Experimental septic arthritis was induced in the radiocarpal joint of 18 donkeys by intra-articular
injection of staphylococcus aureus (3-4x106 CFU). The inoculated animals were divided into three
groups (6 donkeys in each group). The clinical symptoms, radiographic and ultrasonographic
examination were recorded before induction of septic carpitis and 3 day after induction of infection
(group one), 14 day after induction of infection (group two), and 28 day after induction of infection
(group three). The clinical symptoms of septic carpitis included marked joint swelling, hotness, pain
and lameness. The lateral and anterio-posterior radiographic views showed mainly soft tissue
swelling. The ultrasonographic findings of septic arthritis differ according to the stage of induction.
There is joint effusion associated with internal echoes with a variable echogenicity, ranging from
anechoic to a mixed echogenicity especially in the third infected group