The aim of the present study was to report an outbreak of natural poisoning by Cestrum laevigatum in dairy cattle in the “Agreste” region of Pernambuco state, Brazil. Epidemiological and clinical data were collected. Among a lot of 60 cows, eight became ill and four died. Two cows underwent necropsy, during which fragments of the central nervous system, liver, gall bladder, spleen and kidney were collected for histopathlogical analysis. Blood samples were collected for hematological and biochemical tests. The animals exhibited apathy, muscle tremors, reduced appetite, different degrees of dehydration and compromised reticulorumen dynamics as well as a small quantity of dry feces with the presence of mucus and blood. The laboratory exams revealed an increase in serum activity of aspartate aminotransferase and gamma glutamyltransferase as well as hypoalbuminemia. The necropsy revealed an enlarged liver and cutting surface with a nutmeg aspect as well as areas of hemorrhaging in the heart, trachea, abomasum, spleen, intestine and bladder. The microscopic analysis revealed centrilobular hepatic necrosis associated to accentuated hemorrhaging. These findings characterized poisoning by Cestrum laevigatum and led to the adoption of control and prevention measures

Background: Intussusception, characterized by invagination of an intestinal segment into the lumen of the adjacent segment, is one of the main causes of intestinal obstruction in cattle, and occurs more frequently in calves. The diagnosis of the disease is based on the history, clinical examination, and complementary exams, which are a challenge in this species, especially in calves, in which transrectal palpation is limited. As it is a non-invasive, effective, and low-cost test, ultrasonography could be an important tool in the diagnosis of intestinal obstructions, in which time is essential for the prognosis. Therefore, the objective was to report a case of intussusception in a calf diagnosed by ultrasound.Case: A 4-month-old calf, weaned at 3 months and raised intensively, was treated at the Clínica de Bovinos de Garanhuns, campus of the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (CBG/UFRPE), with a history of apathy, anorexia, and dyschezia for 3 days. On physical examination, fever, moderate dehydration, tachycardia, tachypnea with polypnea, bilaterally bulging abdomen, sound of fluid on ballottement, ruminal and intestinal hypomotility, and melena were observed. The hematological findings revealed leukocytosis due to neutrophilia (degenerate neutrophils), hypoproteinemia, and hyperfibrinogenemia. The analysis of the ruminal fluid showed compromised microbiota and increased chloride content. The transabdominal ultrasonography demonstrated, in the right ventral region, hypermotile and full small bowel loops and an increase in the volume of the peritoneal fluid. In addition, there was a segment of the small intestine which, in cross-section, showed multiple concentric rings (“onion rings”, “target pattern”, or “bull’s eye”) and adherence to adjacent loops, compatible with intestinal obstruction due to intussusception. Due to the seriousness of the clinical condition and the ultrasound findings, the animal was euthanized and the necropsy revealed focal fibrinous peritonitis and intestinal obstruction due to intussusception in ileum intestinal segments.Discussion: Intussusception has previously been reported in calves, however this is the first report of ultrasound diagnosis of the disease in Brazil. Although the etiology is rarely confirmed, the age group and recent changes in diet (weaning) were predisposing factors. The history, clinical signs, and laboratory tests were similar to those described in cattle with intussusception, however they may be present in other gastrointestinal illnesses. Other authors have also reported that the nonspecificity of the signs and the impossibility of performing transrectal palpation made it difficult to diagnose intestinal obstruction in calves without the use of other diagnostic tools. As it is a non-invasive and accurate technique, ultrasound has been used in ruminants for diagnostic purposes, including intestinal obstructions. In the present case, the main findings are described as the presence of a lesion with the appearance of multiple concentric rings, hypermotile, dilated, and full intestinal loops. The pathological findings were compatible with the ultrasound images and similar to those described by other authors, confirming the diagnosis. The use of ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool in cattle should be expanded, aiming at the early determination of diagnosis and prognosis, to reduce producer costs and animal discomfort. In cases of intussusception, late diagnosis makes treatment unfeasible.

/agrariacad Avaliação da bioquímica sanguínea de vacas leiteiras acometidas por desordens digestivas de natureza mecânica. Evaluation of biochemical metabolites in dairy cows affected by mechanical digestive disorders

No abstract

Deslocamento do abomaso é uma paratopia que ocorre com menor frequência em bezerros, touros e novilhas, quando comparado com vacas de alta produção leiteira. Objetivou-se relatar o caso de um bezerro, macho, com três meses de idade, atendido na rotina hospitalar da Clínica de Bovinos de Garanhuns. Segundo anamnese, o animal alimentava-se de leite, pasto nativo, grama, xerém de milho e farelo de trigo (200g/dia). Entretanto três dias antes da baixa, foi alimentado com palha de milho, apresentando em seguida timpania ruminal, dificuldade de locomoção e aumento do consumo de água. As fezes estavam escassas, liquefeitas e amareladas. Caso único, num total de 30 animais. Os principais sinais clínicos observados foram apatia, mucosas congestas, exsicose grau III, moderada enoftalmia, abdômen tenso, com formato maçã-pera, à percussão auscultatória evidenciou-se um som de “ping” metálico, na região do 12º espaço intercostal do flanco direito. As análises laboratoriais revelaram teor de cloretos elevado, de 81,88 mEq/L; hemoconcentração, leucocitose, por linfocitose e neutrofilia, com desvio à esquerda regenerativo, além de hipoproteinemia. Em função do diagnóstico de deslocamento de abomaso à direita (DAD), foi submetido à laparotomia exploratória pelo flanco direito. Nesta condição, o órgão estava bastante distendido por gás e conteúdo líquido. Seguindo o protocolo terapêutico, o animal apresentou evolução clínica satisfatória, recebendo alta no quinto dia após seu internamento. Conclui-se que deslocamento de abomaso à direita é uma afecção grave e, apesar da baixa frequência em bezerros, pode acometer essa faixa etária, acarretando prejuízos ao produtor, e o que reitera a necessidade de prevenir os fatores de risco associados a essa síndrome multifatorial.

The objective was to study the occurrence of foot disorders in cattle treated at the Clínica de Bovinos de Garanhuns, campus of the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco from 1999 to 2021. A retrospective study of the medical records was carried out, with a total of 334 cases, in which 613 lesions were diagnosed. A frequency distribution, with simple mean and standard deviation was performed to evaluate the data. Interdigital dermatitis was more frequent in 12.4% (76/613), double sole in 9.79% (60/613), chronic laminitis in 8.81% (54/613), sole ulcer in 7.83% (48 /613), and interdigital hyperplasia in 7.24% (45/613). Laminitis and its consequences accounted for 45% of the total injuries identified, followed by 36% of injuries of secondary or uncertain cause, and 19% from infectious diseases. The distribution of lesions between the limbs was 68% in the pelvic and 32% in the thoracic limbs. Females, raised in a semi-intensive system, Holstein, with a body score of III, and large size were more affected. Lameness was present in 78% (260/334), while 10% (33/334) did not present lameness. The case fatality and recovery rates were 9% (31/334) and 73% (243/334), respectively. In total, 51% of cases occurred in the rainy season and 49% in the dry season. The main cities of origin were Bom Conselho 22.75% (76/334), Garanhuns 18.86% (63/334), and Brejão 12.57% (42/334). The estimated cost of treatment was US$ 150.13/case. Diseases are probably directly linked to management failure on the property due to the nature of the diagnosed diseases, in addition to the significant cost of the treatment of these animals, with the need for prophylactic measures in order to avoid the economic losses associated with foot diseases.

Esse trabalho tem por finalidade descrever a ocorrência e os aspectos clínicos da ruptura do músculo Gastrocnêmio em três animais (um bovino, um caprino e uma lhama) de idades diferentes, fêmeas, criados de forma semi-intensiva em propriedades distintas, que foram atendidos na Clínica de Bovinos de Garanhuns, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, cujos proprietários queixavam-se de problema locomotor. Essa enfermidade é rara ou incomum na clínica de ruminantes e, portanto, ainda pouco relatada. As principais causas relacionadas são os traumas e neuropatias pós-parturiente, sendo o diagnóstico geralmente clínico, baseando-se na identificação e no reconhecimento das alterações musculoesqueléticas e da postura, que são características. Os achados clínicos encontrados nos animais atendidos foram incapacidade e\ou dificuldade de levantar e ficar em estação, alteração na marcha, postura característica e inflamação local. Em dois animais a ruptura do músculo foi total e no outro a lesão foi parcial. Diante do prognóstico desfavorável indicou-se o abate do caprino e, em detrimento da idade da lhama, foi instituído tratamento com utilização de anti-inflamatórios não esteroides, porém sem sucesso. No caso do bovino, sugeriu-se a permanência temporária do animal, em espaço restrito, a fim de aproveitar a sua produção láctea. Dada à importância funcional desse músculo, sua ruptura compromete a viabilidade produtiva do animal afetado.

This paper aimed to describe the main clinico-epidemiological, laboratory, and anatomopathological findings in 10 cattle affected with caudal vena cava thrombosis. The main clinical signs observed were decreased milk production, reduced appetite, apathy, impairment of ruminal motility, cardiorespiratory disorders (tachycardia and tachypnea), epistaxis, hemoptysis, and ascites. Intercurrent diseases such as mastitis, metritis, and phlebitis were verified. The hematological findings were mild anemia, leukocytosis due to neutrophilia with regenerative left shift, and hyperfibrinogenemia. The pathological exams revealed thrombi in the caudal vena cava, hepatomegaly, ascites, liver abscesses, pulmonary edema and emphysema, and abscesses in the lungs. The association of epidemiological information, clinical signs such as respiratory distress, epistaxis or hemoptysis, in addition to anemia and leukocytosis due to neutrophilia, as well as the occurrence of thrombus in the caudal vena cava as pathological findings, are indicative elements of the clinical picture of vena cava thrombosis in cattle. It is reiterated that this disease has an unfavorable prognosis and, when diagnosed, the animal must be culled.