The intestines 1

Question 1

Name some developmental abnormalities of the intestines

Answer 1

• Intestinal Atresia
• Anal and rectal atresia
• Megacolon

Question 2

Define atresia

Answer 2

Congenital absence, or pathological closure, of an opening, passage or cavity

Question 3

Describe intestinal atresia

Answer 3

• Usually ileum + colon
• Most frequent in calves
• Complete lack of some part or: blind ends, but muscular + CT layers present

Question 4

Describe anal and rectal atresia

Answer 4

• Failure in development of anal opening
• Most frequent in piglets
• Anus + rectum are closed

Question 5

What are the two causes of megacolon?

Answer 5

• Aplasia of neurons in large intestinal myenteric ganglia

- Idiopathic

Question 6

Define hernitation

Answer 6

Protrusion of an organ / tissue through an opening in its surrounding walls, especially in the abdominal region

Question 7

Describe three types of herniation

Answer 7

• Diaphragmatic hernia: displacement of omentum, stomach, small intestine, spleen, liver into thoracic cavity. Compression -> pulmonary atelectasis
• Horse: herniation of small intestine into the Epiploic foramen
• Inguinal hernia

Question 8

Describe and explain intussusception

Answer 8

“Telescoping” of one segment of intestine into another - with hyperactive bowel movement (eg. enteritis)
Get devitalisation and fibrin formation

Question 9

Where does intussusception occur in:
- dogs
- horses
Due to what cause?

Answer 9

Dog: mainly small intestine (parvovirus infection, distemper)
Horse: mainly ileum into caecum (mainly due to tapeworm infestation)

Question 10

Define volvulus

Answer 10

• A torsion, or twisting, of the intestine, causing intestinal obstruction
• Twist at root of mesenteric attachment of intestines

Question 11

When volvulus of the jejunum is seen at PM what needs to be diagnosed?

Answer 11

If the lesion occurred antemortem or post-mortem due to moving and transporting the carcase.

Question 12

What is the importance of pedunculated lipomas?

Answer 12

They can cause a strangulation of the intestines -> volvulus

Question 13

What are the main consequences of intestinal misalignment?

Answer 13

• Increased blood pressure and hypoxic damage
• Cause capillary fragility
• Which causes haemorrhage, necrosis and haemorrhagic infarction

Question 14

What are the causes of obstruction in the intestines?

Answer 14

• Ingesta
• Foreign bodies
• Parasites
• Bezoars (impacted hair/fur)
• Neoplasms
• Haematoma
• Abscesses

Question 15

What are enteroliths?

Answer 15

Intestinal stones that form within the colon and can obstruct the intestine, resulting in colic

Question 16

Which parasite spp could cause obstruction in a pigs intestine?

Answer 16

Ascaris suum

Question 17

What are two causes of intestinal stenosis?

Answer 17

• Due to compression / strangulation: pedunculated lipoma

- Fibrosis after ulceration or surgery

Question 18

Functional paralysis occurs in which condition of horses?

Answer 18

Grass sickness

Question 19

Describe the signs of grass sickness

Answer 19

• Variable clinical presentation: (per)acute to chronic

- Necrosis + loss of neurons in sympathetic ganglia (coeliac)

Question 20

Describe the gross appearance of grass sickness

Answer 20

Stomach + small intestine filled with watery food contents, densely packed large intestine

Question 21

What is the possible aetiological agent of grass sickness?

Answer 21

Clostridium botulinum toxins