The present study was designed to develop blind (BL) and ultrasound-guided (UG) liver biopsy (LB) techniques in donkeys (Equus asinus) and assess the complication rates of both techniques. Forty donkeys were included in this study. Based on the LB technique and biopsy site, the animals were allocated into four groups as BL biopsy at the 13th intercostal space (ICS) (BL13, n ¼ 10), BL14 (n ¼ 10), UG13 (n ¼ 10), and UG14 (n ¼ 10). All animals underwent liver ultrasonography prior to the biopsy procedure and then kept for 2-day observation period postbiopsy. The ultrasonographic thickness of the liver was higher at the 13th and 14th ICSs than the 12th and 15th ICSs (P .05). The liver was partially covered by the lung at the most upper part of the 13th ICS. No mortality or major complications were observed. Follow-up ultrasonography revealed no serious complications, except a case in BL13 group exhibited a subcutaneous hematoma. The mean values of erythrocytic count and packed cell volume were significantly lowered in the BL13 group in comparison with their prebiopsy values (P .05). All the biopsy specimens (40/40) were adequate for histopathological assessment. Mean specimen length and tissue fragmentation were significantly higher in the BL groups than UG ones (P .001). In conclusion, percutaneous UG LB is a safe and accurate procedure and can be performed easily in donkeys. Blind LB at the 13th ICS is not recommended; however, it can be done safely at the 14th ICS.

The present study was designed to develop blind (BL) and ultrasound-guided (UG) liver biopsy (LB) techniques in donkeys (Equus asinus) and assess the complication rates of both techniques. Forty donkeys were included in this study. Based on the LB technique and biopsy site, the animals were allocated into four groups as BL biopsy at the 13th intercostal space (ICS) (BL13, n ¼ 10), BL14 (n ¼ 10), UG13 (n ¼ 10), and UG14 (n ¼ 10). All animals underwent liver ultrasonography prior to the biopsy procedure and then kept for 2-day observation period postbiopsy. The ultrasonographic thickness of the liver was higher at the 13th and 14th ICSs than the 12th and 15th ICSs (P .05). The liver was partially covered by the lung at the most upper part of the 13th ICS. No mortality or major complications were observed. Follow-up ultrasonography revealed no serious complications, except a case in BL13 group exhibited a subcutaneous hematoma. The mean values of erythrocytic count and packed cell volume were significantly lowered in the BL13 group in comparison with their prebiopsy values (P .05). All the biopsy specimens (40/40) were adequate for histopathological assessment. Mean specimen length and tissue fragmentation were significantly higher in the BL groups than UG ones (P .001). In conclusion, percutaneous UG LB is a safe and accurate procedure and can be performed easily in donkeys. Blind LB at the 13th ICS is not recommended; however, it can be done safely at the 14th ICS.

The present study was designed to develop blind (BL) and ultrasound-guided (UG) liver biopsy (LB) techniques in donkeys (Equus asinus) and assess the complication rates of both techniques. Forty donkeys were included in this study. Based on the LB technique and biopsy site, the animals were allocated into four groups as BL biopsy at the 13th intercostal space (ICS) (BL13, n ¼ 10), BL14 (n ¼ 10), UG13 (n ¼ 10), and UG14 (n ¼ 10). All animals underwent liver ultrasonography prior to the biopsy procedure and then kept for 2-day observation period postbiopsy. The ultrasonographic thickness of the liver was higher at the 13th and 14th ICSs than the 12th and 15th ICSs (P .05). The liver was partially covered by the lung at the most upper part of the 13th ICS. No mortality or major complications were observed. Follow-up ultrasonography revealed no serious complications, except a case in BL13 group exhibited a subcutaneous hematoma. The mean values of erythrocytic count and packed cell volume were significantly lowered in the BL13 group in comparison with their prebiopsy values (P .05). All the biopsy specimens (40/40) were adequate for histopathological assessment. Mean specimen length and tissue fragmentation were significantly higher in the BL groups than UG ones (P .001). In conclusion, percutaneous UG LB is a safe and accurate procedure and can be performed easily in donkeys. Blind LB at the 13th ICS is not recommended; however, it can be done safely at the 14th ICS.

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This study was made on 24 camel fetuses of crown-rump vertebral length (CVRL) ranging from 10.5 cm to 105 cm CVRL (94–352 days old). These camel fetuses were classified into three groups representing the three trimesters of prenatal life. During the first trimester (94–142 days), lingual papillae (circumvallate and lentiform papillae) were demonstrated on the lingual root, but lingual body and the apex were almost free of papillae except for some scattered epithelial projections especially near the lateral borders of the body. In the second trimester (152–229 days), the lentiform papillae covered the entire root of the tongue except for areas occupied by the circumvallate papillae. Taste buds with clear pores were observed for the first time in areas between the circumvallate gustatory furrow and surface epithelium of the tongue. In addition, short numerous filiform papillae were observed on the rostral part of the lingual body and the lateral parts of the apex. Fungiform papillae, however, were demonstrated amidst the filiform papillae. In this trimester, taste buds were also seen on the top of the fungiform papillae. In the third trimester (256–352 days), all lingual papillae were clearly demonstrated on the dorsum of the root, body and apex of the tongue. Both types of gustatory papillae (circumvallate and fungiform) had well-developed taste buds. Mechanical papillae (filiform and lentiform) were well developed. Lentiform papillae occupied most of the dorsal aspect of the Torus linguae; they were larger in size with semicircular apices. Filiform papillae, however, were numerous and demonstrated heavily on the lateral and rostral parts of the body as well as on the apex of the tongue.

This study was made on 24 camel fetuses of crown-rump vertebral length (CVRL) ranging from 10.5 cm to 105 cm CVRL (94–352 days old). These camel fetuses were classified into three groups representing the three trimesters of prenatal life. During the first trimester (94–142 days), lingual papillae (circumvallate and lentiform papillae) were demonstrated on the lingual root, but lingual body and the apex were almost free of papillae except for some scattered epithelial projections especially near the lateral borders of the body. In the second trimester (152–229 days), the lentiform papillae covered the entire root of the tongue except for areas occupied by the circumvallate papillae. Taste buds with clear pores were observed for the first time in areas between the circumvallate gustatory furrow and surface epithelium of the tongue. In addition, short numerous filiform papillae were observed on the rostral part of the lingual body and the lateral parts of the apex. Fungiform papillae, however, were demonstrated amidst the filiform papillae. In this trimester, taste buds were also seen on the top of the fungiform papillae. In the third trimester (256–352 days), all lingual papillae were clearly demonstrated on the dorsum of the root, body and apex of the tongue. Both types of gustatory papillae (circumvallate and fungiform) had well-developed taste buds. Mechanical papillae (filiform and lentiform) were well developed. Lentiform papillae occupied most of the dorsal aspect of the Torus linguae; they were larger in size with semicircular apices. Filiform papillae, however, were numerous and demonstrated heavily on the lateral and rostral parts of the body as well as on the apex of the tongue.

This study was made on 24 camel fetuses of crown-rump vertebral length (CVRL) ranging from 10.5 cm to 105 cm CVRL (94–352 days old). These camel fetuses were classified into three groups representing the three trimesters of prenatal life. During the first trimester (94–142 days), lingual papillae (circumvallate and lentiform papillae) were demonstrated on the lingual root, but lingual body and the apex were almost free of papillae except for some scattered epithelial projections especially near the lateral borders of the body. In the second trimester (152–229 days), the lentiform papillae covered the entire root of the tongue except for areas occupied by the circumvallate papillae. Taste buds with clear pores were observed for the first time in areas between the circumvallate gustatory furrow and surface epithelium of the tongue. In addition, short numerous filiform papillae were observed on the rostral part of the lingual body and the lateral parts of the apex. Fungiform papillae, however, were demonstrated amidst the filiform papillae. In this trimester, taste buds were also seen on the top of the fungiform papillae. In the third trimester (256–352 days), all lingual papillae were clearly demonstrated on the dorsum of the root, body and apex of the tongue. Both types of gustatory papillae (circumvallate and fungiform) had well-developed taste buds. Mechanical papillae (filiform and lentiform) were well developed. Lentiform papillae occupied most of the dorsal aspect of the Torus linguae; they were larger in size with semicircular apices. Filiform papillae, however, were numerous and demonstrated heavily on the lateral and rostral parts of the body as well as on the apex of the tongue.