Clinical, hematological and biochemical findings in cattle suffering from rumen impaction in Libya

The present study was conducted on 32 cattle suffering from rumen impaction caused by plastic material as foreign body, admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Omar Al-Mukhtar, Libya, during the period from 2008 to 2018. 15 clinically healthy cows were included and considered as control for rumen impaction. For each case, history, age, results of clinical examination and laboratory findings were recorded and analyzed. The results obtained from clinical findings showed that affected cattle had significantly (p<0.05) decrease ruminal motility compared to control group. A significant increase of MBR and pH of ruminal fluid in affected cows compared to the control group. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in the mean values of rectal temperature, heart rate and the respiratory rate between the affected cattle and healthy cows. There was significant (p<0.05) increase of PCV%, total protein and urea in cattle with rumen impaction compared to the control group. Whereas, there was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in mean values of potassium and calcium in cattle with rumen impaction compared to the control group. The mean values of RBC, Hb, WBC, sodium, phosphorus and bilirubin were not significantly different between the cattle with rumen impaction and healthy cattle. There was no significant difference in mean value of glutaraldehyde test between both groups. Among the clinical, hematological and biochemical findings, impaired general condition, reduced appetite, reduction of rumen motility, reduction of rumination, recurrent ruminal tympany, reduction time of methylene blue, alkaline pH of rumen content, a slight degree of dehydration, hypocalcaemia and hypokalemia are the most efficient in the characterization of the rumen impaction in cattle. Hematological findings revealed a limited diagnostic value in rumen impaction. It is suggested that ruminal fluid and biochemical analysis could be useful in diagnosis of rumen impaction with non-metallic foreign body.