Ultrasonographic diagnosis of reticular diaphragmatic hernias in buffaloes

[Diaphragmatic hernia in a female alpaca (Vicugna pacos)]

A 3-year-old pregnant female alpaca was noticed due to increased lying and decreased feed intake after shearing. Twelve days after shearing, she aborted an almost completely developed cria. After another two days, the alpaca was recumbent and subsequently died during transport to the clinic. A dissection of the carcass revealed a diaphragmatic hernia. Diaphragmatic hernias have been described in many different species, diagnosis can be made by radiography or ultrasound. Depending on the extent, surgical therapy may be successful.

B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography of cranial epigastric vein in healthy and diseased cows and buffaloes

The study was aimed to examine the right cranial epigastric vein (CEV) using B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography in clinically healthy non-gravid cows (20) and buffaloes (20); bovines suffering from traumatic reticuloperitonitis (15 cows and 20 buffaloes) and reticulo-diaphragmatic hernia (5 cows and 15 buffaloes). The data was statistically analyzed and compared between and within the groups. The Doppler parameters of cranial epigastric vein in healthy bovines showed a significant species difference. The blood flow velocities, peak systole (PS), end diastole (ED), time average maximum (TA max) and time average mean (TA mean) were significantly higher in cows compared to buffaloes. However, the pulsatility index (PI), the resistive index (RI), vessel diameter and the depth of the vein were significantly higher in buffaloes compared to cows. The highest per cent change in the Doppler parameters of cranial epigastric vein in between the healthy cows and buffaloes were recorded in the PI followed by the RI. A significant decrease in PS, ED, TA max, TA mean and blood volume flow/min was recorded in cows suffering from traumatic reticuloperitonitis (TRP) and reticulo-diaphragmatic hernia (RDH). The reduction was more in cows with RDH compared to TRP. The CEV was significantly more superficial in TRP affected cows. The PI of TRP affected cows and the TA mean of RDH affected cows recorded the highest per cent change compared to healthy cows. In buffaloes, only the PS was significantly increased in TRP affected buffaloes and those suffering from RDH. Significant species-specific differences exist in the blood flow parameters of healthy cows and buffaloes. Doppler blood flow parameters of diseased cows suffering from TRP and RDH was more significantly affected compared to that of buffaloes. The database generated for non-gravid crossbred Indian cows and buffaloes can be used as a reference range for further studies.

Radiographic prediction of metallic foreign body penetration in the reticulum of cows and buffaloes

AIM

This study aimed to evaluate the role of radiography in the standing (right and left) and recumbent (right) lateral positions for the detection and prediction of metallic foreign body penetration in the reticular wall.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 41 bovines (23 cows and 18 buffaloes) having at least one sharp metallic foreign body (>1 cm) detected on reticular radiographs were investigated, and their extent of penetration in the reticular wall was confirmed on the left flank laparorumenotomy.

RESULTS

Of total sharp metallic foreign bodies retrieved on rumenotomy, the maximum percent were detected on the right recumbent radiographic view (75.00% in cows and 57.14% in buffaloes) compared to the right standing (54.38% in cows and 40.42% in buffaloes) and left standing (51.06% in cows and 27.08% in buffaloes) radiographic views. The presence of gas pocket or nodule adjoining a foreign body, faintly visible foreign body, foreign body that appeared partially or completely out of the reticulum, and foreign body that appeared parallel, into, or directed toward the diaphragm indicated a high probability in the prediction of penetrating foreign body in the left standing (100%) followed by the right recumbent (85.71% in cattle and 90% in buffaloes) and right standing (94.74% in cattle and 55.56% in buffaloes) radiographic views.

CONCLUSION

The right recumbent radiographic view is most reliable to detect sharp metallic foreign bodies in bovine. Buffaloes engulf more number of foreign bodies; however, comparatively, the number of completely or partially penetrating foreign bodies is high in cattle. The hypothesized radiographic parameters for the prediction of penetrability of the metallic foreign body were 100% reliable in the left standing radiographic view in both the species.

Diaphragmatic hernia in a two-year-old alpaca (Vicugna pacos)

A 2-yr-old male intact alpaca (Vicugna pacos) was admitted for a 4-day history of anorexia and colic. Five months prior, the alpaca had undergone surgical removal of a duodenal trichophytobezoar and had recovered uneventfully. The alpaca died under anesthesia, and diaphragmatic herniation of the third gastric compartment (C3) was diagnosed at necropsy. A defect was identified in the left dorsal hemidiaphragm accompanied by herniation of 80% of C3 and the aboral portion of the second gastric compartment into the pericardial sac. The smooth margins and dorsal location of the diaphragmatic defect suggested a congenital origin. Diaphragmatic herniation is uncommon in camelids, and only one other case has been reported. Due to the dorsal location of the diaphragmatic defect in this animal, positioning during the previous surgery may have initiated a partial entrapment of gastric compartments, leading to a more complete incarceration between when the animal was discharged and presented again.

Comparison of radiography and ultrasonography for diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia in bovines

The present study was conducted on 101 animals suffering from thoracoabdominal disorders; out of which twenty seven animals (twenty six buffaloes and one cow) were diagnosed with diaphragmatic hernia based on clinical signs, radiography, ultrasonography, and left flank laparorumenotomy. Radiography alone confirmed diaphragmatic hernia in 18 cases (66.67%) with a sac-like structure cranial to the diaphragm. In 15 animals the sac contained metallic densities while in three cases a sac-like structure with no metallic densities was present. Ultrasonography was helpful in confirming diaphragmatic hernia in 23 cases (85.18%) and ultrasonographically reticular motility was evident at the level of 4th/5th intercostal space in all the animals. B+M mode ultrasonography was used for the first time for diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia in bovines and the results suggested that ultrasonography was a reliable diagnostic modality for diaphragmatic hernia in bovines.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of the omasum in cows and buffaloes

The study was conducted to establish the ultrasonographic features of the healthy and impacted omasum in cows and buffaloes. Scanning was done using a 3.5 MHz microconvex transducer. In healthy buffaloes, the omasum could be scanned at the eighth to ninth intercostal space as a round or oval structure having thick echogenic wall with echogenic leaves. Gradual slow movements of omasal leaves could also be seen in real-time B-mode. The omasum appeared to be very clear, large, and close to the transducer at the start of the omasal contraction, and as the contraction progressed the omasum retracted away from the transducer and became very small. In healthy cows the omasum was seen as a crescent-shaped structure with an echogenic wall. The contents of the omasum or omasal leaves could not be visualized. Omasal contractility was not as prominent as in buffaloes. In buffaloes, the impacted omasum appeared amotile, the omasal leaves were not visible, and the omasum as a whole gave a prominent distal acoustic shadow. In cows, the impaction could be diagnosed based on amotile omasum covering a large area on the right side. Ultrasonography was found to be helpful in subjective assessment of omasal impaction but could not aid in diagnosing the severity of impaction.