Peritoneal fluid studies in buffaloes suffering from traumatic reticuloperitonitis
Abstract
This study was conducted on buffaloes confirmed to be suffering from traumatic reticuloperitonitis. In each case a tentative diagnosis was made on the basis of history, clinical signs, radiological findings and peritoneal fluid and blood were collected pre-operatively. Subsequently, laparo-rumenotomy was done to remove the foreign body/bodies, if present and rumen fluid was also collected at that time. On the basis of all these findings studies were done on 40 buffaloes, which were confirmed to have TRP, and from which foreign bodies were removed on surgery. On the basis of microbial examination of peritoneal fluid, 23 buffaloes were detected to have infectious peritonitis and 17 non-infectious peritonitis. In case of non-infectious peritonitis in 14 cases it was localized and in three diffused. In cases of infectious peritonitis, 14 were of localized and 9 were of diffuse nature. The predominant isolated organism were C. pyogenese. E. coli., Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococucs spp. Majority of the cases were resistant to commonly used antibiotics except ciprofloxacin and gentamycin to which all were sensitive.
The colour of peritoneal fluid was orange to red in several cases. In several cases peritoneal fluid had foetid odour, specially in cases of diffuse peritonitis. The pH and clotting time of the peritoneal fluid was on lower side whereas, surface tension and viscosity were on higher side specially in diffused non-infectious and both local and diffused infectious peritonitis.
There were no remarkable changes in the total leucocytic and neutrophilic count in both local and diffused peritonitis. However, count of these cells in the peritoneal fluid was higher than normal. Similarly protein and fibrinogen content of the peritoneal fluid was on higher side. On a comparative basis, all these changes were on a lower side in case of local non-infectious peritonitis. The total plasma protein and fibrinogen values were higher than normal in all cases. However, plasma protein and fibrinogen ratio provided better indication of absolute increase in the plasma fibrinogen content.
The mean values of rumen fluid pH, buffering capacity and chloride concentration were with in the normal range. However, the data of individual animals showed that in several cases of diffused peritonitis the buffering capacity had reduced and rumen fluid chloride was either in upper normal range or higher than normal. The plasma chloride concentration in all cases was with in normal range