inadequately understood and remains open for speculation. ® Studying and comparing UT in buffaloes, cow, and she-camels might facilitate understanding.
A. Ali1,2, A. Kh. Abdel-Razek1, R. Derar1, H. Hassan1, F. Al-sobayil2, A.F. Ahmed1,2
1Department
2Department
of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, 71526 Assiut, Egypt
of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, 51431 Qassim, KSA
Uterine torsion (UT) means twisting the uterus along its longitudinal axis, preventing the fetus to pass from the uterus to outside, resulting in a serious case of dystocia.
The etiology and pathogenesis of UT is inadequately understood and remains open for speculation. Studying and comparing UT in buffaloes, cow, and she-camels might facilitate understanding some of the etiology and pathogenesis of this condition. The aim of this study was therefore to compare the forms and outcomes of UT in large ruminants, and to investigate factors affecting fetal and maternal mortalities.
Animals • 126 buffalo-cows . • 28 native cows . • 12 she-camels. History • date of admission. • parity. • stage of gestation. • duration of the condition . • clinical signs.
Clinical
examinations
• Signs • Degree of UT • Direction of UT • Location of UT
Methods
of correction
• Slow rolling with plank
Methods
of correction
• Cesarean section
Monthly distribution of the cases of UT Two thirds of buffaloes were presented from August to January. All she-camels were observed in February and March. Cows presentation were distributed throughout the year.
Clinical findings Most
buffaloes (84.1%), cows (75%), and she-camels (91.6%) were multiparous.
All
she-camels (100%) and most cows (82.1%), but approximately half of buffalos (46.1%) were at term (P=0.001). Other cases were presented during the last two months of gestation.
The
main clinical signs of torsion included straining or colic for prolonged time, reduction in feed intake. constipation, toxemia.
The
torsion was post-cervical with vaginal involvement in 98.4%, 64.3%, and 100% of the cases in buffaloes, cows, and she-camels, respectively (P=0.001). The rest of the cases were pre-cervical without vaginal involvement.
The
degree of UT was mild, moderate, and severe in 15.9%, 33.3%, and 50.8% in buffaloes, 25%, 67.9%, and 7.1% in cows, and 8.4%, 58.3%, and 33.3% in shecamels, respectively (P=0.03).
Clockwise
torsion was present in 94.4%, 60.7%, and 75% of the cases in buffaloes, cows, and she-camels, respectively, (P=0.001).
Pregnant horn and direction of torsion In buffaloes, pregnancy was observed more frequently in the right horn (P=0.0001), and the uterus twisted predominantly toward the pregnant horn (P=0.0001).
In cows, pregnancy tended to be in the right horn (P=0.1), and the uterus rotated more commonly into the same side of pregnancy (P=0.001). In she-camels, pregnancy was found only in the left horn (P=0.0001), and the uterus tend to rotate into the opposite direction (P=0.08).
Accomplishment of treatment Vaginal delivery was possible after slow rolling of the mother in 49.2%, 10.7% and 50% of buffaloes, cows, and she-camels, respectively.
Cesarean section was performed after failed detorsion attempts or due to failure of the cervix to dilate following successful correction of the torsion in 12.7%, 3.6%, and 25% of the cases of buffaloes, cows and she-camels. Cesarean section was performed immediately in 41.3%, 85.7%, and 25% of the cases of buffaloes, cows, and she-camels, respectively.
Mortality rate: Fetus
Overall fetal mortality rate was 73.5%.
Fetal mortality tended to be greater in buffaloes (77.7%) and she-camels (83.3%) than in cows (50%), (P=0.08).
It was greater in severe torsion (100%) and that of moderate degree (72.1%) than in torsion of mild degree (10.7%), (P=0.001). Fetal mortality was low (34.1%) when the patient was treated within 24 h of appearance of symptoms (P=0.001). Fetal mortality was high (93%) when UT occurred before term (93%), (P=0.0001). Parity and method of treatment had no significant effect on the fetal mortality.
Mortality rate: Mother
Overall maternal mortality rate was 24.1%.
It was greater in torsion of severe degree (33.3%), than in torsion of moderate (15.8%) and mild degrees (6.3%) (P=0.003).
There was no effect of species, stage of gestation, parity, duration of torsion, method of treatment, or their interactions on the maternal mortality rate.
Mortality rate (P=0.01) was greater in dams with dead fetus (40.4%) than in dams with alive ones (4.8%), (P=0.01).
The maternal deaths were due to rupture of the uterus or cervix (47.6%), toxemia (42.9%), or due to indefinite cause (14.3%).
Maternal deaths occurred on the same day of treatment in 27.3% of the cases; the rest died after 48 h of the treatment.
The UT has certain peculiarities for each of the studied species. • For buffaloes, it is mostly of severe degree, clock-wise, post-cervical, and
occurred before and at term in approximately equal percentages, resulting in high fetal mortalities.
• For cows, it was mainly of moderate degree, and occurred mostly at term with
moderate fetal mortalities, and it took place clock-wise and post-cervical in more than half of cases.
• For she-camels, it was mainly of moderate degree, clock-wise, post-cervical,
and occurred mostly at term, with high fetal mortalities.
UT is a serious obstetrical problem for buffaloes and she-camels, than for cows. Fetal size and fluids seem to be factors for the degree and site of torsion, while the relationship between the rumen and fetus might determine the direction of torsion.
Since
the duration of torsion is an important factor in fetal and maternal mortalities, all cases of general medical problems should be examined at advanced pregnancy to exclude the UT, especially in buffaloes.
