Authors
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Jan G Myburgh
University of Pretoria
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Fritz W Huchzermeyer
University of Pretoria
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John T Soley
University of Pretoria
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Dirk G Booyse
University of Pretoria
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Herman B Groenewald
University of Pretoria
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Lizette C Bekker
University of Pretoria
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Taisen Iguchi
National Institutes of Natural Sciences
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Louis J Guillette, Jr
University of Pretoria
Abstract
Urine samples can be a very useful diagnostic tool for the evaluation of animal health. In this article, a simple technique to collect urine from the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) was described, based on a similar unpublished technique developed for the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) using a canine urinary catheter. With this technique, it was possible to collect relatively clean urine samples from Nile crocodiles of different sizes using canine urinary catheters or small diameter stomach tubes. Based on the gross anatomical features of the cloaca of the Nile crocodile, it was confirmed that urine accumulates in a chamber consisting of the urodeum and coprodeum. Faecal material is stored temporarily in the very short rectum, which is separated from the urinary chamber by the rectocoprodeal sphincter.
Author Biographies
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Jan G Myburgh, University of Pretoria
Department of Paraclinical Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa
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Fritz W Huchzermeyer, University of Pretoria
Department of Paraclinical Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa
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John T Soley, University of Pretoria
Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa
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Dirk G Booyse, University of Pretoria
Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa
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Herman B Groenewald, University of Pretoria
Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa
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Lizette C Bekker, University of Pretoria
Department of Paraclinical Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa
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Taisen Iguchi, National Institutes of Natural Sciences
Department of BioEnvironmental Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Japan
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Louis J Guillette, Jr, University of Pretoria
Department of Paraclinical Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa and Department of Zoology, University of Florida, United States of America