Análise de fatores relacionados com timpanismo espumoso e da conduta terapêutica em bovinos no Agreste meridional do estado de Pernambuco

Abstract

Foamy bloat is a major ruminal disorder and its etiology is related to diets that contain some types of legumes or an excess of concentrate. Economic losses due to this illness are represented by reduced production, medication costs, veterinary costs and death of the animal. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of risk factors such as feed, raising system, season and age of the animals as well as the types of treatment employed and their effectiveness in resolving cases of foamy bloat in bovines. A retrospective study was carried out on 60 clinical cases of the illness in bovines treated at the Bovine Clinic of the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Garanhuns Campus (Brazil) between January 1989 to December 2007. Epidemiologically, data on risk factors (feed, raising system, season, etc.) were related to the occurrence of foamy bloat. The clinical evolution period, treatment procedures and resolution of cases were also analyzed. Among the 60 animals affected, 54 (90%) received diets with a high content of concentrates; palm was one of the ingredients in the diet of 41 animals. The raising system was semi-intensive to intensive for 48 (80%) animals. The majority of animals affected were females (57/60), 44 (84.08%) of which were in the lactation phase. A greater occurrence of cases of foamy bloat (62%) was recorded in summer. The ruminal fluid in these animals had a pH value that oscillated between 7 and 8, was of a foamy consistency and had a negative effect on the microbiota. The clinical evolution of the disease was about six days. The choice of treatment depended on the degree of clinical impairment of the animal – clinical treatment, surgical treatment or slaughter. Among the cases analyzed, four animals (6.67%) were sent for slaughter, 16 (28.33%) were submitted to clinical treatment and 39 (65.00%) were surgically treated with rumenotomy. For the cases treated clinically, mean convalescence time was three to four days; 16 animals (94.11%) were discharged and one (5.89%) died. Among the animals treated surgically, mean convalescence time was nine to ten days; 33 animals (84.62%) fully recovered and six (15.38%) died. The interrelation of risk factors like diet rich in concentrated, the intensive a semi-intensive system of production, summer (dry season), the first and second lactation period, associated to the interaction of factors inherent to the individual animal and ruminal microbiota are of importance to the etiopathology of foamy bloat in the southern central semi-arid region of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. The treatment option (surgical or clinical) is related to the clinical severity of each case. When defined in a timely fashion, the correct choice of treatment contributes to a favorable prognosis.