An outbreak of phosphatic urolithiasis in fattened-lambs
1988
Koutinas, A. | Rallis, T. (Aristotelion Univ., Thessaloniki (Greece). Veterinary School) | Psychas, V. (Aristotelion Univ., Thessaloniki (Greece). School of Veterinary Studies)
An outbreak of obstructive phosphatic urolithiasis, in which only male animals were affected, occurred in a commercial feedlot, where 500 two and one half month old fattened lambs were kept. The morbidity rate ranged up to 3% in a period of three weeks. The lambs were mainly fed on a ration consisting of concentrated feeds in a pelleted form which contained 1.03% Ca, 0.65% P and 0.53% Mg. D.M. The causative and predisposing factors (high percentage of the concentrated ration in P and Mg, high concentrate to roughage ratio, pelleted form of the concentrate, alkaline pH value of urine, restricted activity of the lambs, inclement weather), thought to be responsible for the occurrence of this particular outbreak of phosphatic urolithiasis, are reported and discussed. The phosphatic urolithiasis of our case proved to be so after examining the urine sediment of 10 lambs, as well as after evaluating the clinical signs in four and the gross post mortem lesions in one lamb with obstructive urolithiasis. Furthermore, in comparison to the results of the biochemical screening carried out in the blood of 22 clinically healthy and of 4 lambs with obstructive phosphatic urolithiasis, it was found that the mean values of BUN, Creatinine, P, Mg and K were higher in the latter and that this difference was statistically significant (post renal azotemia). The recommended preventive measure consisted mainly of reducing the P and Mg content, increasing the percentage of salt and adding ammonium chloride (2%) in the concentrate as well as of offering it in flour form, are also reported and discussed accordingly
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