Evaluation of the clinical function and ecosystem of the rumen in cows with theileriosis

Subject Areas : Veterinary Clinical Pathology

Ali Hasanpour ¹ , Gh Afshari ² , A.P Rezaei-Saber ³ , Ali Mardani ⁴

1 - Department of clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Tabriz, Iran
2 - Department of clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
3 - Department of clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Tabriz, Iran
4 - Graduate of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Tabriz, Iran

Received: 2008-08-09 Accepted : 2008-10-30 Published : 2008-08-22

Keywords: Cow, rumen, Theileriosis, rumen microflore,

Abstract :

This study was conducted on 20 cows with theileriosis and 12 control cows in order to evaluate the clinical function of rumen and its ecosystem. The occurrence of fever in cows with theileriosis was significantly more than the control cows (p<0.05). Rumen movements and its consistency in palpation had decreased insignificantly in the affected cows. The consistency of rumen contents was significantly altered in comparison with the control cows (p<0.05) but alterations in the odor and color of the contents were not significant. The pH of rumen in the diseased group of cows was insignificantly more than the normal cows. The mean precipitation time and methylen blue reduction time of the rumen contents was higher than the normal group. The total acidity of rumen contents in the test group demonstrated a significant reduction (p<0.05). There were no significant alterations in the number of rumen protozoa, the ratio of live to dead protozoa and the morphology of rumen bacteria in cows with theileriosis in comparison with the control cows. In conclusion, the clinical function of the rumen and its ecosystem is affected in theileriosis and attention should be paid to these alterations in the treatment of theileriosis.  

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