Reticular abscess in buffaloes and cattle: clinical-biochemical, diagnostic imaging findings, treatment and long-term follow-up.

The hematological alterations of bovine reticular abscess are reported in literature, but the detailed biochemical alterations and long-term outcome of bovine reticular abscess have not been reported so far and are not available in the standard textbooks. This study aims to describe clinical features, hemato-biochemical alterations, management, productive and reproductive performance, long term follow-up of reticular abscess in bovines. This prospective study was conducted on 12 bovines diagnosed with reticular abscess. All the animals were subjected to hematological and biochemical evaluation along with a healthy control group. The diseased animals were subjected to radiography, ultrasonography, and surgical treatment. The clinical findings were chronic anorexia, dehydration, persistent or recurrent tympany, scanty feces, mushy rumen, tachypnea, gradual reduction in milk yield, distended rumen, and increased fecal particle size with undigested particles in feces. Although the presence of penetrating reticular foreign bodies seemed to be the major cause, the role of non-metallic foreign bodies cannot be ruled out. Ultrasonography was more reliable than radiography in the diagnosis of reticular abscess. The majority of the reticular abscesses were single and were located cranio-ventrally. White blood cell and neutrophil counts were significantly (p < 0.05) higher while lymphocyte count was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the control values. The hematology findings can be used for tentative diagnosis of reticular abscess in bovines. Total bilirubin, aspartate aminotrasferase, total protein, globulin, fibrinogen, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine glucose, cholesterol, and lactate were significantly (p < 0.05) higher, and albumin, albumin-globulin ratio, fibrinogen ratio, potassium, chloride, and calcium were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the corresponding control values. Rumen chloride concentration was higher than the reference range. Peritoneal fluid analysis in four cases revealed septic peritonitis. Reticular abscess can lead to vagal indigestion, usually posterior functional stenosis. The conservative treatment was unsuccessful. The long-time survival rate in surgically treated animals was 66.7% and in the majority of animals, there was no effect on fetal survival or milk yield in current and subsequent lactation. Reticular abscess was primarily associated with foreign bodies in the reticulum and causes significant biochemical changes. Ultrasonography was more reliable than radiography in the diagnosis of reticular abscess. Surgical drainage into the reticular lumen usually results in a successful surgical outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]