Pathomorphological characteristics of abomasal ulcers in high-yielding dairy cows

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to investigate the morphology, localization and typization of abomasal ulcers in high-yielding dairy cows, as a contribution to the existing knowledge on the subject. A total of ten high-yielding dairy cows which died during the period of early puerperium and two Holstein heifers which died in late pregnancy after transport to a new location were investigated in this study. Samples of altered abomasal tissue were taken at necropsy for further histopathology and mycology investigations. The disclosed ulcerations of the abomasums in twelve investigated animals differed among them not only as far as localization and morphology are concerned, but also in the degree of intramural penetration. Such differences distinguished them into four types. Ulcerations of type one and type two, recorded in two heifers and six cows, as well as in one cow with lymphoma of the abomasum. Perforating ulcer of type three, with circumscripted peritonitis was diagnosed in one cow in the corpus of the abomasum close to the curvatura major. An interesting finding was the simultaneous occurrence of type four perforating ulcer and ulcer-type one, which were located next to each other. Histopathological examination of the structure of the ulcerated abomasum dyed with the hematoxylin-eosin method showed that coagulation necrosis in the area of the ulceration revealed a moderate inflammatory infiltrate in the lamina propria. In the cow affected with lymphoma, a copious tumorous lymphoid infiltrate was concurrent. Mycotic ulcerative abomasitis was described in a cow seven days after calving. In these lesions Aspergillus fumigatus and Mucor spp. were isolated. Histopathological analysis of tissue samples dyed with the Grocott method, described septed and nonsepted hyphae in the blood vessels and surrounding tissue of the tunica mucosa and submucosa

Prevalence and therapeutic management of indigestion in milchcows in and around Bhubaneswar of Odisha, India

“…Rumen bacteria have played role resulting production of volatile fatty acids and lactic acid thereby decreasing / disturbing the rumen pH to non-physiological levels, reducing efficiency of rumen microflora. Acid indigestion which develops as the result of inadequate diet in the present study can also contribute to the development of ulcers, as reported by Kureljusic et al(2013).…”

Invited review: Abomasal damage in veal calves

“…Proposed pathways through which stress could cause abomasal damage have a common starting point, whose involvement has been demonstrated only in rats. In rats, ulcers caused by stress only develop after a drop in body temperature (Weiner, 1996), which initiates 2 main pathways: (1) increased production of gastric acids, whose effects were described previously (see section titled Low Abomasal pH); and (2) a decrease in the rhythm of stomach contractions from 6 to 7 to only 0.5 to 2 times per minute, which leads to decreased mucosal blood flow and subsequent damage through local hypoxia, mechanical damage, and decreased function of the mucosa-protecting mucus and cytoprotective prostaglandins (Weiner, 1996;Marshall, 2009;Kureljušić et al, 2013).…”

“…Abomasal damage involves lesions of the inner wall of the ruminant abomasum, which include minor perturbations or more severe damage causing bleeding or perforation of the wall and subsequent peritonitis. Abomasal damage is a problem in cattle of all ages and all production systems, with "white" veal calves (hereafter, veal calves) being most affected (e.g., Brscic et al, 2011;Kureljušić et al, 2013;Hund et al, 2016). Abomasal damage in the form of lesions can cause high mortality rates of, for example, between 0.53 and 0.11% in veal calves in Switzerland and Belgium (Bähler et al, 2012;Pardon et al, 2012a).…”

First report of a perforated abomasal ulcer in a beef heifer calf in Argentina

“…Abomasal ulcers, local processes of autodigestion of the mucosa (Kureljušid et al, 2013), represent a significant economic problem and an animal welfare concern. They are an important cause of indigestion in dairy cows, feed-lot beef cattle and calves (Braun et al, 1991;Marshall, 2009).…”

“…Nevertheless, they seem to be more prevalent in grazing dairy cows in the spring and early summer, and in those cows that have concomitant illnesses (Ceelen, 2010). Abomasal ulcers are the result of pathophysiological conditions, where the balance between the protective and destructive processes is disturbed (Kureljušid et al, 2013). In consequence, the resistance of abomasal mucosa is reduced, due to an increase in the secretion of corticosteroids, gastric acid and pepsin in combination with a decreased synthesis of prostaglandins (Braun et al, 1991).…”