Clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic findings in 38 calves with type-4 abomasal ulcer

Ueli Braun,Monika Hilbe,Karl Nuss,Christina Widmer,Christian Gerspach

doi:10.1186/s13028-021-00601-2

Abstract

BackgroundType-4 abomasal ulcers (U4) are perforated ulcers causing diffuse peritonitis. This retrospective study describes the clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic findings in 38 calves with U4. The medical records of 38 calves aged three days to 20 weeks with U4 were scrutinised.ResultsThe most common clinical findings were poor general health (95%), reduced skin elasticity (95%), rumen atony (91%), abdominal guarding (76%) and positive percussion auscultation and/or swinging auscultation on the right side of the abdomen (75%). The most frequent laboratory findings were increased numbers of segmented neutrophils (87%), eosinopenia (87%), acidosis (84%), azotaemia (79%) and hyponatraemia (79%). The most frequent abdominal ultrasonographic findings were intestinal atony (68%), fluid (67%) and fibrin deposits (58%) in the abdomen. Thirty-five calves were euthanased and three calves died spontaneously. All calves underwent pathological examination. Diffuse peritonitis caused by a transmural abomasal ulcer was the principal diagnosis in all calves.ConclusionsPerforated abomasal ulcers cause severe illness, and a thorough clinical examination combined with ultrasonographic abdominal examination should lead to a tentative diagnosis.

Highlights

Type-4 abomasal ulcers (U4) are perforated ulcers causing diffuse peritonitis
Abomasal ulcerative lesions in veal calves are classified as erosions, ulcers and scars [3, 8] but in principle could be divided into types 1 (U1) to 5 (U5) analogous to what was recently described in detail for
Abomasal ulceration in a neonatal calf was attributed to stress of the dam, which was recumbent before parturition and required veterinary assistance because of dystocia [33]

Summary

Introduction

Type-4 abomasal ulcers (U4) are perforated ulcers causing diffuse peritonitis. This retrospective study describes the clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic findings in 38 calves with U4. Postmortem studies have shown that perforated abomasal ulcers are an important cause of death in veal calves, and in one report accounted for 22% of all losses [1]. Abomasal ulcerative lesions in veal calves are classified as erosions, ulcers and scars [3, 8] but in principle could be divided into types 1 (U1) to 5 (U5) analogous to what was recently described in detail for. The notion that abomasal overloading associated with feeding large amounts of milk favours the development of abomasal ulcers [16, 17] is not supported by scientific evidence [3]. An experimental study [18] and a risk assessment study [6] did not support the notion that overloading of the abomasum by high milk volumes delivered in a small number

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