Veterinary Research Forum

Abstract Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a common congenital anomaly in large animals, but it is rarely documented in small ruminants. This report described a case involving a three-month-old male lamb of the Iranian Shall breed that was presented to a Veterinary Hospital of University of Tehran with nasal discharge and growth retardation. Clinical examination revealed a heart rate of 120 beats per min, a respiratory rate of 50 breaths per min, pale mucous membranes and a low-grade pansystolic murmur that was auscultated bilaterally in the thoracic region. Echocardio-graphy revealed a 10.00 mm defect between the right and left ventricles, located in the supraventricular region behind the aortic valve, along with evidence of left-to-right shunting. Imaging studies including echocardiography and radiography indicated increased cardiac volume particularly in the right ventricle. These findings were corroborated by necropsy. This case study aimed to elucidate the imaging findings associated with Ventricular septal defect in an Iranian Shall lamb.

Abstract The objectives of the present study were to investigate the prevalence of histologic thyroids lesions and the respective thyroid hormones changes of ewes in an endemic goiter region and to find out any impact of this condition on the fetal thyroid structures and serum thyroid hormones. In the present study a total number of 100 pregnant ewes and their fetuses slaughtered at slaughterhouse were selected for the study. The sera were prepared from the jugular vein blood of ewes and fetuses umbilical cords. The ewes and fetuses thyroids subjected to histopathological examination and radioimmunoassay procedure was used for sera T3 and T4 assay. The results showed a high prevalence of thyroid lesions in ewes and their fetuses. The different kinds of lesions including cysts, follicular hyperplasia, hemorrhage and inflammation were seen in ewes. In the fetuses thyroid structural changes were cysts resemble structures; hemorrhage and hyperemia. Mean T4 concentration was significantly higher in the ewes with pathologic thyroid compared to normal animals. However, there was not any significant difference between pathologic and normal ewes’ thyroids on serum T3. Although, existence of lesions on fetal thyroids did not affect the serum concentrations of T4 and T3, there was a significant correlation between T4 and T3 serum concentrations of fetuses and their age. In conclusion, the significant prevalence of fetal and maternal thyroid pathological changes in the endemic goiter region raises a question about probable congenital source of these variations. The thyroid lesions significantly influenced the functions of mothers' gland but not fetuses.

Abstract The thyroid structural changes in pregnant ewes and their fetuses were investigated. Out of 100 pairs of thyroid glands collected from ewes and their fetuses at the local municipal abattoir in Ahvaz city of Khuzestan province, multiple lesions were seen in 59% and 21% of the thyroid glands of ewes and fetuses, respectively. Histologically, ninety nine lesions in the ewes and twenty two lesions in the fetuses’ thyroid glands were noticed.