Clinico-biochemical, Ultrasonographic and Pathological Findings of Hepatic Abscess in Feedlot Cattle and Buffaloes

How to cite this article: Abdelaal AM, Gouda SM and Tharwat M (2014) Clinico-biochemical, ultrasonographic and pathological findings of hepatic abscess in feedlot cattle and buffaloes, Veterinary World 7(5): 306-310. Introduction are detected only at the time of slaughter. Occasionally, cattle may exhibit abdominal pain, or the rupture of a Liver abscesses have a major economic impact superficial abscess or erosion and perforation of the on the feedlot industry because of liver condemnation caudal vena cava could lead to extensive spread and and reduced animal performance and carcass yield [1]. massive infection of other organs and death [6]. Liver abscesses can occur at all ages and in all types of Generally, hematology and liver function tests are cattle, including dairy cows, but they have the greatest not reliable indicators of liver abscesses [7]. economic importance for grain-fed cattle [2]. Liver Ultrasonography has markedly enhanced the diagnosis abscesses in feedlot cattle result from aggressive grain-of hepatic disease in cattle and various hepatic diseases feeding programs and are influenced by a number of as hepatic abscess, hepatic lipidosis, fascioliasis and dietary and management factors [3]. Generally, the caudal vena cava (CVC) thrombosis can be diagnosed incidence and severity of abscesses increase as through ultrasonography and ultrasound-guided liver roughage level in the diet decreases. High roughage biopsy [8-11]. Ultrasonography has been evaluated in levels promote more stable ruminal fermentation and diagnosis of liver diseases in human [12, 13], in dogs decrease the variation in feed intake, thereby lowering [14], in sheep [15] and equine [16]. the incidence of acidosis and rumenitis. The ruminal Ultrasonography is a useful technique for moni-wall that is damaged from acidity or penetration of toring the onset and progression of experimentally foreign objects becomes susceptible to invasion and induced abscesses when the site of injection is known. colonization by F. necrophorum and subsequently shed However, its application in feedlot cattle with naturally bacterial emboli to the portal circulation, leading to developed abscesses is limited. Therefore, this infection and abscess formation [3,4]. Moreover, abscess research was planned to document Ultrasonographic could be developed as a sequelae of traumatic Findings of naturally developed Hepatic Abscess reticuloperitonitis cattle and buffaloes [5]. Cattle that carry feedlot in cattle and buffaloes in relation to clinical, hundreds of small abscesses or several large abscesses, biochemical, and Pathological Findings. seldom exhibit any clinical signs. Thus, liver abscesses Materials and Methods Ethical approval: All study procedures were …


Introduction
are detected only at the time of slaughter.Occasionally, cattle may exhibit abdominal pain, or the rupture of a Liver abscesses have a major economic impact superficial abscess or erosion and perforation of the on the feedlot industry because of liver condemnation caudal vena cava could lead to extensive spread and and reduced animal performance and carcass yield [1].
massive infection of other organs and death [6].Liver abscesses can occur at all ages and in all types of Generally, hematology and liver function tests are cattle, including dairy cows, but they have the greatest not reliable indicators of liver abscesses [7].economic importance for grain-fed cattle [2].Liver Ultrasonography has markedly enhanced the diagnosis abscesses in feedlot cattle result from aggressive grainof hepatic disease in cattle and various hepatic diseases feeding programs and are influenced by a number of as hepatic abscess, hepatic lipidosis, fascioliasis and dietary and management factors [3].Generally, the caudal vena cava (CVC) thrombosis can be diagnosed incidence and severity of abscesses increase as through ultrasonography and ultrasound-guided liver roughage level in the diet decreases.High roughage biopsy [8][9][10][11].Ultrasonography has been evaluated in levels promote more stable ruminal fermentation and diagnosis of liver diseases in human [12,13], in dogs decrease the variation in feed intake, thereby lowering [14], in sheep [15] and equine [16].the incidence of acidosis and rumenitis.The ruminal Ultrasonography is a useful technique for moniwall that is damaged from acidity or penetration of toring the onset and progression of experimentally foreign objects becomes susceptible to invasion and induced abscesses when the site of injection is known.colonization by F. necrophorum and subsequently shed However, its application in feedlot cattle with naturally bacterial emboli to the portal circulation, leading to developed abscesses is limited.Therefore, this infection and abscess formation [3,4].Moreover, abscess research was planned to document Ultrasonographic could be developed as a sequelae of traumatic Findings of naturally developed Hepatic Abscess reticuloperitonitis cattle and buffaloes [5].Cattle that carry feedlot in cattle and buffaloes in relation to clinical, hundreds of small abscesses or several large abscesses, biochemical, and Pathological Findings.seldom exhibit any clinical signs.Thus, liver abscesses care ethical committee of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, contents was aspirated for macroscopic and micro-Zagazig University.scopic examination.

Study area and animals: A total of eight male feedlot
Results cattle and buffaloes were examined at the Veterinary Clinical findings: Dull demeanor, altered appetite, Teaching Hospital, Zagazig University, Egypt at weight loss and decrease or absence or ruminal motility March, 2011 to December, 2013.They included 5 were recorded in all examined animals.The rectal buffalo's bull and 3 cattle bull.Animals were aged 1 to 2 o temperature varied from 38.5 to 40.5 C. Two cows and years and weighed 300 to 450 kg.Animals were 2 buffaloes had recurrent fever.The heart rate was 55 to admitted because of altered appetite, weight loss and 100 beats/minute and respiratory rate varied from 15 to dull demeanour.Cases had been ill for 10 days to 2 50 breaths/ minute.Conjunctival mucous membrane months before admission.All animals underwent a was congested in two cows and five buffalos, icteric in thorough clinical examination as described previously one cow.Grunting, arched back and other tucked up [17], which included general behavior and condition, abdomen were observed in 2 cows.Two cows and two auscultation of the heart, lungs, rumen and intestine, buffaloes had scant hard feces, while one cow and three measurement of heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal buffaloes had diarrhea.temperature, swinging auscultation, percussion auscultation of both sides of the abdomen and rectal Hematological and biochemical findings: The results examination.Due to the poor prognosis, 3 animals of complete blood count revealed that all animals had were slaughtered and were thoroughly examined postleucocytosis (21.120 ± 1.630; reference range 4.0-12.09 mortem.x10 /L) and six animals had neutrophilia (6.50 ± 1.50; 9 reference range 0.6-4.0X10 /L).Hypoalbuminaemia Hematological and biochemical analyses: Two blood (14.20±2.00;reference range 21-36 g/L) and hypersamples were collected by puncture of the jugular vein, globulinaemia (6.36± 0.20; reference range 36-45 g/ L) one on EDTA and the other without an anticoagulant.A were recorded in all animals under investigation.complete blood count (hematocrit, red blood cells, total With regard to the liver enzymes, there were mild and differential leucocytes) was investigated in a elevation of ALT (60.50 ± 11.90; reference range 11-40 whole blood.After centrifugation of the second blood units/L) and GGT(24.80 ± 4.30; reference range 6.1sample, serum samples were collected and then frozen 17.40 units/L) in four animals (3 cattle, one buffalo), for later analysis of clinical chemistries.Commercial while AST, ALP, and CKwere within reference range in kits were used to determine the serum concentrations all examined animals (AST: 80.64 ± 20.20; reference of total protein, albumin, urea nitrogen (BUN) and range 78-132 units/L; ALP: 140 ± 5.50; reference range creatinine.The serum activities of aspartate amino-0-500 units/L; CK: 85.40 ± 10.20; reference range 35transferase (AST), Alanine amino transferase (ALT), 280 units/L).Concerning the renal function, the BUN γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase and creatinine levels were within reference range in all (ALP) and Creatinine kinase (CK) were measured in animals (BUN: 7.40 ± 1.20; reference range 2.0-7.5 serum samples.mmol/L; creatinine: 68.00 ± 7.00; reference range 67-

µmol/L). technique: Ultrasonographic examination was carried
Ultrasonographic findings: Hepatic ultrasonographic out while the animals were standing using 3.5 and 5.0 examination revealed presence of pinpoint echogenic MHz convex as well as 6MHz linear transducers.In structure in one animal (Figure-1), circumscribed mass preparation for ultrasonography, the intercostal spaces with hypoechoic center in 3 animals (Figure -2) and (third to twelve) and the entire abdomen were clipped, with echogenic or hyperechoic center in 4 (Figure -3) shaved and swabbed with alcohol to remove excess oil, with or without echogenic capsule.The diameters of and coupling gel was finally applied.Abdominal ultraabscesses varied between pinpoint to 10 cm in diameter.sonography was carried out as described previously Centesis of these masses under ultrasonographic [18].The peritoneum, rumen, reticulum, omasum, guidance yield purulent material wand confirmed as abomasum, spleen, small and large intestines, liver, th abscesses.Abscesses were located in the right lobe 7 pancreas and right kidney were examined.th to 12 intercostal spaces, intra-hepatic in 7 animals and Liver abscesses were confirmed through aspiration peri-hepatic (between liver and reticulum) in one of the mass as described previously [18].Briefly the (Figure -2).procedure as follows: under ultrasound guidance, aspiration of hepatic abscesses was made after sterilization

Necropsy and histo-pathological findings (3 cases):
Liver abscesses are pus-filled, have capsules that vary by a standard surgical disinfection technique.A 14G x in thickness, and size .The distribution of abscesses in 170-mm spinal needle (Kurita Co., Ltd, Tokyo, Japan) the liver lobes shows no consistent pattern.Liver was advanced through the skin and guided ultracontain a single abscess in one case and numerous sonographically towards the lesion and, with a slight abscesses in two animals.Abscess was located within thrust, was pushed through.The end of the needle hepatic parenchyma in 2 cases  and between within the abscess was usually visible in the ultrasonoliver and reticulum in one case (Figure -5).Histopagraphs.The stylet was then removed and 5-10 ml of the thologically, liver abscesses appeared with a necrotic toxic or immune-mediated insults may cause focal or center containing leukocytes, hepatocytes and cellular diffuse hepatic abnormalities or lesions [19].debris (Figure -6).
Clinical findings: All diseased animals appeared with Discussion dull demeanor, altered appetite, weight loss and decrease or absence or ruminal motility.Recurrent fever, abdominal Liver is highly susceptible for parenchymal, vascular pain and congestion and or icteric mucous membrane and biliary system lesions.Bacterial, chemical, viral,

Conclusion
were also observed but with variable degrees.These signs are not specific signs and considered as general Ultrasonography combined with fine-needle signs for many diseases.These results are partially aspiration yielded diagnosis and helped in determining similar to those described previously [5,6] in cattle.
the duration, size and location of hepatic abscess which Other report [19] stated that cattle with liver abscesses could not be detected by clinical or hemato-biochemical seldom exhibit any clinical signs and abscesses can be findings.detected only at the time of slaughter.

Figure- 4 :
Figure-4: Post mortem finding of a cattle shows a cut section in abscess which appears as circumscribed pus-filled structure with a thick capsule.

Figure- 5 :Figure- 6 :
Figure-5: Post mortem finding of a buffalo shows a cut section in abscess with yellow capsule between liver and reticulum (cut section)