This clinical case involves a 9-year-old cattle presenting with fever, anorexia, weight loss, difficulty walking, and recurrent bloating. Physical examination revealed fever, increased heart and breathing rates, dehydration, and mild bloating. Tests showed anemia, high white blood cell count with immature cells, low glucose and electrolytes, and cloudy peritoneal fluid containing immune cells. Based on the history, exam findings, and test results, the diagnosis is peritonitis caused by a foreign body perforating the reticulum. Treatment involves antibiotics, fluids, and follow up monitoring to ensure recovery.

1. Discuss the following clinical case
in details
Dr. Karima Al Salihi

2. Case history and scenario
•An nine years old crossbred cattle was referred to Al
Muthanna Teaching Veterinary hospital, with a
history of fever, anorexia and progressive weight loss
with difficulty while walking and recurrent tympany.
•The history of treatment was antipyretic for 5 days for
fever.
•The cow was regularly feed with straw, green food,
and concentrate food, the cow also allowed for
grazing at surroundings.

3. Physical and clinical examination of the cow
revealed:
• fever (40.6°C)
•tachycardia (86/min)
•tachypnoea (38/min)
•congested congunctival mucus membranes,
•severe dehydration
•mild ruminal atony associated with bloat.

4. • Hot and pain full edema was noticed at ventral aspect of abdomen and brisket
region.
• Metal detector test was done and it was positive.
• Pain tests were conducted including:
ØReticular grunt test
Ø Scootch test
ØPole test
ØSlope test
ØXiphisterum percussion test
• Whole blood was collected in EDTA containing vial for routine haematology.
• Serum was separated for estimation of sero biochemical parameters.
• Peripheral blood smear was collected for screening of haemoprotozonas.
• fecal sample was collected to screen for endo-parasitic infections.
• Peritoneal fluid and ruminal fluid was also collected for laboratory analysis.

5. Results of tests
• Examination of the cow revealed pain while back grip test and palpation for
tenderness.
• Cow showed pain while palpation at brisket region and positive response while
examination with metal detector at reticular region.
• Peripheral blood examination and stained smears did not reveal any
haemoprotozoans.
• Haematology had significant erythrocytopenia (4.55X106/μL) with lower
haemoglobin (6.2 g/dL) concentrations and higher PCV (42%), significant
leucocytosis (13,943/μL), neutrophilia (12,887/μL), presence of more number of
immature neutrophils (75%) (Band cells) than mature neutrophils and decreased
lymphocyte count (2,432/μL), normal monocyte count (149/μL), eosinophil
count (332/μL) was noticed.

6. • Sero biochemical parameters had reduction in glucose (43 mg/dL), sodium (121
mEq/L), potassium (2.9 mEq/L), chloride (75 mEq/L), and calcium (7.2 mg/dL),
phosphorus (4.3 mg/dL) levels. Elevated levels of total protein (12.2 mg/dL,
globulin (8.6 mg/dL), AST (84 IU/L), ALT (45 IU/L), creatinine (2.2 mg/dL) was
noticed.
• Minor deviations were noticed in BUN (29 mg/dL) and serum albumin (3.7
mg/dL) levels.
• Rumen fluid was collected from left paralumbar fossa through a sterile 18 G
needle. Ruminal fluid was viscous in consistency, pH was 7.2 and protozoal
concentration was ‘single +’ with sluggish motility.
• Peritoneal fluid was collected which was in dark straw colored, cloudy and foamy
in nature. It contains higher number of nucleated cells, immature and
degenerative neutrophils. Peritoneal fluid had higher protein 4.5 g/dL levels.

7. • Based on the history, clinical and laboratory examination of peritoneal fluid
along with positive response to metal detector condition.
• What is your diagnosis?
• What are other diagnostic clinical features that can you see on this cow and
help you in diagnosis of the disease?
• What are the other synonym of the disease?
• What are the complication of this disease?
• How do you treat this disease?
• How do you follow up the animal after treatment?
• How do you control this this disease in animals?
• Can this disease occur in ovine & caprine?