Investigations on pathomorphological alterations in ruminants affected with gastrointestinal tract disorders

Abstract

Gastrointestinal disorders are one of the most important factors that affect the productive and reproductive performance of the animals. Comprehensive studies on such disorders is lacking therefore the present work was planned to aim at patho-biological investigation of gastrointestinal tract disorders affecting large and small ruminants. The current investigation was conducted on 65 cases (bovine, ovine and caprine) brought to the Department of Veterinary Pathology, LUVAS, Hisar from August, 2019 to January, 2020. The investigation included the detailed post-mortem examination of gastrointestinal tract and associated organs, mortality pattern study with relation to digestive disorders, gross pathology and histopathology. Bacteriological and parasitic studies were also carried out to investigate the etiology of gastrointestinal tract disorders.Generalized clinical signs such as weakness, anorexia, diarrhoea, dehydration, tympany and abdominal pain and distention were observed in affected animals.Maximum mortality was observed in more than two-year age group (47.7%) and in calves of upto 6 months age group (38.5%). Main gastrointestinal tract disorders affecting ruminants were acute necro-hemorrhagic type or chronic/granulomatous in nature involved with multiple etiological factors as bacterial infections (Escherichia coli and other opportunistic pathogens), paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease), coccidiosis and mixed parasitic infections of Strongyle spp., Strongyloides spp. and Buxtonella sulcata complicating the pathology of such disorders.