PANCREATIC DISEASE ○ Calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate – ass
with grazing on silica-rich soil, vit A deficiency, or
INTRODUCTION chronic inflammation of the pancreatic ducts
● Rare; only chronic disease has been reported in cattle
TREATMENT
● Chronic interstitial pancreatitis (CIP) in horses and cattle
seldom has clinical significance ● Medical management is symptomatic
○ Associated with trematodes: ● Prevention of gastric rupture by continuous gastric
■ Eurytrema pancreaticum decompression and control of abdominal pain – crucial
■ Eurytrema coelomaticum ● Large volumes of balance polyionic electrolyte solutions
are necessary to maintain the circulating volume and
ETIOLOGY prevent shock
● Recognized causes: ● Serum calcium conc’ should be monitored
○ Migrating parasites ● Broad spectrum antibiotics are warranted
○ Bacterial and viral infections ● NSAIDs and analgesics – inflammation and pain
○ Immune-mediated damage
○ Biliary or pancreatic duct inflammatory disease
○ Vitamin D toxicity
○ Deficiencies of vitamin A or E, selenium, and
methionine
● Pancreatic disease in adult cattle is related to endocrine
dysfunction
○ Most frequently reported disorder: type 1
diabetes mellitus; but etiology in most cases is
not determined
■ Histopathology: reveals an absence of
beta cells in the islet tissue
○ Foot-and-mouth disease virus has been ass with
diabetes mellitus in cattle after convalescence
○ Hypoplasia of the acinar pancreatic tissue
described in calves
CLINICAL FINDINGS
● Nonspecific and mimic those associated with an acute GI
crisis
● Characteristic clinical features are:
○ Moderate to severe abdominal pain
○ Gastric reflux
○ Hypovolemic shock
○ Cardiovascular compromise
● Gastric distention accounts for the pain and gastric reflux
associated with acute pancreatitis
● Hypovolemic shock, occurring secondary to fluid losses
into peritoneal cavity and bowel lumen – from release of
vasoactive substances from the pancreas
● Tachycardia, tachypnea, prolonged capillary refill, and
congested mucous membranes – from hypovolemia and
cardiovascular compromise
● Hypoglycemia or pancreatic encephalopathy due to
cerebral microthrombosis and infarction may be implicated
DIAGNOSIS
● Lab confirmation of pancreatitis is difficult and not routinely
attempted
● Diagnosis confirmed on histologic evaluation of the
pancreas after necropsy
● Serum amylase and lipase conc’ increased rapidly but
returned to normal within a few days in experimentally
induced pancreatitis – therefore not useful
● Technique for ultrasound exam of the right lobe of the
pancreas has been described in healthy cattle
○ Increased echogenicity was noted, but within 3
days, hypoechogenicity was noted secondary to
necrosis, hemorrhage, and inflammatory exudates
■ Confirmed at necropsy
POSTMORTEM LESIONS
● Pancreatic calculi found in older cattle (>5 years) are
incidental findings
Ningasca, J.
