Omphalophlebitis and omphaloarteritis

Etiology

• (Omphalo)-Arteritis is primarily an inflammatory reaction in the arterial wall, which often leads to endothelial damage and thrombosis.
  • There are two umbilical arteries that connect the internal iliac arteries to the placenta.
  • After birth these regress to become the round ligament of the bladder.
• (Omphalo)-Phlebitis is inflammation of the vein and is frequently accompanied by thrombosis.
  • Neutrophilic leukocytes tend to dominate and, with chronicity, inflammatory fibrous tissue surrounds the vein.
  • There is one umbilical vein that connects the placenta to the liver and porta cava which regresses after birth to become the round ligament of the liver within the falciform ligament.
• Both omphalophelbitis and omphaloarteritis develop secondary to acquired or congenital infection of the umbilical structures and/or trauma.
• The conditions are frequently associated with poor hygiene in the calving environment and failure to pay attention to immediate post-calving umbilical care.
• Omphalophlebitis may extend the length of the umbilical vein and result in hepatic abscessation.
• Omphaloarteritis may extend to the bladder.
• Omphalophlebitis is more common than omphaloarteritis in calves.

Predisposing factors

General

• Poor hygiene of calving environment.
• Dystocia/trauma at or during calving which can lead to inappropriate umbilical severance (too short, open, stretched, torn, over-zealous dam).
• Poor post-calving management of umbilicus.
• Failure of passive transfer.
• Can occur as a result of navel sucking by other calves.

Timecourse

• Neonatal – hours to days depending on severity of associated infection/development of sepsis.