Selected studies on foreign body impaction in goats with special reference to ultrasonography

Background and Aim: Diagnosis of foreign body impaction in ruminant is still of interest in most clinical studies. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate this condition using B-mode ultrasonography in addition to evaluation of clinical, hemato-biochemical and ruminal parameters in healthy and affected goats. Materials and Methods: Fifteen clinically normal goats and 15 goats with foreign body impaction were recruited in Menia El-Kamh abattoir. All animals were selected only when revealed negative for internal and external parasite. Thorough clinical, ultrasonographic examination and blood analysis were applied before slaughtering. Meanwhile, ruminal fluid and necropsy findings were assessed after slaughtering. Results: The prominent clinical signs in diseased group were inappetence, dullness, emaciation, weakness, scanty hard feces and tympany. Ultrasonographic examination of diseased goats revealed the presence of foreign body at left 11(th)-12(th) ICS. Foreign body in rumen appeared as hyperechoic band with acoustic shadowing. Significant reduction in ruminal wall thickness and biphasic reticular motility along with significant increase in monophasic reticular contraction and relaxation period were recorded in diseased goats when compared with control one. The erythrocytes count, hemoglobin content, hematocrit percent and albumin were significantly decreased in diseased goats when compared with healthy one. Moreover, ruminal fluid analysis of affected goats revealed significant decrease in ruminal pH and prolonged Methylene blue reduction time. Conclusions: Findings indicated that B-mode ultrasonography is a relatively simple and objective method for diagnosis of foreign body impaction in goats.