ISRAEL JOURNAL OF
VETERINARY MEDICINE
Case report:
Vol. 57 (4) 2002
ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSIS OF A
RETICULAR ABSCESS IN THE GOAT
R. Ramprabhu, S. Prathaban, R. S. George and P. Dhanapalan
Center of Advanced Studies in Veterinary Clinical Medicine and
Therapeutics, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai - 600 007, India
Reticular abscess is a frequent complication of traumatic reticuloperitonitis (1), often associated
only with vague signs of chronic indigestion, and is therefore difficult to diagnose. Formerly reticular
abscesses were commonly diagnosed on exploratory laparotomy or occasionally by laparoscopy (2),
while many cases were diagnosed only at slaughter. The introduction of radiography and
ultrasonography led to an improvement in the diagnosis of reticular abscess in cattle (3). This condition
is rare in sheep and goats, however, due to their discriminate and selective feeding habits (4). Perusal
of literature did not show any mention of this condition in goats, the objective of this report.
Case History and Observation
A one year old female goat was brought to the Madras Veterinary College Teaching Hospital
with a history of chronic weight loss and inappetence over the past one week. The main clinical signs
were fever, indigestion, weight loss, decreased ruminal movements and a mild distension of the left
abdomen.
On clinical examination, the animal was febrile (39.8 0C), had an increased heart and respiratory
rate, disturbance of general condition and reduced ruminal motility; tests for foreign bodies like back
grip and slope test were positive and percussion of the reticular area revealed pain. The animal had a
low hematocrit (24%) and mild increase in leukocyte count (10,200 cells/mm), increased alkaline
phosphatase (75 u/l), increased fibrinogen (850 mg/l) and a decreased plasma protein : fibrinogen
ration (6.294:1).
Radiographic
examination
revealed
displacement of
the forestomach
by the gravid
uterus and a
radio-opaque
foreign body
(nail) present in
the reticulum
(fig. 1).
Ultrasonographic
examination
revealed the
presence of a
reticular abscess
between the
reticulum and
abdominal wall
(fig. 2). The
encapsulated
mass with an
anechoeic
content between
the reticulum and
abdominal wall
was suggestive of
the diagnosis of
reticular abscess.
Localised
peritonitis and
abscessation in
the left flank
region may occur
as sequelae to
several surgical
procedures. The
most important
causes are
laparumenotomy,
cesarean section
and ruminal
trockarisation
(5); occasionally,
traumatic
reticuloperitonitis
will lead to
suppurative
inflammatory
changes. While
the displacement
of the reticulum
from the
diaphragm is a
reliable
indication that a
mass, usually an
abscess, is
present
radiographically
between the
reticulum and the
diaphragm. The
possible reason
being that left
horn pregnancy
pushed the
ventral aspect of
the rumen
cranially, which
in turn caused the
penetration of the
sharp foreign
body into the
reticulum.
Nevertheless, an
accurate
diagnosis of a
reticular abscess
and an
assessment of its
location, size and
nature can be
achieved by
ultrasonography.
The ultrasonographic appearance of the reticular abscess was similar to the description in cattle
(3), in that the abscess consisted of an echogenic capsule surrounded by a hypoechogenic or
nonechogenic area, and in contrast, the foreign bodies in the reticulum are commonly surrounded by
gas which prevents them being visualized ultrasonographically (6). By ultrasound, the presence of an
abscess in other organs such as liver can be ruled out with a high degree of certainty. The results of this
report illustrate the value of ultrasonography in the confirmative diagnosis of reticular abscess.
LINKS TO OTHER ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE
References
1. Kumar, R. V., Prasad, B., Sobti, V. K., Khanna, A. K., Mirakhur, K. K., Sharma, S. N. and
Kohli, R. N.: Reticular abscesses in ruminants. Mod. Vet. Practice, 64: 220-221, 1983.
2. Wilson, A. D. and Farguson, J. G.: Use of flexible fiberoptic laparoscope as a diagnostic aid
in cattle. Can. Vet. J. 25(6): 223-229, 1984.
3. Braun, U., Iselin, U., Lischer, C. and Fluri, E.: Ultrasonographic findings in five cows before
and after treatment of reticular abscess. Vet. Rec. 142: 184-189, 1998.
4. Jenson, R. and Swiff, B. C.: Diseases of sheep. 2nd edition. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia. p.
119, 1982.
5. Rosenberger,G.: Clinical examination of cattle. Verlag Paul Parey, Berlin and Hamburg.
1979.
6. Braun, U., Fluckiger, M. and Gotz, M.: Comparison of ultrasonographic and radiographic
findings in cows with traumatic reticuloperitonitis. Vet. Rec. 135: 470-478, 1994.