Abstract The study has aimed to investigate and determine the anatomical position, shape, size, and histological features of the ductus venosus, and its role as a shunt in the fetal circulatory system in domestic ruminants. The research was conducted on 19 bovine, 11 sheep and 5 goat fetuses, aborted at the late stage of pregnancy or deceased just after delivery. The general anatomy of the ductus venosus was investigated by in-situ dissection of the corrosive cast obtained by injection of 25% solution of Vinylite mass through the umbilical vein. For histological examination, the fetal tissue samples were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin, Masson’s trichrome, Verhoeff-Van Gieson and Gomoriꞌs silver stain. The results showed that ruminant fetal ductus venosus is a curved, trumpet-shaped vessel, situated in the central part of the liver, above the porta hepatis. Its ventral part is constricted in the form of an isthmus, having a prominent lip-like thickening at the junction with the portal sinus. Histological examination showed the dominant presence of collagen and elastic fibers in its tunica media, with thin bands of smooth muscle fibers oriented in a longitudinal and circular direction indicating ability for vasoconstriction and vasodilatation.

Spondyloarthropathy is a form of arthritis that affects spine, especially sacroiliac joint leading to the severe, chronic pain and over time, can cause complete fusion of the sacroiliac (SI) joint. The present report describes a case of spondyloarthropathy in a captive female brown bear ( Ursus arctos ) from Sarajevo zoo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Morphological inspection and radiograph of the macerated sacral and coxal bone specimen was performed. Both examinations showed complete bilateral symmetrical fusion of the sacral and coxal bone with syndesmophyte formation. Animals residing in zoos are kept under specific conditions which lead to inactivity and possible mobility problems caused by some sort of spondyloarthropathy.

Abstract This paper presents the results of the research on renal blood vessels of the mink. The main goal of this research is to provide a unique insight in renal vessel constellation and thereby contributes to the amount and quality of the available data on the cardiovascular system of the mink, since the data found in the available literature regarding this specific field is rather poorly documented. Blood vessels of the mink kidney were studied by dissection and corrosion injection technique. The renal artery and its branches, and the lobar, interlobar and interlobular arteries are terminal arteries and they do not anastomose between each other. The arterial system is characterized by two independent vascular areas, supplied by the dorsal and ventral lobar artery. Lobar arteries divide the kidney horizontally into a dorsal and ventral half, while lobar veins divide it vertically into the cranial and caudal half. The renal vein is formed from the cranial and caudal lobar vein. The obtained results are compared with relevant literature findings on renal blood supply of a dog and other sympatric carnivores.

Abstract The Harderian gland of 110 laying hens was histologically investigated from the time of hatching to the period of 10 months of age. Tissue sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-schiff (PAS) and methyl green-pyronin technique. The research shows that lymphoid tissue is colonised by three types of cells: heterophils, lymphocytes and plasma cells. The number of these cells is directly dependent on the bird’s age. During the lifetime of the hens there gradually comes a shift in the dominance of these three cell types. Lymphoid nodules are detected only in 40-day-old chickens, while later in adult birds the Harderian gland is the organ which contains the largest number of mature plasma cells. Some plasma cells contain Russell bodies with different size and shape.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has always had a developed sheep production, at least from the aspect of the number of sheep per capita. Today, the ratio is 1 sheep per 4 persons, because the cattle production, globally looking, is decimated by war. Thanks to the geographic location of the country, the quality of mountain pastures and environment that is still healthy, we believe that with increased investments in sheep production we could increase the number of heads, which would have positive effects on production of meat and milk of exceptional quality. The study involving the uterus of Dubska pramenka during sexual season under nomadic conditions of holding, demonstrated that, in adequate zoo hygiene conditions (holding, feeding, treatment of animal), the sheep showed increased reproductive parameters as well as parameters manifested in meat and milk production. In our studies, microstructure of uterus of Dubska pramenka during sexual season shows extremely positive characteristics for nidation of the egg cell and normal development of the embryo. Epithelium of the uterus is in a form of high-prismatic cells, which points to significant cell activity; perfusion and development of myometrium are visible. The uterine glands are extremely well developed and their histological structure indicates increased secretion and preparation of the uterus for gravidity.