Obstructive urolithiasis in ouda-yankasa ram: case report

Abstract

Obstructive urolithiasis is the retention of urine subsequent to the lodgement of calculi in
the urinary tract from the kidney up to the urethral orifice. This report describes the post
mortem findings and chemical analysis findings of the calculi in an 18-month old Ouda-
Yankasa cross ram presented at the Large Animal Clinic of the Veterinary Teaching
Hospital, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. The patient was presented on 20th of
March, 2013 with reports of anorexia, disinclination to drink water and anuria that
developed four days before presentation at the clinic. On clinical examination, urethral
blockage and mild ascites were observed. Cystocentesis was performed to relieve the
patient and plain radiograph taken but was not diagnostic. The patient died before
definitive diagnosis was made for rational treatment. The post mortem findings include
frothy exudate in the trachea and bronchial airways, congestion of the lungs,
hydroperitoneum with recovered fluid measuring 2,350 ml, splenomegaly,
hydronephrosis, distended urinary bladder, severe haemorrhagic cystitis, urinary calculi
in the bladder and throughout the urethral length and urethral stricture. The urinary
calculi recovered were white, friable and amorphous, ranging from small particles to 5
mm in diameter. Histopathologic section of the kidney showed atrophied glomeruli. It
can thus be concluded that the atrophied glomeruli in turn impaired glomerular filtration
that invariably pre-disposed the patient to uraemia leading to its death. The chemical
analysis of the calculi showed that the calculi was either oxalate, phosphate or silicate, or
any of these mixtures.

Keywords: Ouda-Yankasa ram, Obstructive urolithiasis, Calculi, Urethral blockage, Ascites, Uraemia