Gross morphometric characteristics of respiratory organs in the Sahelian goats for assessment of lower respiratory disorders

Abstract

Pulmonary consolidation assessment is relevant in the evaluation of caprine pneumonia especially in resource-poor setting. The study investigates  body parameters and gross morphometric characteristics of lungs and trachea, of the Sahelian goat to aid in assessment of lower respiratory conditions. The study utilized 64 healthy (nonpneumonic) lungs collected from Sahelian goats slaughtered at the Kumasi Abattoir. General body characteristics of each animal before and after slaughter; including body length, height at rump and at withers, live weight, whole carcass weight  and dressed carcass weight. Morphometric parameters of the lungs and trachea, including weight, length and width of the lungs and of separate lobes, length and width of the trachea, distance between the trachea bronchus and the tracheal bifurcation were measured. The females exhibited higher values of general body characteristics including body length, height, live weight, whole carcass weight and dressed carcass weight. The  dimensions of the lungs and trachea were comparatively higher in females than in males. The weights of the whole lung, the right lung and the left lung were all higher in females than in males. The right lung of the Sahelian goat was generally larger and contributes 56.72 % of the whole lung; whilst the left lung contributes 43.22 %. With increasing age, the percentage contribution of the right lung to the whole organ increased whilst that  of the left lung decreased. The current study established percentage contribution of lung parts and lobes with reference to the sex and age of  Sahelian goat.

Keywords: Sahelian goat, Caprine pneumonia, Respiratory disorders, Lung morphometric