Foreign body impaction in a captive Sambar (Rusa unicolor)

Introduction mucus membrance and capillary refill time were within normal limits. No abnormalities were found on Foreign body impaction of the rumen induced by ausculatation of the cardiovascular and respiratory environmental pollution is fast becoming a major system. Peripheral lymph node enlargement was not global problem in ruminants in most parts of the world palpable. The animal had normal cutaneous sensation [1,2]. The foreign body materials are eaten by the of the limbs and intact sensory perceptions. The blood animals whenever there is scarcity of feed. This type of was collected from jugular vein in 10 ml EDTA vial. behavior is reported in ruminants particularly cattle [3]. Blood was screened microbiologically while blood and Ruminal impaction due to indigestible foreign fecal samples were screened for haemoprotozoans, materials is hardly reported in small ruminants or wild complete blood count and endoparasites. ruminants as they tend to be selective feeders [4]. These indigestible materials when ingested by ruminants Results and Discussion gets lodged in the rumen thereby compromising the Haematological examination revealed hemoglobin ruminal space and interfering with the normal count was 8.6 g/dl, packed cell volume 29 %, total physiological functions of the rumen thereby leading to 9 erythrocyte count 7.4 X 10 /L, differential leucocyte weight loss and death of the animal. The impaction of 9 count 6.9 x10 /L, N 42%, L 57 %, M 0%, E 1%, B 0 %. rumen results from the accumulation of the indigestible Hematological examination showed a decrease in RBC materials leading to distension of the rumen and count, haematocrit and haemoglobin content. No passing of scanty or no feces [5]. We report here an evidence of any microbial involvement was found on unusual case of ruminal impaction due to indigestible blood culture. The blood of the animal was also foreign body in a sambar stag (Rusa unicolor). negative for any haemoprotozoan parasites while the Case History feces turned out to be negative for endoparasites. As no specific symptoms were noticed in the animal except A captive 12 years old sambar stag (Rusa unicolor) low haemoglobin and low packed cell volume count was presented with history of wasting, lagging behind during grazing, gradual inappetance along with rough suggesting anemia, the animal was symptomatically hair coat for the last 15 days. No others signs or treated for anemia and inappetance. The treatment of symptoms were shown by the affected animal. The the animal was started with liver tonics, haematinics animal had been reared in an open enclosure in and multivitamin on alternate days for 3 occasions. captivity in the Zoological Garden in Dhauladhar However, no improvement was seen in the condition of Nature Park along with a group of 38 sambars of the animal and the animal died after 15 days. The different age groups. The routine diet of the animal carcass of the animal was found to be emaciated with consisted of black gram, wheat bran, crushed maize, sunken eyes and rough hair coat. groundnut cake, salt, dry and green grass and animals A full postmortem examination immediately were routinely dewormed as per schedule. following death demonstrated no gross anatomic abnormalities. No notable macroscopic pathology was Methodology evident on vital organs aside from severe congestion The sambar was examined after immobilizing it and haemorrhages (Fig.1) on the ruminal wall with by using a ketamine-xylazine combination ketamine stunted ruminal papillae. On further dissection of hydrochloride (Ketamil®) @ 5 mg/kg body weight; rumen, there was accumulation of plastic gunny bags and xylazine hydrochloride (Xylazil®), 0.25 mg/kg and nylon rope weighing about 4.5 kg impregnated body weight. The dose rate of the anaesthesia was with soil partially occluding the ruminoreticular calculated on the basis of estimation of species specific openings of the rumen (Fig 2) and foreign body like weight of the animal. The mean rectal temperature, nails and pebbles and sands in reticulum (Fig.3). Based heart rate/minute and respiration rate/minute were on the above observations and the absence of any o recorded as 101.8 F, 68 and 22 respectively. The pathological changes, except the presence of foreign sambar was thin and weighed about 138 kgs. The body in the rumen, we believe that the animal died due