Oesophageal obstruction or choke due to accidental ingestion of  sweet corn head in Deoni cow  – A Case Report

Oesophageal obstruction or choke due to accidental ingestion of  sweet corn head in Deoni cow  – A Case Report

D T Naik* , C Jyothi², T Rajendra Kumar³, Vivek kasarallikar⁴

 *  Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Pathology; Veterinary College, Bidar, Karnataka.

2) Assistant professor (contractual basis),  Department of Veterinary Pathology; Veterinary College, Bidar, Karnataka.

3) Assistant professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology; Veterinary College, Bidar, Karnataka.

4) Professor and Head department of Veterinary clinical complex, Veterinary College, Bidar, Karnataka.

Corresponding author: Dr. D. T. Naik; mobile no: 7019962014

E.mail. drdtnaik@gmail.com

Abstract: Six  years old six months pregnant Deoni cow  was admitted to Department of Veterinary Clinical complex (VCC) Veterinary college Bidar, with the history of  poor appetite, nasal discharge and regurgitation of food and water. The animal was collapsed before starting of the treatment. At thorasic oesophageal region, oesophageal lumen was fully obstructed with sweet corn head or fruit head and mucosa was congested. Based on the post-mortem and clinical findings, it was diagnosed as a case of choke at the thorasic inlet.

Key words: choke, sweet corn head, cow, post-mortem findings

Introduction

Oesophageal obstruction or choke which is considered as one of the most important disorders or diseases of cattle may be either intraluminal or extra luminal based on the type of obstruction (Haven, 1990). Objects lodged in the cervical oesophagus may be located by palpation. In cattle, it commonly occurs in the pharynx, the cranial aspect of the cervical oesophagus, the thoracic inlet, or the base of the heart (Misk et al., 2004). In cattle, clinical signs include free-gas bloat, ptyalism,  nasal discharge of food and water. Female buffaloes are more susceptible for oesophageal obstruction than males (Marzok et al., 2015).

The reported causes of oesophageal obstruction in cattle and buffaloes include rexin (Shivaprakash et al., 2014), leather (Salunke et al., 2003), coconut (Madhava Rao et al., 2009), cloth (Kamble et al., 2010), palm kernel (Hari Krishna et al., 2011) and unripened mango (Mandagiri et al., 2017). Acute and complete oesophageal obstruction is an emergency because it prohibits the eructation of ruminal gases resulting in acute bloat. In cattle, severe free-gas bloat may result in asphyxia, because the expanding rumen puts pressure on the diaphragm and reduces venous return of blood to the heart. Long standing cases of formation of bloat can be life threatening if not treated in time (Prakash et al., 2014). The present case report describes, thorasic choke in Deoni cow caused by sweet corn head.

Case history and observations

A six years old with 6 month pregnant heifer (Tag No: 100168/719605) was presented for postmortem examination. Acccording to the farmer, the clinical signs and the  history of the patient were poor appetite, nasal discharge and regurgitation of food and water since 3 days. It was referred to the Department Of Veterinary Clinical complex, Veterinary College Hospital, Bidar for the treatment but animal was collapsed before starting of the treatment and it was referred to department of veterinary pathology for necropsy examination.

Necropsy examination

Upon post mortem examination, at thorasic oesophageal region, oesophageal lumen was fully obstructed with sweet corn head or fruit head  and mucosa was congested (fig.1 &2) On opening abdominal cavity, rumen was fully impacted with food material which was very dry in nature. Abomasal mucosa showed patchy haemorrhages and severe congestion (fig.4). There was a hepatomegaly and surface showed patchy areas of necrosis with gall bladder distension. Splenic surface showed areas of congestion, petechial haemorrhages with infarcts (fig.5) There was haemorrhagic enteritis. Both the kidneys were congested. Heart was congested and lumen showed current jelly clot (fig.6). Tracheal mucosa was congested and both the lungs were emphysematous with areas of consolidation in cardiac lobe and some patchy consolidated areas in diaphragmatic lobes too (fig.7).

Bovines are frequently affected by esophageal obstruction than other animals and this is attributable to their greedy nature and peculiar indiscriminate feeding habits (Smith, 2008). The prognosis is good for animals suffering from oesophageal obstruction if they are treated within 24 to 36 hrs from the onset of clinical signs, but it worsens for those animals that are not identified within 36 to 48 hrs. This is attributable to secondary ruminal tympany as well as to inflammation and necrosis of the oesophageal mucosa (Ravikumar et al., 2003).

In present case, ruminal impaction and superficial congestion of the oesophageal mucosa developed as the case had suffered for more than 2 days and finally, the death of the animal was due to asphyxiation exerted by the oesophageal obstruction on trachea.

Conclusion

Based on clinical findings and post-mortem findings, the case was successfully diagnosed as choke or oesophageal obstruction at thorasic inlet in cow caused by sweet corn obstruction.

References

https://www.msdvetmanual.com/digestive-system/diseases-of-the-esophagus-in-large-animals/esophageal-obstruction-in-large-animals

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Fig.1. congestion of the oesophageal lumen.

Fig.2. Oesophageal lumen was fully obstructed with sweet corn head or fruit head

Fig.3. Abomasal mucosa showed severe congestion and haemorrhages

Fig.4. splenic surface showed areas of congestion, petechial haemorrhages with infarcts

Fig.5.Heart lumen was showed current jelly clot.

Fig.6. lungs showed emphysematous and consolidation.

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