Phytobezoariasis

Abstract

TOXIC PRINCIPLE: Mechanism of formation: • Plant hairs are apparently poorly digested by ruminal micro-organisms and accumulate in especially the abomasum. • Here under the influence of abomasal movement, innumerable hairs conglomerate (possibly around a small milk clot as nucleus) and felt together firmly in packed, dense layers to form balls of various shapes and 10 to 150 mm in diameter. • Up to 30 balls might be present in the abomasum.

SYNDROMES: Intestinal hair balls originating from plants.

SYSTEMS AFFECTED: Gastro-intestinal system.

CLINICAL SIGNS: Goats are more often affected than sheep and clinical signs and death occur in the age group 3 - 15 months. • Inappetance • Slow progressive loss in condition • Ruminal stasis • Distended abdomen (gas, hair balls) • Faeces - foul smelling and scanty.

NECROPSY: • Emaciation, cachexia • Fore-stomachs thin-walled, papillae atrophied, contents watery, foul-smelling. • Bezoars in abomasum • Signs of rupture of abomasum or intestine may be seen.

TREATMENT: • Purgatives are ineffective • Balls too firm to break manually • Surgery - consider cost effectiveness • Diagnose through palpation of abdomen and slaughter before too much condition is lost.

PREVENTION: Avoid exposure of lambs to only seradella pastures or camps with causative plants especially during periods when pappus hairs are prevalent.