J Vet Sci.  2006 Sep;7(3):287-291. 10.4142/jvs.2006.7.3.287.

Surgical treatment and histopathology of different forms of olecranon and presternal bursitis in cattle and buffalo

• Fathy A
• Radad K

• KMID: 1089915
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2006.7.3.287

Abstract

Thirty seven cases of bursitis presented to our Veterinary Teaching Hospital from 2001 to 2005. There were 10 adult female buffalos with olecranon bursitis (one had bilateral bursitis) and 26 calves (7 cattle and 19 buffalos, 16 males and 10 females) with presternal bursitis. There were 10 out of 11 cases of olecranon bursitis and 21 out of 26 cases of presternal bursitis with different forms (cystic, proliferative and fibrous) that were removed surgically. The remaining 6 cases, cystic bursitis (olecranon = 1, presternal = 5), were treated by aspiration of their contents and injection of 4% iodine tincture intrabursally. Only 2 cases recovered, 3 cases progressed to fibrosis and required further surgical treatment 2 to 3 weeks later, and 1 case continued to have a cystic lesion. Histopathological examination of tissue specimens from different forms of bursitis revealed that the acquired bursae were generally lined with synovial-like membrane formed from 2-3 cellular layers that covered the connective tissue capsule. The connective tissue capsule differed from one type to another and consisted of fibrous tissues containing numerous small blood vessels, blood capillaries, lymphatics and nerves. There was also evidence for inflammation within the capsule represented by congestion of blood vessels and the presence of perivascular inflammatory cells, mostly mononuclear. In conclusion, surgical treatment was successful and effective for treatment of olecranon and presternal bursitis particularly for the chronic proliferative and fibrous form in cattle and buffalo. The histological structure of the acquired bursae was relatively similar consisting of a synovial-like membrane and a connective tissue capsule with varying degrees of the inflammatory process.

Keyword

buffalos; bursitis; cattle; olecranon; presternal

MeSH Terms

Animals
Buffaloes/*surgery
Bursitis/pathology/surgery/*veterinary
Cattle
Cattle Diseases/*pathology/surgery
Female
Histocytochemistry/veterinary
Male

Figure

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  Fig. 1 (A) Olecranon bursitis in a female buffalo. (B) Proliferative form of presternal bursitis in a female buffalo. Note the thin wall and the tissue strands filling the bursal cavity.

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  Fig. 2 Histophatological microphotographs of cystic form of presternal bursitis in a male buffalo. (A) Connective tissue-like cells lining the bursal cavity (arrows). (B) Dense connective tissue formed of mature fibrocytes and collagenous fibers. There were also numerous blood capillaries surrounded with inflammatory cells (arrows). H&E strain.

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  Fig. 3 Histopathological microphotographs of proliferative form of presternal bursitis in a female buffalo. (A) Loss of the cellular lining to more fibrous tissue (asterisk). The underlying connective tissue consisted of mature fibrocytes (arrows) and collagenous fibers. (B) Cross section in connective tissue colloid projected from the wall of bursa into the bursal lumen. Note the connective tissue lining (arrow) and the colloid core (arrowhead). H&E strain.

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