Intestinal Atresia and Stenosis in Animals: A Report of 34 Cases

Abstract

Intestinal atresia was found in 29 animals and stenosis in five. Atresia was found in the duodenum in one pup; in the jejunum in nine calves, two lambs and one piglet; in the ileum in one pup, one lamb and one piglet; and in the colon in one foal, seven calves, one lamb, one piglet and three kittens. Stenosis was found in the duodenum of a foal, in the jejunum in two calves and one pup, and in both the ileum and the colon of a kitten. One lamb showed ileal atresia as well as ileal stenosis. We classified the atresia as type 1, membrane atresia (four cases); type 2, cord atresia (six cases); and type 3, blind-end atresia (19 cases). In the literature and our own study, atresia was found only in the small intestine in puppies, but in foals and kittens it was found only in the colon. Atresia of the colon is more common in animals than in man, but multiple atresia, frequent in man, is rare in animals.

Neonatology and Neonatal Disorders

“…40,41 Atresia coli is believed to be inherited in humans, whereas in horses, a pattern of simple recessive inheritance has been identified along with postulated sporadic cases. [42][43][44][45] Atresia ani is believed to be inherited in cattle and pigs. 46,47 In camelids, most intestinal malformations are thought to be heritable, although true data are lacking; atresia ani has been reported anecdotally in related llamas.…”

Congenital duodenal stenotic diaphragm in a foal

“…Duodenal stenosis is very rare in animals. Only two cases of duodenal stenosis in foals have been described: in a 31/2-month-old thoroughbred filly (11) and in a 5-month-old female foal (3). The purpose of this paper is to report a duodenal diaphragm with a small perforation in a two-month-old female foal.…”

“…Duodenal stenosis was reported in two foals (3,11), in which it was caused by a fibrous ring-like constriction. A duodenal diaphragm was never reported, as far as we know.…”

Intestinal Atresia and Ectopia in a Bovine Fetus

“…16 Duodenal atresia is thought to be caused by the failure of luminal recanalization after normal deposition of multiple layers of epithelium. 6,16 Atresia of other parts of the small and large intestine is thought to be caused by local ischemia during embryonic development. Vascular compromise during the extracorporeal rotation of the intestine around the third to fourth week of gestation may impair blood supply to a segment.…”

“…Vascular compromise during the extracorporeal rotation of the intestine around the third to fourth week of gestation may impair blood supply to a segment. 6,16 Interruption of the blood supply during embryogenesis has been shown to cause intestinal atresia in lambs 3 and chickens. 15 Ness and coworkers 12 postulated that transrectal palpation of the amniotic sac before day 40 of gestation may result in intestinal atresia in calves.…”