Etio-pathological studies on gastrointestinal tract disorders of sheep
Abstract
The present investigation was carried out to study the clinico-haematological aspects and pathology of gastrointestinal tract disorders in sheep in the state of Haryana. . A total of 100 faecal and blood samples were analysed from 100 diarrhoeic sheep for clinico-haematological studies. Examination of faecal samples revealed the presence of Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus spp.. Bacteriological examination of faecal samples revealed E. coli as most predominant bacterial organism followed by Proteus spp., Klebsiella spp. and Salmonella typhimurium 4, 5: i:1,2. E. coli strains belonged to 20 different serotypes. O88 was the most prominent serotype followed by O172, O44, O2, O153, O91, O80, O25, O132, O158, O1, O3, O5, O42, O73, O101, O109, O128, O147 and O156 Haematological analysis showed a significant decrease in values of haemoglobin, packed cell volume, total erythrocyte count, total leucocyte count, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration and mean corpuscular haemoglobin. Differential leucocyte count and absolute counts of leucocytes revealed a significant increase in values of neutrophils and eosinophils whereas a significant decrease in values of lymphocytes was observed. Serum biochemical examination revealed a significant decrease in values of total serum protein, serum albumin, albumin: globulin ratio, cholesterol and glucose whereas a significant increase in serum globulin was observed. An increase in the activities of alanine aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase was observed in diarrhoeic sheep, beside this, a significant decrease in sodium and an increase in potassium levels was also observed. In pathological studies, 112 sheep carcasses revealed changes in gastrointestinal tract during postmortem examination. The gross lesions in oesophagus, intestines and abomasum were petechial haemorrhages and congestion of mucosa. Liver evinced petechial haemorrhages and congestion, yellow discolouration, abscess formation and necrotic foci. Gross lesions in other visceral organs along with gastrointestinal tract were congestion and consolidation of lungs, haemorrhages and congestion of spleen, heart and kidney and swollen mesenteric lymph node. Histopathological, lesions in intestines and abomasum were desquamation of epithelium, infiltration of neutrophils, lymphocytes, macrophages and plasma cells. Liver exhibited degenerative changes viz. cloudy swelling, fatty changes and hydropic degeneration along with infiltration of neutrophils, lymphocytes, macrophages and plasma cells in liver parenchyma. Coagulative necrosis and chronic hepatitis with connective tissue proliferation were also noticed in liver. Mesenteric lymph node was reactive and exhibited depletion of lymphocytes in lymphoid follicles. Spleen also revealed depletion of lymphocytes in lymphoid follicles in white pulp and reticular cell hyperplasia. Lungs exhibited congestion and infiltration of neutrophils and lymphocytes in alveoli along with presence of serous exudate. Heart showed congestion and sarcocysts in myocardium. Kidney revealed congestion and hyaline and epithelial cast in tubular region. Bacteriological studies of different organs of sheep carcasses revealed E. coli as most predominant bacterial organism followed by Proteus spp., Klebsiella spp., Salmonella typhimurium 4,5:i:1,2 Staphylococcus spp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. E. coli strains belonged to 14 different serotypes. O88 and O153 were most predominant serotypes followed by O158, O22, O25, O44, O172, O42, O156, O91, O132, O32, O64 and O70. Antibiogram pattern of different bacterial organisms isolated from faecal samples of diarrhoeic sheep and different organs of sheep carcass revealed that bacterial organisms were most sensitive to amikacin and gentamicin, whereas most resistant to tetracycline and nitrofurantoin. Mortality studies of sheep during period of six year (1999 to 2004) based on postmortem records revealed pneumonia and enteritis as major cause of death. Mortality was higher in lambs than adults. In female mortality was higher than that of male. In season wise mortality studies, mortality was maximum in summer season followed by rainy season and winter season.