Endoscopic Evaluation of Reticulum in Cattle

The research work entitled “Endoscopic evaluation of reticulum in cattle” was carried out to evaluate the endoscopic imaging in cattle with diseases of reticulum, to compare the clinical, radiographic, ultrasonographic changes with endoscopic findings and to adopt suitable treatment strategies in the management of diseases of reticulum in cattle. In cattle with fluke infestation, numerous oval to globoid shaped pink coloured flukes within the reticulo-rumen were observed through endoscopy. Black coloured polythene bags admixed with ingesta were clearly visualized within the reticulo-rumen through endoscopy in cattle with polythene bag ingestion. In animals with ruminal lactacidosis the rumen fluid was lavaged to facilitate the visualization of reticulo-rumen. Greyish to light brown coloured necrosed ruminal epithelium could be visualized, although no such changes were noticed in the reticulum. In animals with other diseases of reticulum, no specific changes could be appreciated through endoscopic imaging. It was concluded that ultrasonographic imaging was complementary to clinical, radiographic and endoscopic evaluation in cattle with diseases of reticulum.