Bloat in cattle secondary to esophageal obstruction by Citrus limon (sicilian lemon)

Abstract:

Ruminal bloat (acute timpany) in ruminants is a marked rumen-reticular distension which results from more gas being produced during the physiologic process of fermentation than is eliminated by eructation. This condition may present itself as either primary timpany due to the formation of stable foam or secondary timpany resulting from functional and/or physical disturbances compromising eructation. This paper describes the epidemiological, clinical, and anatomopathological aspects of acute timpany in cattle secondary to esophageal obstruction by sicilian lemons. Five out of a herd of 210 cattle were affected. Cattle were supplemented with tangerine (Citrus reticulata) residues in a trough. In the last batch of this feed there were whole sicilian lemons mixed with the tangerine residue. The five affected cattle were 12-24 month-old Aberdeen-Angus. All of the five presented clinical signs characterized mainly by cyanotic mucous membranes, severe timpany, abdominal discomfort, marked dyspnea and tachycardia, ruminal atony, dehydration, recumbence and death. Clinical course lasted from 24 to 48 hours. Necropsy findings in the five affected cattle were similar and included complete esophageal obstruction by lemons in the cranial esophagus (immediately cranial to the larynx [1/5]) medial esophagus (at the thoracic inlet [1/5]) and caudal esophagus (close to the cardia [3/5]). At the occluded sites the esophageal mucosa was necrotic and ulcerated. Ruminal content was dried and admixed with whole lemons. In the esophagus o two affected bovine a bloat line was observed. Histological lesions were observed mainly in the esophagus at the sites of obstruction and consisted of marked degenerative, necrotic and ulcerative changes in the esophageal mucosal epithelium.

Index Terms:
Diseases of cattle; secondary ruminal timpani; esophageal obstruction; pathology; digestive disturbances.