Ultrasonographic evaluation of massive abdominal wall swellings in cattle and bufaloes

Abstract

Eight cows and 7 bufaloes with massive abdominal wall swellings were examined. The aim of the ultrasonographic study wasto learn the contents of the abdominal wall swellings. Tey were divided into 4 groups: Group I (prepubic tendon rupture or hernia),Group II (fbrino-cystic swelling), Group III (abscess), and Group IV (infammatory swelling). Palpation of the swelling in semidorsalrecumbency, needle aspiration, or surgery was used to confrm the diagnosis. In animals of Groups I, II, and III, in the ultrasound, themuscles appeared to separate from the skin at the margin of swelling, thus creating a gap. In this gap, intestines or viscera were seen inGroup I, fuid and fbrin shreds in Group II, and encapsulated cavity with uniform echogenic contents in Group III. Intact muscles werefollowed up to the hernial ring in Group I and throughout the swelling in Groups II and III. From the ultrasound, a gradual increase inthe total abdominal wall thickness was observed in Group IV. To conclude, ultrasonography can diferentiate hernia from fbrino-cystic,abscess, or infammatory abdominal wall swellings in bovids.