Clinical and laboratory evaluation of ruminoreticular disorders in cattle

Abstract EN

Diseases of ruminant's stomach cause huge economic losses.

Therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate various ruminoreticular disorders and their effects on hematology and biochemical changes in blood and ruminal fluid as well as their effects on the ruminal protozoal activity and population in cattle.

A total number of 46 cattle of both sexes (31 diseased cattle and 15 healthy control one) were included in the study.

Cases were admitted at Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assuit University, Assuit, Egypt during the period between July 2015 and November 2016.

These animals were subjected to thorough clinical, ferroscopic, radiographical examination surgical exploration and laboratory investigation and divided into: TRP (n=7), vagus indigestion (n=5), impaction (n=5), free gas tympany (n=9) and frothy tympany (n=5).

The results of this study showed that cases of TRP were suffered from obvious signs of pain, jugular pulsation in some animals.

Ferroscopic examination was positive and Xrays showed presence of metal foreign objects.

Hematological analysis showed significant decrease (P<0.01) in TRBCs count and Hb concentration and significant increase (P<0.01) in TWBCs and neutrophils counts.

Serum biochemical analysis showed significant increase in total protein (P<0.01), globulin (P<0.05), and urea (P<0.05) concentration while there was significant decrease in the concentration of albumin, calcium (P<0.01), inorganic phosphorus (P<0.05), sodium (P<0.05) and zinc (P<0.01).

Analysis of ruminal juice showed a dramatic decrease (P<0.01) in the activity and total number of protozoa, potassium, sodium and inorganic phosphorus concentrations.

Animals with vagus indigestion showed characteristic abdomen distension (L-shape).

Metal detector was negative in 2 animals and positive in 3 which were confirmed by X-rays.

Hematological analysis showed significant decrease (P<0.01) in hemoglobin concentration with significant increase (P<0.01) in TWBCs, neutrophils and eosinophils counts.

Serum biochemical analysis showed a significant increase (P<0.01) in the concentration of total protein globulin and urea and the activities of ALP, GGT with significant decrease in albumin (P<0.01) chloride (P<0.01) and inorganic phosphorus (P<0.05).

Ruminal fluid analysis showed sharp decline in number and movement of protozoa and highly significant increase in chloride (P<0.01) and calcium (P<0.05) and significant decrease ((P<0.01) inorganic phosphorus concentrations.

Animals with Impaction showed ruminal atony and slight decrease in body temperature.

Hematological analysis revealed highly significant increase (P<0.01) in TWBCs, neutrophils counts and significant increase (P<0.05) monocytes count.

Serum biochemical analysis showed significant increase (P<0.05) in urea, lactate (P<0.01) and sodium (P<0.05) while there were significant decrease (P<0.01) in potassium and inorganic phosphorus.

Analysis of ruminal fluid showed highly significant decrease (P<0.01) in number and motility of protozoa, sodium, calcium and significant decrease (P<0.05) in potassium, and highly significant increase (P<0.01) in lactate concentration.

Cases with free gas tympany were characterized by severe abdominal distention, anorexia, rapid heart rate and decrease rumen motility.

Ferrosopic examination was negative in 6 animals and false positive in 3 animals which is confirmed by using X-rays.

Hematological analysis revealed highly significant increase (P<0.01) TWBCs, neutrophil and significant increase (P<0.05) in eosinophil counts.

Serum biochemical analysis showed significant increase in the concentration of globulin (P<0.05), urea (P<0.01) and sodium (P<0.05), and in the activities of ALP, GGT (P<0.01).

Rumen fluid analysis showed highly significant decrease (P<0.01) in the total number and activity of ruminal protozoa and sodium and significant decrease (P<0.05) in ruminal potassium.

Frothy tympany was characterized by severe abdominal distention and ruminalatony.

Examined cases of frothy tympany were negative by metal detector and X-ray.

Hematological analysis showed highly significant increase (P<0.01) in neutrophils count.

Serum biochemical analysis showed highly significant increase (P<0.01) in the concentration of globulin and activities of ALP, GGT and significant increases (P<0.05) in serum urea and sodium (P<0.05).

Rumen fluid analysis showed sharp decrease in the number and motility of protozoa.

Ruminal biochemical analysis showed significant decrease (P<0.01) in sodium, potassium, inorganic phosphorus and calcium levels.

In conclusion, diagnosis of ruminoreticular disorders depends collectively on history, clinical and ferroscopic examination.

Radiographic examination is an important tool for differential diagnosis between traumatic and non-traumatic ruminoreticular disorders.

Hematological and biochemical examination of serum and ruminal juice were of additional values in discriminating between various ruminoreticular disorders in cattle.