B- 3572 [1-5] Indian J. Anim. Res., Print ISSN:0367-6722 / Online ISSN:0976-0555 AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION CENTRE www.arccjournals.com/www.ijaronline.in Gross morphological and biometrical Studies on the typical cervical vertebrae of Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) S. Sathapathy*, B.S. Dhote 1, I. Singh 1, D. Mahanta 1, S. Tamilselvan 1, M. Mrigesh 1 and S.K. Joshi 2 Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Histology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandary, Bhubaneswar 751 003, Odisha, India. Received: 02-02-2018 Accepted: 13-06-2018 DOI: 10.18805/ijar.B-3572 ABSTRACT The present study was carried out on the third (C3), fourth (C4) and fifth (C5) cervical vertebrae of six specimens of adult Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) of either sex. It was found that the transverse process was bifid with a transverse foramen located at its base. The upper part of the transverse process projected backward and was short and stout, while the lower part was directed downward and forward and was found to be longer and more plate-like. The bodies of C3-C5 tended to become shorter and wider from front to backwards. The supraspinous process was found to be short and centrally tuberous in C3 that gradually increased in height and length to C5 with forward inclination. The articular processes of the typical cervical vertebrae slightly convex cranially and concave caudally. The posterior articular facets of C5 were egg shaped, whereas those of C4 were like the map of Africa in the Blue bull. A well defined infraspinous process projected from the vertebral body that divided the base into two halves. The biometrical observations on different parameters of typical cervical vertebra reflected significance (P<0.05) differences between the sexes of this species. Key words: Blue bull, Gross, Morphometry, Typical cervical vertebrae. INTRODUCTION The Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) is known to be one of the biggest antelopes in Asia and is widely found in both the forests and adjoining villages with enough green grass. It is quite prevalent in northern and central parts of India especially in the foothills of Himalayas, eastern part of Pakistan and southern part of Nepal, but has vanished from Bangladesh. They are usually seen in day times in the meadow pasture, timberland areas and agricultural land area. The Blue bulls are safeguarded beneath the IUCN since 2003 and also under safeguard of Schedule III of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (Bagchi et al., 2004). The massive body of the Blue bull can be attributed to the large skeleton of the antelope. Further, the skeleton comprises of large and massive bones of axial and appendicular skeleton that not only protects the viscera, but also provides shape and support to the heavy musculature of the Blue bull. The present osteo-morphological study will develop a baseline data on the biometry of typical cervical vertebra of adult Blue bull. Further, these data would immensely help the wild life anatomists and Veterinarians in species identification and solving forensic and vetero-legal cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present study was carried out on the typical cervical vertebrae of six specimens of adult Blue bulls (Boselaphus tragocamelus) of either sex. The permission for the collection of bones was acquired from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Government of Rajasthan. The bones were possessed from the Jodhpur zoo, Rajasthan getting authentic confirmation from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Government of Rajasthan vide letter no. F, 3(04) Tech-II/CCF/2013/2077, dated 12.12.2014, Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) vide letter no. F, 3(04) Tech-11/CCF/2013/2326, dated 12.01.2015 and subsequently from the Deputy Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), Jodhpur s.n./sam/388-90, dated 22.01.2015. The skeletons were taken out from the burial ground that was located in the premises of the office of the Deputy Conservator of Forest Wildlife (WL), Jodhpur. Afterwards, the specimens were processed as per standard technique given by Snedecor and Cochran (1994). The gross study was conducted under the supervision of the Zoo Authority, Jodhpur, India. The different parameters of third, fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae were measured in Blue bull as a whole and also sex wise variations were recorded. The data obtained were subjected to routine statistical analysis (Snedecor and Cochran, 1994) and independent samples t-test with Systat Software Inc, USA and SPSS 16.0 version software. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The third (C3), fourth (C4) and fifth (C5) cervical vertebrae were typical type in Blue bull. The transverse *Corresponding author s e-mail:srinivas.ouat@gmail.com 1 Department of Veterinary Anatomy, C.V.A.Sc., G.B.P.U.A T, Pantnagar 263 145, Uttarakhand, India 2 KVK, Jharsuguda, OUAT, Bhubaneswar 751 003, Odisha, India
2 INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL RESEARCH Fig 1: Cranial view of third cervical vertebra of adult male Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) showing a) Dorsal supraspinous process, b) Cervical vertebral foramen, c) Cranial surface of body, d) Ventral spine, e) Ventral division of transverse process, f) Dorsal division of transverse process, g) Transverse foramen, h) Pedicle, i) Cranial articular process and j) Laminae Fig 2: Caudal view of third cervical vertebra of adult male Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) showing a) Dorsal supraspinous process, b) Caudal articular process, c) Pedicle, d) Transverse foramen, e) Caudal surface of body, f) Dorsal division of transverse process, g) Ventral division of transverse process, h) Ventral spine, i) Floor of neural canal, j) Cervical vertebral foramen and k) Laminae processes of C3 (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2), C4 (Fig. 3 and Fig. 4) and C5 (Fig. 5) were bifid. The upper part of the process projected backward and was short and stout, while the lower part was directed downward and forward and was found to be longer and more plate-like. The bodies of C3-C5 of Blue bull tended to become shorter and wider from front to backwards that was in accordance with the findings of Hughes and Dransfield (1953) in horse, Raghavan (1964) in ox, Konig and Liebich (2005) in ruminants, Dyce et al. (2006) in dog and Meena (2012) in chital, but it was not in accordance with Smuts and Bezuidenhout (1987) in camel where the body of C3, C4 and C5 were approximately equal in length. The supraspinous process was found to be short and centrally tuberous in C3 that gradually increased in height and length to C5 with forward inclination. However, it was in contrast to the findings of Getty et al. (1930) in ox and horse, Girgin et al. (1988) in wolf, dog and fox, Dyce et al. (2006) in dog and Ozkan (2007) in mole-rat. The articular processes of C3, C4 and C5 in Blue bull were found slightly convex cranially and concave caudally. The posterior articular facets of C5 were egg shaped, whereas those of C4 were like the map of Africa in the Blue bull. The obliquity of opposing surfaces and the size of processes were increased with the receding numbers and a plate of bone connected each two of the same side. The tubercles were present on the posterior articular processes in Blue bull that simulated the findings of Getty et al. (1930) and Raghavan (1964) in ox, but disagreed with Getty et al. (1930) in horse where posterior articular processes were connected by a ridge to the spinous processes and with Smuts and Bezuidenhout (1987) in camel where they were reported to project freely beyond the posterior extremity. The transverse processes were divided into upper portion that projected slightly posteriorly and the lower platelike portion was directed outwards, downwards and forwards that exceeded the cranial articular surface of the body. A plate of bone connected the cranial and caudal portion of transverse processes of the same side in C3 and C4. Both parts of transverse process were separate and the lower part was quadrilateral plate like in C5. The present findings were
Vol. Issue, () Fig 3: Cranial view of fourth cervical vertebra of adult male Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) showing a) Dorsal supraspinous process, b) Cranial articular process, c) Cervical vertebral foramen, d) Transverse foramen, e) Cranial surface of body, f) Ventral spine, g) Ventral division of transverse process, h) Dorsal division of transverse process, i) Pedicle and j) Laminae Fig 4: Caudal view of fourth cervical vertebra of adult male Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) showing a) Dorsal supraspinous process, b) Caudal articular process, c) Pedicle, d) Transverse foramen, e) Caudal surface of body, f) Dorsal division of transverse process, g) Ventral division of transverse process, h) Ventral spine, i) Floor of neural canal, j) Cervical vertebral foramen and k) Laminae Fig 5: Cranial view of fifth cervical vertebra of adult female Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) showing a) Dorsal supraspinous process, b) Cranial articular process, c) Cervical vertebral foramen, d) Cranial surface of body, e) Transverse foramen, f) Dorsal division of transverse process, g) Ventral division of transverse process, h) Pedicle and i) Laminae
4 INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL RESEARCH in agreement with the Getty et al. (1930) and Raghavan (1964) in ox, Konig and Liebich (2005) in ruminants and Meena (2012) in chital, but in disagreement with Getty et al. (1930) in horse where they were reported to be large and plate-like, with Miller et al. (1964) in dog in which the transverse processes of C5 were the shortest and with Smuts and Bezuidenhout (1987) in the camel who found that the dorsal segment of the transverse process was directed posteriorly and in C3 they reached the posterior epiphyseal line, but in C4 and C5 they ended anteriorly to the latter. The base of the transverse process was found to be pierced by the foramen transversarium in C3, C4 and C5 of Blue bull. A well defined infraspinous process projected from the vertebral body that divided the base into two halves. The ventral tubercle of C3 was directed postero-ventrally, that of C4 was larger and pointed ventralwards, in C5 it pointed in an antero-ventral direction. The present findings were more or less similar to the observations made by Getty et al. (1930) in horse and ox, Raghavan (1964) in ox, Smuts and Bezuidenhout (1987) in camel, Yilmaz et al. (2000) in otters, Konig and Liebich (2005) in ruminants, Dyce et al. (2006) in dog and Meena (2012) in chital. Biometrical observation Third cervical vertebra: The biometrical observations revealed that the average width of the body at the caudal aspect was found to be 2.33±0.04 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 2.27±0.05 cm in females that it was found to be 2.38±0.03 cm. The average vertical diameter of vertebral canal at the cranial aspect was found to be 1.65±0.04 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 1.58±0.05 cm in females that was found to be 1.71±0.05 cm. Similarly, the average vertical diameter of vertebral canal at the caudal aspect was found to be 2.25±0.02 cm in adult Blue bull, whereas it was 2.22±0.01 cm in females that was significantly lesser 2.28±0.01 cm. The average transverse diameter of vertebral canal at the cranial aspect was found to be 1.83±0.05 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 1.73±0.03 that of males, where it was found to be 1.93±0.03 cm. Similarly, the average transverse diameter of vertebral canal at the caudal aspect was found to be 2.12±0.03 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 2.07±0.03 cm in males, where it was found to be 2.17±0.02 cm. The average height of dorsal supraspinous process was found to be 2.98±0.08 cm in adult Blue bull whereas it was 2.87±0.09 that of males, where it was recorded as 3.10±0.12 cm. The average width of dorsal spinous process at the base was found to be 2.05±0.05 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 1.96±0.04 cm in females that was found to be 2.14±0.04 cm. The average width of dorsal division of transverse process was found to be 2.16±0.05 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 2.05±0.06 cm in females that it was found to be 2.27±0.04 cm. The average width of ventral division of transverse process was found to be 2.69±0.05 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 2.57±0.04 cm in females that was significantly lesser 2.82±0.06 cm. The average transverse diameter of cranial transverse foramen was found to be 0.73±0.05 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 0.60±0.04 cm in males, where it was found to be 0.86±0.03 cm. The average transverse diameter of caudal transverse foramen was found to be 0.70±0.03 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 0.63±0.05 cm in females that was found to be 0.76±0.02 cm. The average distance between the cranial and caudal transverse foramen was found to be 3.37±0.12 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 3.13±0.15 cm in females that was significantly lesser 3.60±0.15 cm. The average length of cranial articular process was found to be 3.92±0.06 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 3.78±0.07 cm in females that was found to be 4.05±0.08 cm. Similarly, the average width of cranial articular process was found to be 2.06±0.07 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 1.87±0.07 that of males, where it was found to be 2.25±0.04 cm. The average width of caudal articular process was found to be 2.96±0.07 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 2.82±0.08 cm in females that was significantly lesser 3.10±0.07 cm. The average distance between two cranial articular processes was found to be 3.88±0.08 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 3.77±0.09 cm in males, where it was found to be 4.00±0.12 cm. Similarly, the average distance between two caudal articular processes was found to be 1.75±0.01 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 1.57±0.07 cm in females that was found to be 1.93±0.09 cm. Fourth cervical vertebra: The biometrical observations revealed that the average width of the body at the cranial aspect was found to be 2.06±0.02 cm in adult Blue bull.
Further, it was measured to be 2.01±0.02 cm in females that it was found to be 2.10±0.01 cm. Similarly, the average width of the body at the middle was found to be 2.24±0.02 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 2.19±0.01 that of males, where it was found to be 2.28±0.02 cm. The average width of dorsal spinous process at the summit was found to be 2.26±0.03 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 2.19±0.04 cm in females that was found to be 2.32±0.02 cm. The average width of dorsal division of transverse process was found to be 2.25±0.03 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 2.18±0.02 cm in females that was significantly lesser 2.32±0.1cm. The average distance between the cranial and caudal transverse foramen was found to be 4.50±0.08 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 4.33±0.06 that of males, where it was found to be 4.67±0.02 cm. The average length of cranial articular process was found to be 2.08±0.02cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 2.04±0.02 cm in females that was found to be 2.12±0.01 cm. Similarly, the average width of cranial articular process was found to be 2.12±0.01 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 2.09±0.01 that of males, where it was found to be 2.15±0.03 cm. The average length of caudal articular process was found to be 2.82±0.03 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 2.74±0.04 cm in females that was significantly lesser Vol. Issue, () 2.90±0.05 cm. The average distance between the cranial and caudal articular processes was found to be 4.81±0.08 cm in adult Blue bull. Further, it was measured to be 4.60±0.07cm in males, where it was found to be 5.02±0.09 cm. CONCLUSION The third (C3), fourth (C4) and fifth (C5) were considered as typical cervical vertebrae in Blue bull. It was revealed that the various parameters of typical cervical vertebra such as weight of the vertebra, the average length and width of the body, the diameters of vertebral canal, the average height and width of dorsal supraspinous process, the length and width of the dorsal and ventral divisions of transverse processes, the diameters of transverse foramen and the average length and width of cranial and caudal articular processes were significantly more (P<0.05) in adult males than females. There is no previous information on these parameters in the typical cervical vertebrae of Blue bull, nor in any other domestic animals with which comparisons could be made. We therefore believe that the data presented above would form a baseline for further work especially comparability and compatibility are now desirable traits as efforts are geared up towards massive improvement in the livestock sector of the international economy. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The authors are grateful to the Ministry of Environment of Forests (MoEF), New Delhi and Jodhpur Zoo, Rajasthan, India for providing facilities and support for carrying out research on the bones of Blue bull. Funding was provided by Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi and Indian Council of Agricultural research, New Delhi, India as Ph.D. grant (DST-INSPIRE Fellowship and ICAR-SRF (PGS)) to the first author. REFERENCES Bagchi, S., Goyal S. P., Shankar K. (2004): Herbivore density and biomass in a semi-arid tropical dry deciduous forest of western India. J. of Tropical Ecology. 20(4): 475-478. Dyce, K.M., Sack W.O., Wensing C.J.G. (2006): Text Book of Veterinary Anatomy, Saunders Elsevier, 4th ed., pp. 35 41. Getty, R., S. Sisson, J.D. Grossman (1930): The Anatomy of the Domestic Animals. W.B. Saunders Comp., Philadelphia. 2nd ed. (Vol. 1), pp. 25-27; 33-45,125-130. Girgin, A., Karadag H., Bilgiç S., Temizer A. (1988): A study on the macro-anatomical differences of the skeletons of wolf and fox as compared with the skeleton of dog. Selçuk U. Vet. Fak. Der. 4: 169-182. Hughes, H.V., Dransfield J.W. (1953): Osteology and Arthrology of Domesticated Animals, 4th ed., BTC London, pp. 25-51. Konig, H.E., Liebich H.G. (2005): Veterinary Anatomy of Domestic Animals, 3rd Edn, Schattauer, Stuttgart, Germany, pp. 49-104, 145-160, 215-236. Meena, V. K. (2012): Gross studies on the bones of vertebral column in chital (Axis axis). Masters thesis submitted to the Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner. Miller, M.E., Christensen G.C., Evans H.E. (1964): Anatomy of the Dog. WB Saunders Company, Philadelphia, USA, pp. 51-61. Ozkan, Z.E. (2007): Macro-anatomical investigations on the skeletons of Mole-rat (Spalax leucodon nordmann) III. Skeleton axiale. Vet. Archive. 77: 281-289. Raghavan, D. (1964): Anatomy of Ox. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, pp. 17-38. Smuts, M.S., Bezuidenhout A.J. (1987): Anatomy of Dromedary, Oxford Science Publications, pp. 9-20. Snedecor, G.W., Cochran W.G. (1994): Statistical Methods. 8th edn. lowa State University Press, Ames, lowa, USA. Yilmaz, S., Dinç G., Toprak B. (2000): Macro-anatomical investigations on skeletons of otter (Lutra lutra) III. Skeleton axiale. Vet. Arhiv. 70: 191-198.