INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION BY LYMPHOSARCOMA IN CATTLE: RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

This article reports the occurrence of digestive disorders caused by intestinal obstruction in seven animals due from 23 cases of lymphosarcoma treated at the Clinic of Bovine, campus Garanhuns (CBG - UFRPE) the period of 2000 to 2010. Epizootiologial data and clinical laboratory tests were obtained from clinical records of these animals. All affected animals were female, six Holstein and across breed dairy cattle Gir and one Nellore, raised in confinement or semi-confinement and older than three years. On physical examination there were apathy (100%), low body score (85.71%), dehydration (71.42%), hair coat and dull (85.71%), superficial lymph nodes in the neck and satellites enlarge (71.42%). Hypomotility was observed in the rumen, abomasum and intestines (100%) and abdominal tension increased (28.57%), and characteristic signs of intestinal obstruction: the sound of liquid slug, bulging abdomen bilaterally, absence or low amount of stool changed and presence of mucus and excessive digested. All animals that died or were euthanized, presented macroscopic and histological lesions characteristic of enzootic leukemia. This disease is disseminated throughout Brazil presenting several clinical forms. The obstruction of the intestinal tract, though little reported in the literature and should be considered as a differential diagnosis with other digestive disorders.