Incidence and effect of non-penetrating foreign bodies in small ruminants with special reference to ingestion of plastics

Incidence of non-penetrating foreign bodies in small ruminants viz, goats and sheep was studied based on survey of slaughter houses at Bidar, Gulbarga and Hyderabad. Clinical, haematological, biochemical and rumen liquor parameters of healthy animals (control group) and affected animals (clinical group) were studied and compared. The affected animals of the clinical group were subjected to rumenotomy and observed for recovery. The body weight of affected animals were recorded before and one month after surgery. The foreign bodies recovered were categorized and weighed. The incidence of non-penetrating foreign body syndrome was 12.21% in goats and 5.03% in sheep. The clinical parameters like respiratory rate and heart rate were elevated in affected goats and sheep. Haematological study revealed leukocytosis with neutrophilia and lymphopenia. Biochemical estimation showed hypocalcaemia, hypophosphatemia and hypoproteinemia. Rumen liquor studies revealed ruminal alkalosis, reduced SAT, increased MBRT, decrease in TVFA concentration and decreased protozoal density. Rumenotomy was performed under local infiltration anaesthesia and all the foreign bodies present in rumen and reticulum were removed. All the animals showed uneventful recovery. There was considerable gain in weight of animals one month after surgery. Plastics were the predominant foreign bodies recovered which weighed between 0.8 kg and 3.2 kg.