from C, O, and N, reindeer hooves contained such elements as S, Si, Fe, Al, and Ca. The content of the elements in different parts varied. Ti was the particular element in the ungula sole, and ungula edge lacked Mg and S which other parts contained.Conclusion: The macro- and micro-structures of the reindeer hooves showed high performance of skid and abrasion resistance. It is most probably essential to the long distance migration for the animals.

A study was carried out to detect and identify the presence of coccidia oocysts in the faeces of village chicken from the district of Pasir Putih, Kelantan, West Malaysia. A total of 135 fecal samples were collected from 15 areas in the Pasir PutihDistrict. The faecal samples were examined by direct smear method (qualitative study). A pinch of the faeces was put onto the glassslide with 1-2 drops of normal saline and cover slip, which was then observed under the compound microscope to detect thecoccidia oocysts. The presence of coccidia oocyst was then identified by its size and shape. Results showed that ten out of 135 samples were positive for coccidia oocysts, and classified as Eimeria maxima and Eimeria mitis, both of which are from two locations at Kampung Chap Banir, Pasir Putih, Kelantan. The remaining 125 samples were observed to be negative. This may suggest that the chickens reared in the backyard (extensive)are less susceptible to the coccidia infection due to their environment with lower stocking density (mostly free ranging chicken), and no damp/wet litter as bedding which canfacilitate sporulation of the coccicia oocyst thereby spreading the infection. Further studies need to be done to elucididate other factors which may affect coccidial infections in free range chicken such as the availability of medications in feed or genetic hardiness and tolerance to field infections. The localvillage chicken industry is an up and coming facet of the poultry industry and needs concerted efforts to boost it.