Veterinary Clinical Medicine-I (General and Systemic)

DIAGNOSIS

Clinical pathology

• Ruminal pH less than 5.
• Absence of Ruminal protozoa.
• Gram-negative bacterial flora replaced by Gram-positive bacteria.
• Hematocrit rise from 30-32 to 50- 60 %
• Blood lactate and inorganic phosphate levels increased
• Blood pH and bicarbonate reduced
• Hypocalcaemia due to malabsorption. ( 6- 8 mg/dl)
• Urine pH fall to 5 and concentrated

Necropsy findings

• Acute cases:  Content of rumen and reticulum are thin and porridge like and have typical odor of fermentation.
• Cornified epithelium is mushy and easily wiped off leaving dark hemorrhagic surface beneath. These  are restricted to ventral half of the sacs. Abomasitis, pronounced thickening, darkening of blood and visceral vein stand out prominently.
• Fungal hepatitis and ischemic nephrosis are noticed

Differential diagnosis

• Parturient paresis 
• Peracute coliform mastitis
• Acute diffuse peritonitis
• Simple indigestion