Blood and rumen fluid histamine status in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) suffering from traumatic reticulo-peritonitis and its clinical management

Present study was conducted on 36 adult female buffaloes divided into three groups (I, II and III). The animals of group I (n=6) were selected from an organized farm. The buffaloes of groups II and III (n=15 each) were suffering from traumatic reticulo-peritonitis (TRP) and subsequently subjected to laparorumenotomy. Rumen fluid samples of the animals of groups II and III were used to evaluate the rumen fluid histamine status, whereas the blood samples of the animals of groups I, II and III were collected to know the blood histamine status. In group Ill, the buffaloes were treated with antihistaminic (chlorpheniramine maleate 0.5 mg/kg b.wt) and hypertonic saline (2.7% sodium chloride) was infused immediately after laparorumenotomy and at 24 and 48 hr, post-operatively. Moreover, the rumen was flushed/inflated with carbon dioxide at the time of closure of rumen wall to maintain anaerobiasis. A significant (P<0.05) positive correlation (r=0.58) was noticed between the rumen fluid and blood histamine concentrations of groups II and III at 0 hr. The values of blood histamine of groups II and III at 0 and 24 hour differed significantly (P<0.05) from the healthy control group I. At 48 hr post-laparorumenotomy the concentrations of blood histamine of group III were substantially ameliorated but still slightly higher than normal values. Therefore, it was concluded that antihistaminic should be included in the treatment protocol of buffaloes suffering from TRP and subjected to laparorumenotomy. The creation of rumen anaerobiasis may have an additional advantage. The treatment with antihistaminic should be extended beyond 48 hr post-operatively.