Ultrasonographic assessment of change in omasal position during the last month of gestation and first month of lactation in buffaloes.

INTRODUCTION: This study was aimed to determine the effect of advanced pregnancy on the topography and size of the omasum in 22 healthy Murrah buffaloes. The omasum was scanned 15-20 days before and after parturition, as per the standard procedure. The dorsal and ventral margins of the omasum were identified and marked at each intercostal space (ICS). The dorsal and ventral limits up to the dorsal midline were measured. The omasum was scanned in 6th to 11th ICS during advanced pregnancy and 7th to 11th ICS after the parturition. Irrespective of the pregnancy, the dorsal and ventral margins of the omasum were located farther dorsal and close to the spine in the 6th, 7th and 11th ICS. Except in one buffalo, the omasum was scanned in four consecutive ICS during the advanced pregnancy. After parturition the omasum was scanned in four and five consecutive ICS in 17 and five buffaloes, respectively. The mean dorsal and ventral limits of the omasum increased significantly (P .

INTRODUCTION: Cette étude visait à déterminer l'effet d'une gestation avancée sur la topographie et la taille de l'omasum chez 22 buffles de Murrah en bonne santé. L'omasum a été scanné 15 à 20 jours avant et après la parturition, selon la procédure standard. Les marges dorsale et ventrale de l'omasum ont été identifiées et marquées au niveau de chaque espace intercostal (EIC). Les limites dorsale et ventrale jusqu'à la ligne médiane dorsale ont été mesurées. L'omasum a été scanné du 6ème au 11ème EIC pendant la gestation avancée et du 7ème au 11ème EIC après la mise-bas. Indépendamment de la gestation, les marges dorsale et ventrale de l'omasum étaient situées plus loin dorsalement et plus près de la colonne vertébrale dans les 6ème, 7ème et 11ème EIC. Sauf chez un buffle, l'omasum a été scanné dans quatre EIC consécutifs au cours de la gestation avancée. Après la mise-bas, l'omasum a été scanné dans quatre et cinq EIC consécutifs chez 17 respectivement 5 buffles. Les limites dorsales et ventrales moyennes de l'omasum ont augmenté de manière significative (P.

Computed tomography study of the fetal development of the dairy cow stomach complex.

In the fetal development of animals, critical physiological and anatomical events influence the long-term health and performance of the offspring. To identify the critical growth phases of the fetal bovine stomach, we used computed tomography imaging on 30 German Holstein fetuses to examine the fetal bovine stomach in situ. Computed tomography allows the study of diverse parameters such as the volume of the stomach chambers in situ without the need for sophisticated filling preparation techniques. The absolute volume, relative volume, and monthly volume increase of each stomach chamber were determined. Computed tomography was a reliable method for in situ examination of the fetal bovine stomach complex from the third month of gestation onward. It was able to detect an abnormal position of the abomasum in 2 fetuses. The crown-rump length of the fetuses studied ranged from 9.5 to 89 cm (from 2.2 to 8.3 mo of gestation). Over this timeline, the changes in the relative volumes of the ruminoreticulum and abomasum were inversely related. Until mo 5 of gestation, the relative volume of the ruminoreticulum increased steadily, whereas that of the abomasum decreased. Thereafter, the relative volume of the ruminoreticulum became gradually smaller, and that of the abomasum became larger; by mo 8, the abomasum was larger than the ruminoreticulum. All stomach chambers had large increases in volume over the gestation period and we observed differences in development patterns and volume changes of the individual stomach chambers over this period. The largest monthly volume increase of the stomach complex was between mo 4 and 5 of gestation. In this period, the volume of the ruminoreticulum increased 43.8 times, that of the omasum 38.9 times, and that of the abomasum 30.03 times. Between mo 5 and 6 of gestation, the abomasum had another growth spurt, with a monthly volume increase of 10.4 times. These 2 time points in the gestation period may be critical phases of fetal development that should be considered in the management of pregnant cattle.

Ultrasonographic Examination of the Reticulum, Rumen, Omasum, Abomasum, and Liver in Calves.

This article describes the ultrasonographic findings of the reticulum, rumen, omasum, abomasum, and liver of calves from birth to 100 days of age. Reticular motility is used to exemplify how the forestomach function in calves progresses and gradually approaches that of adult cattle. The ultrasonographic examination of the esophageal groove reflex and the investigation of factors affecting esophageal groove closure are described. The ultrasonographic findings of the forestomachs and abomasum of calves with ruminal drinker syndrome are discussed. The article concludes with the description of the ultrasonographic examination of the liver.

Ultrasonographic examination of the abdomen of the goat. I. Reticulum, rumen, omasum, abomasum and intestines.

This review article summarizes the ultrasonographic findings of the reticulum, rumen, omasum, abomasum and intestines of goats. Ultrasonographic examination is done on both sides with the goat in a standing position using a linear array or convex transducer with a frequency of 5.0 to 7.5 MHz. The shape, contour and motility of the reticulum are assessed; this organ appears as a crescent-shaped structure with a smooth contour immediately adjacent to the diaphragm. There are 0.8 to 2.1 reticular contractions per minute, which may be mono-, bi- and triphasic. The rumen is examined from the 8th to 12th intercostal spaces (ICSs) and flank on the left, and from the 12th ICS and flank on the right. The ruminal wall appears as a thick echoic line. The dorsal and ventral sacs of the rumen are differentiated based on the longitudinal groove, which forms an echoic notch. Differentiation of the dorsal gas cap, fibre mat and fluid layer is not always straightforward and varies among goats. The omasum is examined from the 6th to 11th ICSs on the right. Only the wall closest to the transducer can be imaged and it appears as a crescent-shaped echoic line medial to the liver. The omasal folds and the wall furthest from the transducer cannot be seen. In about two thirds of goats, active omasal motility is apparent as a transient reduction in size of several centimetres, followed by relaxation and return to its original size. There is an average of 1.1 contractions per minute. The abomasum is examined from the ventral midline and the left and right paramedian regions and can always be seen from the ventral midline. In all but a few goats the abomasum is also visible from the left and right paramedian areas. It appears as a heterogeneous, moderately echoic structure with echogenic stippling. The abomasal folds appear as prominent echoic bands in about two thirds of all goats. The small and large intestines are examined on the right from the 8th to the 12th ICSs. Loops of jejunum and ileum are seen mainly in cross-section and have a strong motility. The intestinal content is usually homogeneous and echoic and the diameter of the intestinal loops varies from 0.8 and 2.7 cm. The spiral colon and in many cases also the caecum can be imaged. The former is recognized by its garland-like appearance brought about by the centripetal and centrifugal coils of the intestine. In the spiral colon and the caecum, only the wall closest to the transducer can be imaged because of intraluminal gas. The wall appears as a thick echoic and slightly undulating line 5.6 to 8.0 cm in length. Ultrasonography is an imaging technique that is very well suited for the examination of the gastrointestinal tract of goats.

Computed tomography of the abdomen in Saanen goats: I. reticulum, rumen and omasum.

Computed tomography (CT) of the reticulum, rumen and omasum was carried out in 30 healthy goats and the images were compared to corresponding body sections obtained at postmortem. A multidetector CT was used to examine goats in sternal recumbency. A setting of 120 KV and 270 mA was used to produce 1.5-mm transverse slices from the fifth thoracic vertebra to the sacrum. Soft tissue structures were assessed in a soft tissue with a window width (W) of 400 Hounsfield Units (HU), and a window level (L) of 40 HU. The layering of the ruminal contents was assessed in an ingesta window with a W of 1500 HU and an L of 30 HU. After subjective evaluation, the size of the rumen and omasum, the thickness of the walls of the reticulum, rumen and omasum and the height of the gas cap and fibre and liquid phases of the rumen were measured. Fifteen goats were euthanised after CT examination, placed in sternal recumbency and frozen at -18 ºC for three to 10 days. Thirteen goats were then cut into 1.0- to 1.5-cm-thick transverse slices. One goat was cut in dorsal-plane slices and another in sagittal slices. The structures in the CT images were identified by using the corresponding anatomical slices.

Ultrasonography of the omasum in 30 Saanen goats.

BACKGROUND: Primary diseases of the omasum are uncommon in goats, although the omasum may be involved in various gastrointestinal disorders. Examination of the caprine omasum via ultrasonography requires a good understanding of the normal appearance of the organ. However, in contrast to cattle, there is a lack of reference information on this topic in goats. Thus, the goal of the present study was to describe the results of ultrasonography of the omasum in 30 healthy Saanen goats. RESULTS: Ultrasonography was carried out in standing, non-sedated goats using a 5.0 MHz linear transducer. The location and size of the omasum, thickness of the omasal wall and visualisation of the abomasal laminae, contents and contractions were assessed. The omasum was visible from the 9th intercostal space (ICS) in all the goats, and from the 8th and 10th ICSs in 29 and 24 goats, respectively. The omasum was seen medial to the liver, but only the omasal wall closest to the transducer was visible. The dorsal omasal limit formed a dorsally convex curve running from cranioventral to caudodorsal and was furthest from the dorsal midline in the 6th ICS. The ventral omasal limit formed a ventrally convex curve. The size of the omasum was largest (10.2 ± 3.1 cm) in the 9th ICS and decreased cranially and caudally from this position. Active omasal motility was recorded in 20 goats with 0.3 to 2.0 contractions per minute. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study provide reference ranges for the interpretation of the location and size of the omasum in goats with suspected omasal abnormalities. Ultrasonography is an ideal diagnostic tool for evaluation of the omasum, which is not accessible to conventional examination techniques, such as inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of the omasum in cows and buffaloes.

The study was conducted to establish the ultrasonographic features of the healthy and impacted omasum in cows and buffaloes. Scanning was done using a 3.5 MHz microconvex transducer. In healthy buffaloes, the omasum could be scanned at the eighth to ninth intercostal space as a round or oval structure having thick echogenic wall with echogenic leaves. Gradual slow movements of omasal leaves could also be seen in real-time B-mode. The omasum appeared to be very clear, large, and close to the transducer at the start of the omasal contraction, and as the contraction progressed the omasum retracted away from the transducer and became very small. In healthy cows the omasum was seen as a crescent-shaped structure with an echogenic wall. The contents of the omasum or omasal leaves could not be visualized. Omasal contractility was not as prominent as in buffaloes. In buffaloes, the impacted omasum appeared amotile, the omasal leaves were not visible, and the omasum as a whole gave a prominent distal acoustic shadow. In cows, the impaction could be diagnosed based on amotile omasum covering a large area on the right side. Ultrasonography was found to be helpful in subjective assessment of omasal impaction but could not aid in diagnosing the severity of impaction.

Ultrasonographic examination of the omasum, liver, and small and large intestines in cows with right displacement of the abomasum and abomasal volvulus.

OBJECTIVE: To describe ultrasonographic appearance of the liver, small and large intestines, and omasum in cows with right displacement of the abomasum (RDA) and with abomasal volvulus (AV) and to determine whether RDA and AV can be differentiated on the basis of ultrasonographic findings. ANIMALS: 17 cows with RDA, 9 cows with AV, and 10 healthy control cows. PROCEDURES: A linear transducer was used to examine the abomasum, liver, omasum, and small and large intestines from the right side. Results-The liver was imaged less frequently in cows with RDA or AV, compared with control cows. In 9 cows with RDA or AV, the liver could not be imaged. The small intestine was imaged less frequently in cows with RDA or AV than in control cows; in cows with AV, the small intestine could not be imaged in the 8th, 9th, or 10th intercostal space. The large intestine was imaged less frequently in the 11th and 12th intercostal spaces and the cranial region of the flank in cows with RDA or AV. The omasum was also imaged less frequently in the 8th and 9th intercostal spaces in cows with RDA or AV. Cows with RDA or AV could not be differentiated on the basis of ultrasonographic findings. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Compared with control cows, cows with RDA and AV had changes in positioning and therefore extent of ultrasonographic imaging of the liver, omasum, and small and large intestines; however, these findings were not useful in differentiating between cows with RDA and AV.

Ultrasonography of the omasum in cows with various gastrointestinal diseases.

The omasums of 30 healthy cows and 55 cows with various gastrointestinal disorders (10 with left displacement and eight with right displacement of the abomasum, 10 with abomasal volvulus, 10 with traumatic reticuloperitonitis, nine with ileus of the small intestines and eight with reticulo-omasal stenosis) were examined ultrasonographically on the right side of the body with a 3.5 MHz linear transducer. The dorsal and ventral margins of the omasum and its size in the fifth to 11th intercostal spaces were determined. Generally, the ultrasonographic appearance of the omasum did not differ between the healthy and abnormal cows. The omasum appeared as a semicircle, and the omasal wall closest to the transducer was visible as a thick echogenic line. In a few of the abnormal cows, the omasal laminae were visible and the omasum appeared to have motility. In the cows with left and right displacement of the abomasum and abomasal volvulus, the dorsal margin of the omasum was significantly further from the dorsal midline in some intercostal spaces than in the healthy cows. In the cows with left displacement of the abomasum, the ventral margin of the omasum was significantly further from the dorsal midline in the 7th intercostal space than in the healthy cows. In the cows with reticulo-omasal stenosis, traumatic reticuloperitonitis and ileus of the small intestine, the ventral margin of the omasum was significantly closer to the dorsal midline in some intercostal spaces than in the healthy cows. The mean (sd) size of the omasum in the healthy cows varied from 16.3 (1.5) cm to 56.9 (10.0) cm, depending on the intercostal space, and the omasum was significantly smaller in some intercostal spaces in the cows with reticulo-omasal stenosis, right displacement of the omasum, abomasal volvulus and ileus of the small intestine.

Ultrasonographic examination of the omasum in 30 healthy cows.

A 3.5 MHz linear transducer was used to scan the intercostal spaces of 30 healthy cows from dorsal to ventral on the right side, and the appearance, dorsal and ventral limits and size of the omasum were determined in each intercostal space. The size of the omasum determined ultrasonographically was compared with that determined postmortem. The distance between the omasum and the peritoneum of the lateral body wall was also determined electronically in each intercostal space by means of the two cursors. In the sixth to 11th intercostal spaces, the omasum had a crescent shape, with only the wall closest to the transducer visible as a thick echogenic line. The dorsal limit of the omasum appeared from cranial to caudal as the upper part of a circle, whereas the ventral omasal limit appeared as the lower part of a circle. The mean (sd) size of the omasum varied with the intercostal spaces from 16.3 (1.5) cm to 56.9 (10.0) cm; it was greatest in the ninth intercostal space and decreased cranially and caudally. The omasum was closest to the right abdominal wall in the eighth and ninth intercostal spaces, and was immediately adjacent to these spaces in 22 and 20 cows, respectively. There were significant correlations between the size of the omasum determined ultrasonographically in the ninth intercostal space and the weight, volume and largest and smallest diameters of the omasum determined postmortem, with correlation coefficients (r) between 0.38 and 0.55.

Contrast study of the gastrointestinal tract in the goat (Capra hircus).

Radiographic anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract of the goat (Capra hircus) was studied. Intraluminal contrast medium was used to evaluate the mucosal surfaces of stomach and intestines, and extraluminal contrast medium was used to evaluate the serosal surfaces of organs in the peritoneal cavity.

Cineradiography of the reticular groove mechanism.

The use of cineradiographic studies in the interpretation of how sucked liquid passes to the abomasum in young sucking ruminants is described with special reference to experimental studies in lambs and calves. The work involved an examination of the movements of stainless steel wire or clips inserted via a gastrostomy into the mucosa of the caudal thoracic oesophagus, lips of the reticular groove and margins of the reticulo-omasal orifice. This assisted the interpretation of how these structures are involved in the passage into the abomasum of sucked liquid and into the reticulo-rumen of liquid or solid ingesta or saliva swallowed independently of sucking. An understanding of contributions made by the oesophagus, reticular groove and reticulo-omasal orifice to the passage of sucked liquid into the abomasum was aided by the use of the autonomic blocking agents, atropine and hexamethonium.