MODULE 1:

THE DIGESTIVE
SYSTEM
DEFINITION OF TERMS

 What is health?  Pathogenesis?

 What is disease?  Prognosis?
 Lesions?  Mortality Rate?
 Etiology?  Morbidity Rate?
 Diagnosis?  Infection
 Clinical Signs?  Infestation
 Incubation Period?  Virulence?
JUSTIFY THE STATEMENT

“PATHOLOGY IS A KEY
SUBJECT IN VETERINARY
Sciences, WHICH IS QUITE
HELPFUL IN PREVENTION
AND CONTROL OF DISEASES
IN ANIMALS”
SYSTEMIC PATHOLOGY

 Deals with the alterations in tissues/organs

of a particular systems
PHYSIOLOGY OF DIGESTIVE
SYSTEM
 The digestive tract includes the oral cavity and associated organs
(lips, teeth, tongue, and salivary glands), the esophagus, the
forestomach (reticulum, rumen, omasum) of ruminants and the
true stomach in all species, the small intestine, the liver, the
exocrine pancreas, the large intestine, and the rectum and anus.
 Gut-associated lymphoid tissue (tonsils, Peyer’s patches, diffuse
lymphoid tissue) is distributed along the GI tract.
 The peritoneum covers the abdominal viscera and is involved in
many GI diseases.
 Fundamental efforts to manage GI disorders should always be
directed toward localizing disease to a particular segment and
determining a cause. A rational therapeutic plan can then be
formulated.
REVIEW: FUNCTION OF THE
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
 The primary functions of the GI tract include prehension of food
and water; mastication, salivation, and swallowing of food; digestion
of food and absorption of nutrients; maintenance of fluid and
electrolyte balance; and evacuation of waste products.
 These functions can be broadly characterized as:
• motility
• secretion
• digestion
• absorption
• blood flow
• metabolism
 REVIEW: FUNCTION OF THE
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

 Normal GI tract motility involves peristalsis, muscle

activity that moves ingesta from the esophagus to
the rectum; segmentation movements, which churn
and mix the ingesta; and segmental resistance and
sphincter tone, which retard aboral progression of
gut contents.
 In ruminants, these movements are of major
importance in normal forestomach function.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF THE
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

 Abnormal motor function usually manifests as

decreased motility.
 Segmental resistance is usually reduced, and
transit rate increases.
 Motility depends on stimulation via the
sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous
systems (and thus on the activity of the central
and peripheral parts of these systems) and on
the GI musculature and its intrinsic nerve
plexuses.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF THE
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM CON….

 Debility, accompanied by weakness of the musculature,

acute peritonitis, and hypokalemia, produces atony of the
gut wall (paralytic ileus).
 The intestines distend with fluid and gas, and fecal output is
reduced. In addition, chronic stasis of the small intestine
may predispose to abnormal proliferation of microflora.
Such bacterial overgrowth may cause malabsorption by
injuring mucosal cells, by competing for nutrients, and by
deconjugating bile salts and hydroxylating fatty acids.
DISTURBANCES OF THE
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

 In this lecture the viewer will be able to

know the pathological conditions affecting
the mouth, pharynx, salivary glands,
esophagus and crop.
MALFORMATIONS

 Clefts of the mouth are

midline fusion defects
which occur during
embryonic development .
 In cleft palate, the ingesta
is likely to enter the
respiratory passages and
cause aspiration
pneumonia and death.
CARIES

Definition
 Caries means decay of teeth in which
the enamel is decalcified followed by
softening and discoloration.
Occurrence
 Caries is rare in domestic animals.
 This occurs occasionally in pet dogs
with imbalanced and inadequate diets.
Etiology
 Disturbances in calcium and
phosphorus metabolism as well as
dietary deficiencies of these minerals.
 It is frequently seen in fluorine
poisoning.
Pathogenesis

 The organic acids especially lactic acid, that are formed

due to the action of bacteria on carbohydrates dissolve
the salts of the enamel.
 Then, the same acids corrode into the less strong
dentine, which contains in its structure 30% of protein.
 The damage to the dentine is deeper and most
widespread.
 The opposed surfaces of adjacent teeth may be more
frequently affected.
Clinical signs
 The affected teeth which are shaky and painful
interfere with mastication.
Gross pathology
 The affected teeth usually have one or more
depressed areas, which are brown or black in colour.
 In the early incipient stages, “Enamel Flecks” which
are yellow stained spots on the enamel can be seen.
STOMATITS

Definition
 This is diffuse inflammation of the mucous membrane of the
mouth.
 But when confined to particular parts of the mouth, it is known as:
 Gingivitis for inflammation of the gums.
 Glossitis for inflammation of the tongue.
 Lampas for inflammation of the palate.
 Cheilitis for inflammation of the lips.
 Pharyngitis for inflammation of the pharynx and
 Tonsillitis for inflammation of the tonsils.
Occurrence
 Stomatitis is common in animals.
Aetiology
 It may be a primary affection or may occur as
secondary to other diseases viz. gastritis or infectious
diseases.
THE CAUSES ARE?

Physical
 Trauma by awns, thorns, burrs, wood pieces, glass pieces,
sharp bits, irregular sharp teeth, sharp edged feeding
utensils.
 Thermal injuries: Hot drenches and eating frozen foods.
 Chemical : caustic alkalies, corrosive acids, fertilizers.
 Deficiency of vitamins
 Hypovitaminosis A especially in fowl
 Niacin deficiency : Black tongue in dogs
Microorganisms
 Bacteria: Actinomyces bovis; Actinobacillus lignieresi;
Fusobacterium necrophorum; Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
Corynebacterium pyogenes; Streptococci andStaphylococci.
 Fungi: Candida albicans and Oidium pullorum in poultry.

 Viruses: Foot and Mouth disease; Rinderpest: Virus diarrhoea -

mucosal disease; Infectious canine hepatitis; contagious
ecthyma; vesicular exanthema; fowl pox and blue tongue.
 The lesion starts as catarrhal
inflammation of the mouth
and pharynx with reddening
and swelling of the mucosa
which is covered by small,
whitish raised spots
(Aphthous stomatitis).
 These spots may latter
develop into small crusts or
into ulcers.
HISTOPATHOLOGY

 Microscopically, in
case of ulcer of tongue,
the surface epithelium
of the tongue is lost
and the underlying
area is infiltrated with
leucocytes.
TYPES OF
STOMATITIS
 VESICULAR STOMATITIS

 Vesicles, blebs or blisters

containing clear fluid are
formed on the mucosa.
 Seen in Foot and mouth
disease, infectious vesicular
exanthema and infectious
vesicular stomatitis.
 Rupture of the blisters results
in the formation of erosions,
which subsequently heal.
 Catarrhal and vesicular
stomatitis may develop into
ulcerative variety.
 FIBRINOUS AND NECROTIC
STOMATITIS

 This is seen in infection by

Fusobacterium
nerophorum.
DIPHTHERITIC STOMATITIS

 Fowl pox produces

diphtheritic stomatitis
and pharyngitis in
which a grayish
membrane is found.
GANGRENOUS STOMATITIS

 Gangrene is death of
body tissue due to a
lack of blood flow or a
serious bacterial
infection.
 Very severe irritants
may cause gangrenous
stomatitis.
THRUSH

 Thrush is found in
birds.
 Here grey or yellowish
thick tenacious
material gets attached
to the mucous
membranes.
SEQUELAE

 Starvation as prehension and mastication are prevented

 Spread of infection to other parts- oesophagus, lungs, stomach
etc.
 TUMOURS OF THE MOUTH AND
PHARYNX

 Tumors of the mouth and pharynx are

common.
 Most common neoplasms in the dog
and calves are the infectious
papillomas, occurring as clusters on
the lips and gums. These are caused by
papilloma virus.
 Epulis is a fibroblastic tumour
consisting of dense fibrous tissue with
varying amounts of epithelium and a
few giant cells. They usually occur in
the gums
 Carcinoma, sarcoma, fibroma and
melanoma are other tumors
occasionally seen.
FEATURES OF SALIVARY
GLANDS

 Pathological processes are rare in the salivary

glands of animals because
o The glands are in fairly well protected situations.
o The salivary secretions have some anti-bacterial
properties.
o There is good flushing by the secretions
PATHOLOGICAL
CONDITIONS IN
SALIVARY GLANDS
FOREIGN BODIES

 Foreign bodies are occasionally found in

the ducts especially of the parotid and sub
maxillary glands.
 These are usually awns, wood pieces and
kernels of grain causing inflammation.
 Sometimes, these may produce obstruction
and consequent dilatation of the ducts.
 DILATATION

 Dilatation of the salivary

ducts may occur when
the flow of saliva is
obstructed by foreign
bodies, inflammatory
exudates etc.
 RANULA

 When the dilatation of the

salivary duct and gland
occurs as cyst on the floor of
the mouth it is called a
ranula.
 This is smooth, rounded
cyst containing a clear fluid.
 This can be easily ruptured.
 SIALOLITHS

 Sialoliths are salivary calculi

 These are common in horses.
 These are formed by the precipitation
of minerals around nuclei of foreign
matter in the ducts.
 Salivary calculi are usually single and
sometimes may be very large
preventing the flow of saliva.
 These calculi produce stasis, distension
of ducts and finally atrophy of the
gland.
INFLAMMATION OF THE SALIVARY
GLAND

 Occurrence
Sialadentitis is very rare in
animals.
 Aetiology
It may be due to traumatic
injury or due to infection by
bacteria.
This may be associated with
strangles in horses, mastitis
in cattle and distemper in
dogs.
SIALADENTITIS

Gross pathology Sequelae

 The glands are  Stasis of saliva in
swollen and red. the ducts facilitates
 Abscesses may be infection.
found in glands.  Inflammation of
 Sometimes, cystic the salivary glands
dilatations may may cause atrophy
occur. of the gland.
NEOPLASMS OF SALIVARY
GLANDS

 Neoplasms of
salivary glands are
not common in
animals.
 OESOPHAGEAL CHOKE

 Choke is obstruction of the

esophagus.
Occurrence
 It occurs in horses and cattle,
but more common in the former.
Aetiology
 Old age
 In cattle, large objects of food-
beet root, carrot, apples,
potatoes, fetal membranes,
sticks and wire. In dogs, large
bones.
AETIOLOGY

 Old age
 In cattle, large objects of food- beet root, carrot, apples, potatoes,
fetal membranes, sticks and wire. In dogs, large bones.
 Impacted masses of feed due to improper chewing, bad teeth and
rapid gulping of dry feed.
 Lesions of esophagus – stenosis or diverticulum cause repeated
choking.
 Enlarged lymph nodes- mediastinal and cervical.
 Enlarged thyroids.
 Neoplasms of adjacent tissue especially thymus - thymoma in new-
born animals.
 GROSS PATHOLOGY

 In the horses choke occurs in the thoracic area while in cattle and dogs the pharynx is
obstructed.
 Choke may be complete or incomplete.
Complete choke
 In complete choke, feed will be returned and water will flow through the nostrils when
animal is watered.
 Aspiration of the feed will cause secondary foreign-body pneumonia.
 In cattle, complete obstruction will cause dangerous tympany.
 Because of pressure, ischemia and resultant necrosis and gangrene may develop.
 Infection may spread to the surrounding tissues- cellulitis or to the lungs- gangrenous
pneumonia.
 Resultant sapremia or toxaemia is the cause of death in fatal case.
 Partial choke
 Partial obstruction will give rise to dilatation of esophagus above the obstruction - the
esophageal diverticulum .
SEQUELAE

 Death due to gangrenous pneumonia, bloat,

cellulitis or asphyxiation.
 Esophageal diverticulum
 Rupture of esophagus
 DILATATION (ECTASIA)

 Types
The dilatation of esophagus
may be fusiform or
cylindrical.

 Occurrence
Fusiform dilatation of the
esophagus is more common.
AETIOLOGY

 Accumulation of food proximal to a stenosed

area.
 In ruminants accumulation of food during
regurgitation on the distal side of stenosed area.
 Trauma from horns etc., rupturing the muscular
coat.
 Relaxation of the esophageal muscles consequent
to the nervous lesions.
SEQUELAE

 The food gets accumulated in the dilated area of

esophagus leading to pressure and rupture.
 The food may become decomposed and produce
softening of the epithelium, inflammation,
ulceration, gangrene and death.
 In ruminants, bloat occurs.
OESOPHAGITIS

 Definition
This is inflammation of the
esophageal mucosa.

 Occurrence
It is rare in animals because of
the thick and resistant condition
of the mucosa.
Aetiology

 Trauma by probing, stomach tube or foreign bodies.

 Chemicals – corrosives.
 In the fowl, thallium sulphate poisoning.
 Avitaminosis A in Fowls.
 Viral enteritis and mucosal disease in cattle.
 Parasites – bot fly larvae in horses and hypoderma larvae in cattle.
 Persistent vomiting in dogs and pigs.
GROSS PATHOLOGY

 The mucosa is red and swollen.

 In the catarrhal variety, the exudate is mucous.
 The ulcerative variety is met with in conditions caused
by trauma (Stomach tube) and in viral enteritis and
mucosal disease in cattle.
SEQUELAE

 Usually recovery occurs.

 Stenosis may result in severe cases.
 When pyogenic bacteria enter the place of obstruction
(in choke) which had become necrotic due to
pressure, suppurative oesophagitis occurs.
 NEOPLASMS OF THE OESOPHAGUS

 Neoplasms of the oesophagus are

not common.
  The connective tissue tumours
of the dog have been reported. In
the thoracic portion of the
oesophagus, fibrosarcomas and
osteogenic sarcomas are found in
connection with Spirocerca lupi
infection.
 The osteogenic sarcoma is evidently a metaplastic
manifestation of the fibrosarcoma.
 Metastases of these tumors are sometimes found in
the lungs and other tissues.
 Carcinoma in cat and horse and papilloma in cattle
are other tumours met with.
 OBSTRUCTION OF CROP IN BIRDS

Aetiology
 Ingestion of large
quantities of dry grain
which swell in the crop
and form a hard mass.
 Atony or paralysis of wall
leading to stasis of food.
 Foreign bodies like wire
etc.
Gross pathology
 The stagnated food gets decomposed, gas accumulates and inflammation
sets in.
Sequelae
 Rupture due to distention by food and gas or due to penetration by the
foreign body.
 Death because of
 Heart failure due to pressure on heart.
 Asphyxia due to compression of trachea.
 Intoxication due to absorption of toxins from decomposed foods.
 Starvation, since, food does not enter the proventriculus.
INGLUVITIS- Inflammation of crop

Acute catarrhal ingluvitis  Diphtheritic ingluvitis

Aetiology  This is found in fowl pox.
 Trauma by foreign bodies.
 Chemical agents : phosphorus,
fertilizers
 Toxins from decomposed food.
 Infectious diseases.
 Parasites – Acuaria sp ;
Capillaria sp
Gross pathology
 Lesions include congestion,
edema and tympanites.