Abdominal situs inversus in a sheep

Authors: Kirk EJ, Larsen C
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 35, Issue 7, pp 113-114, Jul 1987
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Abdomen, Alimentary system/gastroenterology, Anatomy
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: Transposition of thoracic and/or abdominal viscera is recognised in humans, rats, mite, hamsters, dogs, amphibians and fish, but does not appear to have been previously described in sheep. We report the finding of an apparently complete transposition of abdominal viscera in a nine-month-old castrated male lamb slaughtered at the Tomoana Freezing Works, Hastings. After the head, skin, distal part of each limb, and pelvic viscera had been removed, the liver was seen to be on the left side, and the abomasum to have its fundus on the right and its pyloric region on the left. Later detailed dissection disclosed a complete lateral transposition of all of the abdominal organs left in the carcass. The kidney on the right side of the cadaver lay ventral to the transverse processes of the first two of the six lumbar vertebrae; the kidney on the left lay immediately caudal to the transposed liver. The descending portion of the duodenum passed caudodorsally on the left side, the closely coiled jejunum lay in the upper left portion of the abdominal cavity, and the caecum lay against the left abdominal wall…

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