Amputation to treat osteomyelitis of the metatarsus in two partially domesticated springboks (Antidorcas marsupialis)

Two springboks were diagnosed with chronic osteomyelitis of the metatarsus of the left hindlimb. The springboks had both suffered open fractures of the metatarsus of the left hindlimb 12 weeks and one week prior to presentation. External coaptation had initially been used to give stability and encourage fracture healing. This had proved unsuccessful in both cases and an infection and osteomyelitis had developed at the fracture sites. Two amputations had been subsequently performed in case 1 but had failed to resolve infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues. An osteomyelitis of the underlying metatarsus had developed. No treatment apart from external coaptation had been performed before referral in case 2. Surgical amputation of the metatarsus and tarsus was performed as salvage procedures in both cases. The springboks adjusted to the loss of the left tarsus and metatarsus with no orthopaedic disorders at re-examinations 12 months after surgery.

Effect of Sex and Muscle on the Fiber-Type Composition and Cross-Sectional Area of Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) Muscle

This study aimed to compare the fiber-type composition and fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) of male and female springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) and Biceps femoris (BF) muscles. Frozen samples from 4 male and 3 female springbok were fiber-typed immunohistochemically using the primary antibodies A4.74, BA-D5 and BF-35. The CSA of the fibers was determined using the software Image J. Type IIX fibers accounted for 64 to 77% of the fibers in all samples, with type IIA (12.7 to 19.1%), type IIAX (6.4 to 9.3%) and type I (2.4 to 8.5%) making smaller (P < 0.001) contributions. Female springboks’ muscles contained more type IIX fibers than males’ (P = 0.004) and the BF contained more type I fibers and fewer type IIA and IIAX fibers than the LTL (P < 0.001). CSA values did not differ between sexes or muscles; however, they increased with apparent fiber glycolytic capacity (I < IIA < IIAX < IIX; P < 0.001). The glycolytic nature suggested by the fiber-type composition of springbok muscle found in this study is in contrast with previous reports on the physicochemical nature of springbok meat. This casts doubt on the application of standard associations between fiber-type and meat quality to this species. However, it may provide some explanation for the low shear force values found for springbok meat in previous studies.