3.2| PATHOLOGICAL AND CYTOLOGICAL FINDINGS
Among all of the necropsied animals (n = 11), seven with previous history of abomasal bloat presented mainly gastrointestinal findings with dehydration, pale mucosa, ascites (reddish content), abomasal and intestinal (mainly caecum) meteorism and congestion, emphysematous abomasitis (some with ruptures and abomasal content in the cavity), blood clots inside the left ventricle, renal congestion and cranial areas of lung consolidation (Figure 2). The other four with no history of abomasal bloat presented mainly respiratory findings with dehydration, pulmonary consolidation and edema, pleuritis, foam in the airways, and blood clots inside left ventricle. The two groups are separated in Table 2 in order to verify results from other complementary findings.
Through all staining techniques (GIEMSA, Quick Panoticâ„¢ and Gram) prepared for cytological evaluations of the direct impressions from the abomasum, it was possible to identify, in different quantities: (a) Gram positive bacteria, coccoid, with a cuboid shape suggestive of C. ventriculi ; (b) Gram positive bacilli, forming oval-subterminal spores suggestive of C. perfringens ; (c) round to ovoid basophilic yeasts compatible with S. cerevisiae ; and (d) a scarce population of small basophilic bacilli and streptobacilli (Figure 3; Table 2).
The main histopathological findings from the kid goats with history of abomasal bloat (n = 7) and gastroenteritis characterized by necropsy were: cholangiohepatitis, nephrosis, emphysematous abomasitis (hyaline necrosis and emphysema in the abomasal wall), intestinal hyaline necrosis, thromboembolism, pulmonary edema, and non-purulent pneumonia characterizing a systemic enterotoxemia picture. From the kid goats without abomasal bloat signs (n = 4; control group) and respiratory findings characterized by necropsy, it were found: purulent bronchopneumonia, nephrosis, and intestinal hyaline necrosis featuring a mixed picture of mannheimiosis and enterotoxemia (Table 2).