Clinical, Radiographic and Ultrasonographic Differences in Cows and Buffaloes Suffering with Pericarditis

Abstract

This study compared the clinical, radiographic and B-mode ultrasonographic observations in pericarditis affected cattle (n=15) and buffaloes (n=15). Anorexia was a primary complaint in buffaloes where as brisket edema and pyrexia were in cattle. Brisket edema was observed in all cattle in comparison to only 46.67% buffaloes diagnosed with pericarditis. Jugular engorgement was found to be related to the presence of brisket edema and it was more prominent in cattle compared to buffaloes. Tachycardia was present in all the bovine except one buffalo and it was more severe in cattle. The cattle showed typical radiographic features of pericarditis such as high fluid column, non-visibility of heart, dorsal gas cap on heart, gas opacities overlapping heart, and peri-vascular edema in the caudal lung lobe as compared to buffaloes. However, the sharp metallic foreign bodies were detected in 54.54% buffaloes compared to 33.33% cattle on the chest radiographs. On B-mode ultrasonography, 60% cattle had anechoic pericardial contents compared to 46.67% in buffaloes. The remaining animals had echogenic contents. Pleural and peritoneal fluid with or without fibrin was seen in 80% of cattle compared to 40% in buffaloes. In conclusions, clinical signs of brisket edema, jugular engorgement and tachycardia are more pronounced in cattle compared to buffaloes suffering from pericarditis. The cattle show characteristic features of pericarditis, radiographically and clinically, compared to buffaloes. B-mode ultrasonography helps to confirm pericarditis even in animals without pathognomonic clinical signs.