Abstract:
A 7 months pregnant Ayrshire cow raised in open fields in Dandora area, Nairobi was presented to the Large Animal
Clinic, University of Nairobi, on 6/11/2017 with a history of being off feed for a week and constipated She had been
treated for two weeks with Magnesium Sulphate oral drench and gentamycin injection without significant
improvement. A week later, she deteriorated becaming completely anorexic and developed brisket oedema. General
exam revealed good body condition, dullness and depression, predominant abdominal breathing, brisket oedema,
careful gait, pronounced elbow abduction, distended jugular vein, grunting and teeth grinding. On physical
examination the respiratory rate was 24 breathes per minute with a strong character, pulse rate of 92 beats per minute,
temperature of 40.70 degrees Celsius, splashing heart sound, suppressed thoracic respiration and harsh lung sounds.
Haematological analysis showed anaemia, evident by decreased haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration and red
blood cell count. Leucocytosis, neutrophilia and lymphopaenia was also evident. A tentative diagnosis of terminal
traumatic reticulo-pericarditis was made carrying a grave prognosis. Euthanasia was indicated but the cow died in the
night of 8/11/2017. Post mortem revealed hydro-peritoneum, hydro-thorax, three (3) wires piercing through the
reticula wall and diaphragm to the pericardial sac, fibrinous adhesions of reticulum, diaphragm and pericardium. The
heart was atrophied with the pericardial sac holding 12 litres of creamy liquefied content with fibrin attachments. This
report documents atrophied heart associated traumatic reticulo-pericarditis caused by several wires penetrating
through the diaphragm in a cow raised in peri-urban area. In conclusion, the cow was from an urban farm and farming
in such areas is more likely to predispose cattle to TRP due to uncontrolled grazing in urban centred which exposes
them to unsafe foraging areas and fodder
