Clinical, Haemato-biochemical findings and Therapeutic management of Peritonitis in Cattle

The clinical features, changes in blood and peritoneal fluid and results of therapy are described in 32 cattle suffering from peritonitis. The important clinical findings were depression, anorexia, reduced water intake, reduction in milk yield, moderate to severe dehydration, increased heart and respiration rates, reduced or nil rumen motility, varying degrees of abdominal distension, and scanty faeces or complete loss of defecation. Reticular radiography revealed foreign bodies in half of the animals. The haematological alterations were increase in the number of neutrophils, reversal of lymphocyte to neutrophil ratio, left shift and toxic changes in neutrophils. Biochemical analysis revealed increased total bilirubin, AST, GGT, BUN, glucose, lactate and whereas albumin, chloride and calcium were decreased. Abnormal peritoneal fluid changes were altered consistency and colour, increased volume, specific gravity and total protein, neutrophelia and presence of degenerated neutrophils, bacteria and gut contents. The therapeutic management with different antibiotic combinations and supportive therapy resulted in recovery of five cases only. From the present study, it was concluded that the prognosis of peritonitis cases has to be precisely assessed on the basis of both haematological and peritoneal fluid examination. On overall moderate to marked left shift and moderate to severe toxic changes in neutrophils along with unfavourable peritoneal fluid changes were indicative of poor prognosis.