CASE NOTES

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UTERINE TORSION AND RUPTURE IN A FULL TERM MULTIPAROUS EWE

Bruce Watt (Central Tablelands Local Land Services, Bathurst)

Posted Flock & Herd October 2014

Introduction

Uterine torsion is responsible for 5-7.3% of dystocias in cattle but is assumed to have a low prevalence in sheep and goats. In cattle the uterus bearing a single foetus is considered to be potentially unstable and may twist following violent foetal movement. In most cases (75%) the uterus rotates in an anticlockwise direction (Noakes et al. 2009).

History

Three ewes were presented for necropsy on 14 August 2014 after the owner reported the sudden deaths of 6 of 2000 first cross ewes prior to lambing. The ewes were generally in fat condition and were running on a mix of improved and native pastures north of Bathurst.

Necropsy findings

A mature first cross ewe in fat condition was necropsied. The abdomen was distended consistent with a multiparous ewe at term. Mucous membranes were pale. The uterus contained two term foetuses, one with meconium staining (Figure 1). One to two litres of clotted blood were found in the abdomen and a 10 cm long partial to full thickness laceration was noted in the uterine wall (Figure 2). The uterus was rotated clockwise 360 degrees (Figure 3).

Figure 1. Twin bearing ewe with a uterine torsion and rupture. Note the clotted blood in the omentum.

Figure 2. 10 cm laceration in the uterine wall

Figure 3. 360 degree clockwise torsion of the uterus

Discussion

There are occasional reports of ovine uterine torsion in the literature (Ijaz and Talafha 1999, Noakes et al. 2009, Scott 2011, Naidu 2012). Naidu (2012) successfully reduced torsion by rolling an affected ewe while fixing the uterus with a board held against the abdomen. Naidu also accessed the eastern European literature (citing Selskostopanska 1998 and Minkov et al. 1998) and mentioned that Minkov et al. reported on 146 cases which they treated surgically with a 95% success rate.

This case is of interest in that the ewe suffered two potentially fatal uterine accidents simultaneously. While this ewe died from blood loss, an undiagnosed uterine torsion would have also led to foetal death, septicaemia and death of the ewe. Presumably a violent foetal movement caused the laceration and initiated the torsion. In the Australian context, uterine accidents including torsions and lacerations, while virtually never reported (to the knowledge of the author), no doubt make a small contribution to ewe mortality across the industry.

References

1. Ijaz A and Talafha AQ (1999) Torsion of the uterus in an Awassi ewe Australian Veterinary Journal 77(10):652-3
2. Minkov T, Prvanov P and Kosev K (1998) Diagnosis, nonsurgical and surgical correction of uterine torsion in sheep Veterinarna Meditsina 4(3-4):213-216 (cited by Naidu 2012)
3. Naidu G Venkata (2012) A case of uterine torsion in sheep Indian Journal of Animal Reproduction <33 /b>(2)
4. Noakes DE, Parkinson TJ and England GCW (2009) Arthur's Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics
5. Selskostopanska Akademiya (1998) Torsio uteri pri ovtse-diagnoza i metodi na razrazhdane Veterinary Medicine <4 /b>:213-216 (cited by Naidu 2012)
6. Scott PR (2011) Uterine torsion in the ewe Livestock 16:(2):37-39 abstract available online onlinelibrary.wiley.com