Comparison of ultrasonographic features of omasum in cattle and buffaloes suffering from various gastrointestinal tract disorders

The present study was conducted on 40 clinical cases of bovine (10 cattle, 30 buffaloes) to ultrasonographically evaluate the position of omasum in relation to anatomical landmarks in cattle and buffaloes suffering from various gastrointestinal tract (GIT) affections. The animals were divided into five groups viz., foreign body syndrome (n=14), faecolith (n=6), caecal impaction (n=5), reticular abscess (n=2) and diaphragmatic hernia (n=13) as per disease condition confirmed upon ultrasonography and surgical findings. Ultrasonographically, the distance from caudal most aspect of wither at dorsal spine to dorsal most aspect of omasum, distance from point of elbow in squarely standing animal to cranial most aspect of omasum, distance from last rib to caudal most aspect of omasum and distance from ventral midline to ventral most aspect of omasum was recorded to evaluate the size of omasum. The ultrasonographic findings were correlated with intra-operative findings. Based on the findings, it was concluded that the size of omasum is significantly reduced in animals suffering from faecolith and caecal impaction while the size of omasum was comparable in animals suffering from diaphragmatic hernia, foreign body syndrome and reticular abscess. Increased thickness of the omasal wall was indicative of small size of omasum.