Traumatic reticulopericarditis in cattle: a retrospective case series

Abstract

Traumatic reticulopericarditis is a significant complication in cattle due to foreign body ingestion, which can penetrate the reticulum and pericardial sac, leading to inflammatory fluid accumulation. Due to the importance of this disease for animal health and production, this study aimed to describe the clinical, laboratory, and postmortem findings in cattle diagnosed with traumatic reticulopericarditis. Ten cattle were included based on postmortem confirmation of the condition. Data collected, when available, encompassed gender, age, period of evolution of signs until care, clinical signs, outcome, blood profile, serum biochemistry, cavitary effusion analysis, thoracic and/or abdominal ultrasound, and postmortem findings. The disease predominantly affected pregnant females in the final trimester. The main clinical manifestations were tachycardia, muffled heart sounds, dehydration, and recumbency. The primary laboratory findings included leukocytosis with neutrophilia, elevated levels of the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatine kinase (CK), hyperglobulinemia, hypoalbuminemia, hyperproteinemia, and a predominance of neutrophils in the cytological analysis of cavity effusions. Ultrasound proved to be a useful tool for detecting free fluid with fibrin in the thoracic and/or abdominal cavity. In this study, all animals died, and the definitive diagnosis was confirmed through postmortem examination. The prognosis is unfavorable, underscoring the importance of preventive measures to mitigate its impact on cattle well-being and production.