Bezoar Formation in Small Ruminants

Pashu Sandesh, 15th March 2019

Dr. Brajesh Kumar, Dr. Priyanka Meena, Dr. Sonam Bhardwaj and Dr. Somesh Kumar Joshi

Introduction 

Bezoars can be composed of virtually any substance including plant leaves, hair, medications, and chewing gum. Bezoar are most commonly found in the rumen stomach but they may be found anywhere from the oesophagus to the end point of rectum. Bezoars are retained concretions of undigested foreign substances which accumulate and found within the gastrointestinal tract most commonly in the rumen. They are most commonly reported in the stomach of ruminant animals such as goats, sheep, young calf and antelopes. Affected animals often asymptomatic or display symptoms indistinguishable from other gastrointestinal disorders resulting in delayed diagnosis and potential life-threatening complications like intestinal obstruction. Affected animal may also show considerable weight loss and compromised nutritional status due to early satiety and vomiting.The obstruction due to these foreign bodies leads to indigestion, lack of defecation, development of toxaemic condition and ultimately death.

History of bezoar

Trichobezoars are the classically described-hair bezoars occurring most frequently in young ones, trichobezoars results from ingesting large quantities of hair, carpet fibers, rope, string and clothing. The hair fibres become entangled in the gastric folds and resist peristalsis. Gastric acid denatures the hair proteins and blackens the bezoars. 

Table.1 Classification of Trichobezoar

Clinical observations 

On clinical examination of the small ruminant revealed all physiological parameters (Respiration rate, heart rate and rectal temperature) were normal. However, young one showed emaciation, scanty stool and slight distension of the abdomen at para lumbar fossa. Some animals showed to be losing hair and repeatedly bite off the hair from other small animals or their own bodies. Include abdominal bloating, depression, nausea and vomiting, dehydration, anorexia, dysphagia, restlessness and weight loss. Inpiduals with altered gastrointestinal anatomy and motility are at increased risk for developing bezoars. 

Postmortem observations 

Grossly at post-mortem, the carcass was found to be severely emaciated and had a left unilateral corneal opacity. Both heart chambers were filled with current jelly blood clot. The rumen was found to contain one large round hair ball variable size ranging from 20- 30 cm in diameter. When these balls were cut opened, they contained hair, which was enclosed in a leathery outer shell. 

Conclusions

Thus, it is clear from therefore mentioned description that bezoar is one of the most retained concretions of undigested foreign substances, which accumulate and found within the gastrointestinal tract most commonly in the rumen of small animals. The obstruction due to these foreign bodies leads to ingestion, lack of defecation, development of toxemic condition and ultimately death.Furthermore, understanding the pathophysiology of bezoar formation along with predisposing risk factors may aid in preventing recurrence.Due to this reason, farmers/livestock-owners should keep the points of undigested foreign substances, in their minds to prevent the loss of their livestock and hence, the economic loss.  

Dr. Brajesh Kumar¹, Dr. Priyanka Meena², Dr. Sonam Bhardwaj³ and Dr. Somesh Kumar Joshi²

¹Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Apollo College of Veterinary Medicine, Jaipur (Rajasthan)

²Assistant Professor, Department of Livestock Product Technology, Apollo College of Veterinary Medicine, Jaipur (Rajasthan)

³Research Scholar, Department of Livestock Production Management, Apollo College of Veterinary Medicine, Jaipur (Rajasthan)