Ultrasonography, Cardiac Biomarkers and Biochemical Analysis as a Diagnostic Tool in Traumatic Reticulitis and its Sequelae in Egyptian Buffaloes

This study was performed for early diagnosis of traumatic reticulitis (TR), traumatic reticuloperitonitis (TRP) and traumatic pericarditis (TP) in buffaloes based on clinical, ultrasonography and biochemical analysis. Fifty-eight buffaloes were admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Zagazig University, Egypt. the investigated buffaloes were divided into 4 groups, Group I was the control, group II suffered from TR, group III suffered from TRP, and group IV suffered from TP. The most prominent clinical signs of diseased cases were anorexia, sudden, and severe reduction of milk yield, abnormal ruminal movement varied from ruminal atony and ruminal stasis and recurrent tympany. In addition, buffaloes with TP showed edema at the dewlap, distension of jugular veins and abnormal heart sound (muffled and tinkling sound). Ultrasonographically, peritoneum and pericardium appeared as either mild or massive anechoic accumulations of fluid containing fibrin thread Corrugation of the reticular wall was varied from moderate to severe. Deposits of fibrinous tissue interspersed with fluid pockets were seen between the reticulum, dorsal ruminal sac and diaphragm. Serum troponin I (cTnI) and creatine kinase myocardial band (CK-MB) were significantly higher in the TP group compared with control, TR and TRP groups. Moreover, IL-6, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly higher in the TRP and TP group compared with control and TR groups. Therefore, it was concluded that cardiac biomarkers and ultrasonography is an excellent tool for early prediction and diagnosis of TRP and TP in buffaloes. moreover, TP in buffaloes had more significant changes in biochemistry than the TRP buffaloes.