POST PARTUM VAGINO-CERVICAL PROLAPSE 15 Fig. 1. Restraint of the buffalo Fig. 2. The prolapsed mass Fig. 3. Mass after debridement Fig. 4. Suture after reduction Fig. 5. Buffalo upright
Buffalo J. (2007) 1:13-}7 Original Artide POST PARTUM VAGINO-CERVICAL PROLAPSE IN A TODA BUFFALO R. Venkataramanan and P. Selvan Sheep Breeding Research Station, Sandynallah, Nilgiris District, Tamilnadu,India, 643 237 Key words: Toda buffalo, post-partum, vagino-cervical prolapse., ABSTRACT The Toda buffaloes are semi-wild animals maintained by the Toda tribes of south India. The animals of this breed are ferocious in nature and highly adapted to the typical mountain environment of the Nilgiris. As these animals are maintained exclusively on natural pasture, occurrence of vagino-cervical prolapse is very rare. Correction of such a case in a Toda buffalo is reported for the first time. Since the condition had persisted for a long time, the dead and fibrotic tissue had to be debrided before reduction of prolapsed mass. Eventhough post operative care was not possible due to ferocious nature of the animal, recovery was smooth and animal became pregnant for the next time. INTRODUCTION The Toda buffalo is a unique breed of riverine buffalo, confined to the Nilgiri hills of Tamilnadu. They are named after the Toda tribe of South India, who. depend mainly on these animals for their livelihood. This breed of buffalo is known for its ferociousness; Shortt (1869) described them as fierce animals of powerful build with cows more savage than bulls. Rivers (1906) and Nair (1986) also have found these animals semi wild in nature, uncontrollable and difficult to handle. A case of post-partum vagino-cervical prolapse and its successful correction in a Toda buffalo is reported. Vaginal prolapse is a common problem in dairy animals, with high incidence in buffaloes than in cows (Dhillon et al., 2006). However, it is less common in pastured cattle (Roberts, 1971). The Toda buffaloes are absolute pasture animals that survive and flourish on grazing alone without additional feed or fodder (Walker, 1986). Incidence of vagino-cervical prolapse is rare in these animals and has not been reported yet.
14 BUFFALO JOURNAL 23 (1) Clinical Examination: A Toda buffalo aged about 3.5 years belonging to Kcngodumund, Sholur panchayat, The Nilgiris was presented with post-pactum vagi no-cervical prolapse. Anamnesis revealed that the buffalo had calved for the first time giving birth to a female calf and prolapse of cervix and vagina had occurred on the second day post-pactum. The animal was presented on the sixth day post-pactum for treatment and the prolapsed mass showed vaginitis and cervicitis with severe necrosis and wounds caused by pecking of birds (Fig. 2). The vaginal wall and cervix were thickened with dead and fibrous tissues in addition to adhesions in the prolapsedstate. However, the general condition of the animal was good with normal appetite. Treatment: As the Toda buffaloes are ferocious and uncontrollable in nature, they have to be restrained before any attempt of treatment. However, they could be handled by herdsmen belonging to the Toda tribe (Karthikeyan, 1995), who restrained the animal by means of their traditional way of casting and restraint (Walker, 1986). After restraining the animal in right lateral recumbency (Fig. 1), epidural anesthesia was given using 6 ml of 2 percent lignocaine and the prolapsed mass was reduced and retained with vulvar sutures following the method described by Roberts (1971). Drez solution (povidone iodine with metronidazole) was used to clean the uterus and a I,4' cotton tape as suture material for application of sutures. However, the prolapse recurred due to straining after cessation of anesthesia. The vaginal and cervical walls were indurated due to the prolonged duration the condition had existed, and irritation caused by dead and fibrous tissue made the animal to strain. More over, the large size of the mass hindered with the reduction process. The prolapsed mass was debrided by removing all the dead and fibrous tissue ;-~-~ deep enough until bleeding was noticed. Sulphanilamide powder in cetrimide cream and meloxicam solution were applied in addition to the previous treatment so as to prevent irritation due to infection and inflammation. The debridement of induration was helpful in reducing the size of the mass, loosening of adhesions and freshening of mucosa, thereby fascilitating repulsion to a better position (Fig. 3). A double Yz' cotton tape was used as suture material for durability and dose of epidural anesthesia was increased to 10 ml of 2 per cent lignocaine for prolonging the effect of anesthesia. Long acting oxytetrar,yclin (Oxyvet LA) injection was given parenterally as it was very difficult to restrain the animal often. In addition, injections meloxicam and Vitamin AD3E were also administered. There was no recurrence of the condition and the sutures were removed on the 10 th day of treatment. The animal came to subsequent heat 108 days post partum and became pregnant after natural service. Prognosis: The prognosis in the present case was guarded as the condition was presented on the sixth day after occurrence of the condition. More over, Post operational care was not possible, as the animal was ferocious and could not be restrained often. '".
POST PARTUM VAGINO-CERVICAL PROLAPSE 15 Fig. 1. Restraint of the buffalo Fig. 2. The prolapsed mass I ig. 3. i\lh" Iter debridement } 19. 4. Suture after reduction Fig. 5. Buffalo upright
.tt BUFFALO JOURNAL 23 (1) DISCUSSION Vagino-cervical prolapse is more common during last 2-3 months of pregnancy and is rare after parturition. Sah and Nakao (2003) have observed that 65 percent of vaginal prolapse in Nepali buffaloes occurred during seven months or later during pregnancy. In the present case, prolapse has occurred post partum after two days of calving. Excessive straining even after parturition, along with relaxed pelvic ligaments in this period has resulted in the condition. Chauhan et al. (1967) also have reported successful correction of post-partum vaginal prolapse in a buffalo. However, in their case the animal was treated on the very next day, prolapse had occurred. In the present case, the animal recovered quickly in spite of the fact that the condition had existed unattended for a long duration. Moreover, post operational treatment was also not possible due to the ferocious nature of the animal. The Toda buffaloes are very hardy (Walker, 1986; Karthikeyan et al., 2002), and have adapted over centuries to extreme conditions of mountain environment in the Nilgiris. The adults range freely during day and night without shelter in all the seasons throughout the year. This inherent ability of these animals has resulted in smooth and spontaneous recovery of the buffalo after reduction of the prolapsed mass. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We acknowledge Dr. M. lyue, Professor and Head, Sheep Breeding Research Station, Sandynallah for his motivation and Thiru B. Raman, Agricultural Assistant, SBRS, Sandynallah for his assistance in photography. " -- - --_ --- --- /_, REFERENCES Chauhan, R.A.S., Mittal, V.P. and Kundu, P.B. (1967). Post-partum prolapse of vagina in a she-buffalo. Indian Veterinary Journal 44: 717-719. Dhillon, K.S., Singh, B.B., Kumar, H., Bal, M.S. and Singh, J. (2006). Treatmf!nt of vaginal prolapse in cows and buffaloes. Veterinary Record 158: 312. Karthikeyan, M.K. (1995). Evaluation of production and reproduction performance of Toda buffalo. M.V.Sc., Thesis submitted to the Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai. p.46. Karthikeyan, M.K., lyue, M., Kandasamy, N. and Panneerselvam, S. (2002). Characteristics and performance of Toda buffaloes of the Nilgiris, India I. Habitat, Morphology and Morphometry. Buffalo Journal 18(3): 303-313. Nair, P.G., Balakrishnan, M. and Yadav, B.R. (1986). The Toda buffaloes of Nilghiris. Buffalo Journal 2(2): 167-178. Rivers, W.H.R. (1906). The Todas. Macmillan and Co. Ltd., England. Reprint: (1986). Rawat Publications, Jaipur. '," C'
POST PARTUM V AGINO-CERVICAL PROLAPSE 17 Roberts, J. (1971). Veterinary Obstetrics and Genital Diseases (Theriogenology)/ CBS Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi. pp. 189-196. Sah, S.K., and Nakao, T. (2003). Some characteristics of vaginal prolapse in Nepali buffaloes. Journal a/veterinary Medicine Science 65: 1213-1215. Shortt, J. (1869). An Account of the Hill Tribes of the Neilgherries. Transactions of the Ethnological Society of London, 7: 230-290. (Cited by Walker, 1986). Walker, A.R. (1986). The Toda of South India: A New Look. Hindustan Publishing Corporation, Delhi. pp. 98-118, 222.