Risk factors, clinical indicators, and pathological findings of abomasal ulcers in tropical dairy buffaloes.

The current study aimed at identifying the risk factors and initial diagnostic aids for abomasal ulcers. The risk factor analysis confirmed a significant association (P < 0.05) of abomasal ulcers with concentrate-rich diets (OR, 4.795; CI, 1.212-15.974) and concurrent disorders (OR, 2.978; CI, 0.987-8.980), while the buffaloes in early lactation (OR, 2.777; CI, 0.703-10.972) showed a higher tendency (P = 0.078) for the disorder. The depressed demeanour, dark or black manure (melena), anemia, tachycardia, decreased milk production, anorexia, tachypnea, absence of rumination, abdominal guarding, kyphosis, and tachypnea were the most frequent clinical signs. Subjecting the abomasal fluid for cultural isolation, gram staining, and stormy clot fermentation test identified the presence of clostridium perfringes, while screening through uniplex PCR detected cpa toxin. The buffaloes affected with type-3 and 4 abomasal ulcers exhibited a higher peritoneal fluid to serum ratio of total protein, albumin, and glucose with a low (P < 0.01) serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) concentration compared to reference values of healthy buffaloes. The first two principal components of PCA explained 54.50% of the total variances with lymphocytes, creatine kinase, and rumen chloride levels as the top contributors to dimension I, and albumin, total protein, sodium, and methylene blue reduction time (MBRT) for rumen liquor as the major contributors to dimension II. The vector plot revealed lymphocytopenia, decreased hemoglobin, hypoalbuminemia, hypokalemia, decreased rumen pH, neutrophilia, eosinophilia, leucocytosis, greater MBRT, and higher rumen chloride, serum creatine kinase, and blood urea nitrogen as the major indicators for abomasal ulcers. Histopathological studies revealed infiltration of inflammatory cells in the mucosa along with multifocal areas of necrosis, degeneration, and eroded muscle structure. The study projected a few high-scored clinical signs and extremely variable clinical indicators as initial diagnostic aids of abomasal ulcers, which can be confirmed by ultrasonography and peritoneal fluid examination.

Abomasal impaction in buffaloes: Risk factors, clinical indicators, necropsy findings, and histology studies.

The present study aims to identify potential risk factors and most possible clinical indicators of abomasal impaction in buffaloes. Among the screened buffaloes (n = 636), the logistic model was fitted for 491 buffaloes because of the non-availability of parity-related data for 145 buffaloes. Third-trimester pregnancy, feeding paddy straw alone, and concurrent disorders were identified as the potential risk factors using multivariate regression analysis. The buffaloes reared by farmers devoid of land tended to have a higher incidence of abomasal impaction. Depressed demeanour, absence of rumination, abdominal guarding, scleral congestion, sunken eyeballs, anorexia, reduced dung output, abacus beads-like faeces, colic signs (straining to defecate, frequent lying down, and kicking at abdomen), tachypnea, and tachycardia were the most repeatedly noticed clinical signs in buffaloes diagnosed with abomasal impaction. Further, the principal component analysis revealed increased rumen fluid sedimentation time and chloride content, serum creatine phosphokinase, and blood neutrophil and eosinophil content along with decreased blood lymphocytes proportion, potassium, and chloride as the greatest indicators for abomasal impaction. Next to them, a higher rumen fluid methylene blue reduction time, serum urea nitrogen, and blood total leucocyte count, along with a lower serum albumin and blood haemoglobin were the best possible indicators for diagnosis. The necropsy findings of the buffaloes that died with abomasal disorders revealed an abomasum with increased dimensions and constant pitting on pressure. Furthermore, the histopathological studies showed degeneration and necrosis of the abomasal wall with infiltrated mononuclear cells. The results of the study help in designing a comprehensive evaluation mechanism for diagnosing abomasal impaction in buffaloes.