Endoscopic evaluation of rumen in cattle (Bos Taurus) - A preliminary study

Abstract

Twenty apparently healthy female cattle were selected for the study. Animals were withdrawn of feed and water for 48 hours. During this period, cattle were administered with dextrose normal saline (@10ml/ kg IV twice daily) and were subjected to endoscopy every 12 hours. Animals were restrained in a chute and no sedation was followed. Endoscopy was performed using Olympus™ [GIF V70] flexible video endoscope. The endoscope was passed through the ventral nasal meatus, the pharynx and oesophagus and then into the reticulo-rumen. The entire rumen could be visualized clearly only when the animals were off feed and water for at least 36-48 hours and in some animals the ingesta had to be removed by lavage. The rumen appeared as pink with numerous papillae throughout its surface with different shapes. The procedure was well tolerated by all the cattle and satisfactory ruminal images could be obtained including biopsy.

Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences

“…Franz et al (2006) failed to visualize the reticulum during endoscopy in ruminating calves. However, in this study in buffaloes, the reticulum and rumen were visualized following 36 and 48 hours of starvation, respectively and maintenance with fluid therapy was in concurrence with Sasikala et al (2017) and Sasikala et al (2019).…”

“…3d). Various shapes of rumen papillae observed in the present study were in accordance with Sasikala et al (2019).…”

“…In six buffaloes visualization of rumen was not possible even after 48 hours of starvation because of abundant rumen contents. Flushing and siphoning of rumen by orally introduced stomach tube emptied the rumen content and enhanced the visualization of rumen in the present study was as suggested by Sasikala et al (2019). The dorsal sac of rumen had appeared pink, smooth and shiny with numerous papil- lae throughout its surface (Fig.…”

“…The entire reticulum and part of the rumen could be visualized clearly only when the animals were off feed and water for a period of 48 hours with maintenance of animals under fluid therapy. Endoscopy of reticulo-rumen via nasal route, followed by starving the animal for 36-48 hours, seemed to be rapid, non--invasive, well tolerated procedure without any complication and required no sedation (Sasikala et al 2017, Sasikala et al 2019. Franz et al (2006) failed to visualize the reticulum during endoscopy in ruminating calves.…”

“…By using physical methods all the animals were restrained in a chute without any sedation. The endoscope was passed into the reticulo-rumen as described by Sasikala et al (2019). Through the working channel of the video endoscope single-use biopsy forceps (Olympus Corporation, Japan) were passed and the tissue samples were collected in all the animals and stored in 10% formalin as described by Bancroft and Gamble (2008) for histology.…”