ISSN 2398-2993      

Traumatic reticulitis

obovis
Contributor(s):

Sophie Mahendran

Paul Wood

Royal Dick School Veterinary Studies logo

Synonym(s): Wire, hardware disease, traumatic reticuloperitonitis, TRP


Introduction

  • Cause: perforation of the reticulum, usually by a sharp metallic object, such as a wire.
  • Signs: GI stasis, thoracic or abdominal pain, reduced milk yield.
  • Diagnosis: ultrasound of the cranioventral abdomen, rumenotomy.
  • Treatment: insertion of reticular magnet, rumenotomy, antibiotics and NSAIDs.
  • Prognosis: guarded - depends on extent of object penetration.

Pathogenesis

Etiology

  • Sharp metal objects, typically wire (from the inner wall of tyres ) or nails, are ingested by the cow.
  • Can occur as cows do not completely masticate their food before swallowing.
  • The object either falls directly into the reticulum after ingestion, or is pushed into the reticulum by ruminal contractions.
  • The object doesn’t pass out of the reticulum as the reticulo-omasal opening is not at the most distal point, and objects get trapped in the honeycomb structure.
  • The object penetrates the reticulum wall due to reticular contractions leading to leakage of bacteria and ingesta.
  • Peritonitis develops producing reticular abscesses and adhesions.
  • The object may penetrate the diaphragm and enter the lung:
    • Lung abscess.
    • Pleuritis.
  • The object may penetrate the pericardium:
  • The object may occasionally penetrate the liver or spleen:
    • Abscessation.
    • Septicemia.

Pathophysiology

  • Initial penetration of the reticulum, or breakdown of existing adhesions around an object allowing further movement can occur due to:
    • Compression of the ruminoreticulum by the uterus in late pregnancy.
    • Straining during parturition.
    • Mounting during estrus.
  • Initial acute peritonitis can be followed by chronic local peritonitis with localized adhesions
    • This can present as cows just having vague signs of ill health with poor production.
  • Rarely, diffuse generalized peritonitis can occur, especially following breakdown of previously formed adhesions.

Timecourse

  • Generally acute disease over 24 hours.
  • Possible to have more vague signs of ill health with chronic disease processes.

Epidemiology

  • Generally individual animals affected, but can get herd outbreaks - for example, if a whole tyre is accidentally chopped up in the feed wagon.

Diagnosis

This article is available in full to registered subscribers

Sign up now to start a free trial to access all Vetlexicon articles, images, sounds and videos, or Login

Treatment

This article is available in full to registered subscribers

Sign up now to start a free trial to access all Vetlexicon articles, images, sounds and videos, or Login

Prevention

This article is available in full to registered subscribers

Sign up now to start a free trial to access all Vetlexicon articles, images, sounds and videos, or Login

Outcomes

This article is available in full to registered subscribers

Sign up now to start a free trial to access all Vetlexicon articles, images, sounds and videos, or Login

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed Papers

  • Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
  • Braun U (2009) Ultrasonography of the Gastrointestinal Tract in Cattle. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 25 (3), 567-590
  • Orpin P & Harwood D (2008) Clinical management of traumatic reticuloperitonitis in cattle.
  • Braun U, Fluckiger M & Gotz M (1994) Comparison of ultrasonographic and radiographic findings in cows with traumatic reticuloperitonitis.
  • Fraser C M (1961) Conservative treatment of traumatic reticulitis. CN Vet J 2 (2), 65-68 PubMed.

Other sources of information

  • Roger W, Blowey A & David Weaver (2011) Chapter 4 - Alimentary disorders, Color Atlas of Diseases and Disorders of Cattle. 3rd edn. pp 53-82.

Organisation(s)

  • The University of Edinburgh.

Related Images

Want more related items, why not
contact us

Can’t find what you’re looking for?

We have an ever growing content library on Vetlexicon so if you ever find we haven't covered something that you need please fill in the form below and let us know!

 
 
 
 

To show you are not a Bot please can you enter the number showing adjacent to this field