Veterinary Research Forum

Abstract Hamartomas are mostly benign tumor-like malformations characterized by a disorganized overgrowth of mature cells and tissues indigenous to the affected anatomical site. A 20-day-old male Kurdish foal was presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Urmia University, Urmia, Iran, with a history of hematochezia and tenesmus. Clinical examination identified a pedunculated tissue mass within the rectal lumen. The abnormal mass was surgically excised via polypectomy under local anesthesia. Tissue samples were obtained, fixed in 10.00% neutral buffered formalin, and processed routinely for histopathological examination. Histopathological evaluation of the resected tissue confirmed the diagnosis of a cystic polypoid rectal hamartoma characterized by normal rectal epithelium overlying multiple cystic, blood-filled vascular spaces. The foal recovered without complications and no recurrence was noted during a long-term follow-up exceeding 18 months. This report underscored that congenital rectal hamartoma, while rare, should be considered as a differential diagnosis in neonatal foals presenting with hematochezia or dyschezia. Prompt surgical intervention is curative and associated with a favorable prognosis.

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate development of the weight and the morphological development of the rectum in broiler chickens. Twenty broiler chickens (Ross 308) were used in this experiment and they were 12, 20, 35 and 44 days of age. Samples from the rectum of chicks were sectioned in an unbiased manner and examined quantitatively using stereology. In addition, the weight of both body (BW) and rectum and also rectum weight as a proportion of BW, height and width of the villi and thickness of rectum wall were measured. The results revealed that the body and rectum weight were increased with age. The greatest rectum weight as a proportion of BW was observed on day 20. An increase in height and width of the villi during the study period were obtained. The increase was more significant on days 35 and 44 than on days 12 and 20 (p < 0.05). There were significant difference in thickness of tunica mucosa, submucosa and muscular layer of the rectum on day 20 compared to day 35 (p < 0.05). The increase in the volume density of the wall, tunica mucosa and tunica muscular was greater on day 20 than on day 35. However, significant differences were observed in volume density of this layers between days 35 and 44 compared to days 12 and 20 (p < 0.05).

Abstract Rectal diverticulum is a rare condition in dogs characterized by formation of a pouch or sac due to hernial protrusion of the mucous membranes through a defect in the muscular coat of the rectum. A 12-year-old male terrier dog was admitted with a history of a left perineal swelling, dyschezia and tenesmus during the last five months. Digital rectal examination identified a weakness in the left pelvic diaphragm and feces-filled sac within the lateral wall of the rectum. Positive contrast radiography showed a marked solitary diverticulum (3.5 × 4 × 4.5 cm) with wide-orifice neck arising from the left rectal wall. Using a lateral approach, a large rectal diverticulum was found and diverticulectomy following standard herniorrhaphy was performed. The dog recovered uneventfully with no signs of dyschezia during the next three years. Diverticulectomy by lateral approach and perineal herniorrhaphy produced excellent results.