These stones are composed of calcium palmitate and pigment [7].The clinical signs associated with cholelithiasis in the large animals are anorexia, weight loss, low milk yield, chronic intermittent diarrhea, recurrent attacks of sever abdominal pain, alimentary tract stasis, pain on percussion over selleck chem Vismodegib the liver, pyrexia, jaundice, recumbency, depression, and coma. [8�C10]. Hyperammonemic hepatic encephalopathy and photosensitization are other less common features of cholelithiasis. A subclinical presentation, caused by partial obstruction of the biliary tree, may be recognized only on postmortem examination [5]. Choleliths may be associated with chronic cholecystitis [3]. The lack of observational models for noninduced cholelithiasis in animals had contributed to the absence of epidemiologic studies, which have been done in human beings [6].
In view of the paucity of information on cholelithiasis in sheep, this paper reports the prevalence and composition of choleliths in a main breed of Iranian sheep. Bacteriologic analysis and histopathological findings were reviewed.2. Materials and MethodsThe study was carried out on 430 Lori-Bakhtiari sheep (279 males and 151 females) at Juneghan abattoir in Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari province of Iran from November 2009 to June 2010. Before slaughter, an antemortem examination was done on all sheep during which their age and gender were evaluated. A division of young (��2 years, n = 297) and adult (>2 years, n = 133) sheep were done after inspection of their teeth. After slaughtering the sheep, the gallbladder was removed and the surface and some sections of the liver were examined macroscopically.
A short incision was made in the gallbladder by use of a scissors. In sterile conditions, a sample of bile was collected by a swab for bacterial culture. Then, the gallbladder was opened and its contents passed through a filter (fourfold gauze) to collect the gallstones. A sample of bile was also collected from the sheep with gallstones for chemical analysis. Number, diameter, weight, color, consistency, and chemical composition of gallstones were determined. Gallstones were analyzed for the determination of cholesterol (CHOD-PAP), bilirubin (DCA), calcium (arsenazo), and phosphorous (phosphometric Carfilzomib UV) concentrations. Measurements were performed by commercial kits (Pars Azmoon, Tehran, Iran) using an automated biochemical analyzer (Biotecnica, Roma, Italy) in accordance with the instructions by the manufacturers. Oxalate was determined (enzymatic method) with a commercial kit (Darman Kav, Tehran, Iran) using a spectrophotometer (Clima, Madrid, Spain). Bile samples were analyzed by the same methods using Hitachi 704 autoanalyzer (Tokyo, Japan).