Abstract

The adult paramphistomes are found mostly in the fore stomachs and immature forms are found in the duodenum. Adult flukes do not cause overt disease,but immature flukes causes irritation and leads to enteritis (kahn,C.M. 2005). The present report records a functional obstruction or paralytic ileus of intestine due to severe amphistomiosis in a cow.

CASE HISTORY AND OBSERVATIONS

A pluriparous jersey cross cattle was presented to Veterinary College Hospital, Mannuthy with a history of absence of defecation after a bout of diarrheic phase. Animal showed signs of abdominal pain like grinding of the teeth. The animal was weak, dull, anorectic and with distension of left paralumbar fossae. Standard parasitological examination of the faecal sample revealed large number of ova of amphistomes. Clinical examination revealed marked distention of abdomen, fluid splashing sound on percussion of right paralumbar fossae, auscultation revealed absence of normal intestinal sounds (borborrygmus) on the right paralumbar fossae, normal temperature (101.4 F), respiration (20/min.) and pulse (65/min.). Rectal examination revealed empty rectum and absence of motility . Animal was moderately dehydrated (6%). Rumen liquor was collected using stomach tube and it revealed the presence of macroscopic reddish button like immature amphistomes. Serum biochemical estimation revealed normal potassium and sodium values.

TREATMENT AND DISCUSSION

The treatment was carried out with a single dose of oral oxyclozanide 15 mg/kg body weight and metaclopramide @ 0.2mg/ kg body weight intramuscularly. Magnesium sulphate was given orally@ 250 gm once a day for five days. To compensate dehydration, dextrose 5% solution was administered i.v. @ 40ml/Kg along with ringer lactate injection @ 20ml /Kg i.v. for five days. On the first day calcium borogluconate 450ml was given intravenously. Becomplex injection (XLPLEX ) was given intramuscularly once daily for 3 days. Same dose of oxyclozanide was repeated 3 days after the initial treatment to completely eliminate the parasites. Animal

started improving and on fifth day animal voided dung and started taking normal feed. Acid-base imbalances like ruminal lactic acidosis, dehydration, hypocalcemia and hypokalemia were attributed as the reasons for paralytic ileus (Radostits et al.2003). In case of amphistomiosis, immature flukes attach to the duodenal and ileal mucosa which cause severe enteritis leading to electrolyte loss and dehydration which causes reduction of intestinal peristalsis. Physical obstruction like torsion is corrected surgically where as functional obstruction can be treated medically. Fluid therapy and prokinetics like metochlopramide are standard recommendations to treat paralytic ileus apart from the treatment for primary cause. Calcium borogluconate intravenous injection was help to improve the tonicity of fore stomach and intestine(Prathan et al 2008).

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