RETROSPECTIVE STUDY ON BODY SURFACE ABSCESSES IN FARM ANIMALS

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to determine the predilection seats of body surface abscesses in some farm animals, their relations to the way of entrance of infection as well as the methods of surgical treatment, fate and complications. The present study was carried out on a total number of 790 animals (buffaloes = 131, cattle = 240, sheep = 230, goats = 81, donkeys = 64, horses = 17 and camels = 27) suffering from presence of abscesses at different localities on the body surface. All cases were recorded during field trips to villages of 27 provinces allover Egypt from 2003 – 2018. Diagnosis was established depending on case history, clinical signs and exploratory puncture. Surgical treatment was performed either by incision of the abscess wall and evacuation of the contents or by total excision. Results indicated that abscesses were detected at the parotid region in 129 animals (16.33%), mandibular region in 120 animals (15.19%), sub-conjunctival in 36 animals (4.56%), cheek region in 33 animals (4.18%), ear region in 10 animals (1.27%), neck region in 47 animals (5.95%), thoracic limbs in 72 animals (9.11%), thoracic wall behind the elbow in 34 animals (4.30%), abdominal wall in 60 animals (7.59%), umbilical region in 68 animals (8.61%), gluteal region in 45 animals (5.70%), pelvic limbs in 102 animals (12.91%), tail region in 16 animals (2.03%) and vulvar lips in 5 animals (0.63%). The results also revealed that the ways of entrance of infection include; breach on the surface of the skin, migrating foreign bodies from the lumen of the digestive tract, iatrogenic by using non-sterilized needle for intramuscular injection, punctured wounds by infected foreign bodies and blood and lymph borne infection. Solitary abscesses were recorded in 682 animals (86.33%) while multiple abscesses were diagnosed in 108 animals (13.67%). Surgical treatment was performed by incision and evacuation of abscesses in 686 animals (86.84%) and by total excision in 104 animals (13.16%). Considering the fate of cases after surgical treatment; 589 animals (74.56%) recovered after the first surgical interference, 66 animals (8.35%) recovered after the second surgical interference after management of complications, 43 animals (5.44%) were culling either by slaughtering or euthanasia and 92 animals (11.65%) the fate was not recorded postoperatively.