Investigations of foreign bodies in the fore-stomach of cattle at Ngoma Slaughterhouse, Rwanda.

Ingestion of indigestible foreign bodies in cattle is a pathological condition of both economic and health importance. It is has mostly been reported in association with feed scarcity. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and nature of indigestible foreign materials in abattoir fore-stomach specimens in Ngoma district, Rwanda. Each chamber was opened by incision, then given a thorough macroscopic examination by visual inspection and palpation for the presence of foreign materials. The results show that there is an overall occurrence of 17.4% foreign bodies in cattle. The highest occurrence (25.3%) was recorded in June (the driest month). Results further show that the majority of the foreign bodies were plastics (65.0%). More foreign bodies (29.5%) were found in older animals (5 years and above) than in younger and middle-aged animals (16.5 % and 6.0%, respectively). There was a higher prevalence of foreign bodies in female cattle (20.0%) than in males (15.7%). The presence of cassette tape, as observed in the study, has not been reported elsewhere. The high representation of plastics in animals (65.5%) in the light of a government plastic bag ban in supermarkets presents a major challenge to livestock production in Rwanda. What is disturbing is that it is not known if this problem is increasing or decreasing as there are no previous studies for comparison. However, the results will serve as a reference point for future studies to understand the true trend and true burden of plastic bags in livestock.

Timpanismo ruminal crônico secundário à hipoplasia de pregas de omaso em dois bovinos / Chronic ruminal bloat secondary to omasal laminae hypoplasia in two cattle

Um novilho normando e outro charolês apresentando distensão abdominal, diarreia intermitente e timpanismo ruminal crônico, que iniciaram após desmame, foram enviados para necropsia. Observou-se ausência de pregas omasais associada à hipoplasia do órgão, assim como redução de tamanho das papilas ruminais e reticulares. Com base nas lesões e histórico, conclui-se que o timpanismo ruminal foi ocasionado pela falha no desenvolvimento do omaso...

Two emaciated juvenile steers, one Normande and one Charolaise breed with abdominal distension, intermittent diarrhea and chronic ruminal bloat that had begun at weaning were necropsied. Absence of the omasal laminae with omasal hypoplasia were found together with loss of ruminal papillae and reticular folds. Based on the lesions and history we concluded that the ruminal bloat was due to a development failure of the omasum...