Rumen impaction in cattle due to plastic materials

Abstract

The present study was carried out on 22 cows suffering from ruminal impaction with plastic materials as foreign bodies and ten apparently healthy cows as a control group. Clinical examination included clinical signs, temperature, pulse, respiratory rate and ruminal motility were recorded prior to treatment. Hematological parameters such as hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), erythrocyte count (RBCs), total leucocytes (WBCs) count and the glutaraldehyde test were performed. Ruminal fluid was evaluated for pH and the methylene blue reduction time (MBRT). The mean pH of rumen fluid, MBRT, total leucocytes count, and PCV were increased significantly (P<0.05). Rumen motility was significantly reduced (P<0.05) preoperative in the animals suffering from rumen impaction, but the mean value of pulse rate, respiration rate, temperature, glutaraldehyde test, haemoglobin and total erythrocyte count were non-significantly changed. On the 5th postoperative day the clinical and the laboratory parameters in the study group had largely become normalized. Six months after the procedure, 18 (81.9%) cows showed complete recovery and 4 (18.9%) animals were slaughtered within 3 months following surgery. This study concluded that the clinical and laboratory findings might be of diagnostic importance. Rumen impaction with plastic materials should be differentiated from anorexia, emaciation, ruminal hypomotility, tympany and dehydration in cows. The surgical removal of foreign body demonstrated positive effects on animal health.