Incidence, Diagnosis and Treatment of Atresia Ani at Landmark University

O ne of the congenital abnormalities in all animal species, most especially domestic mammals such as cattle, pigs and small ruminants is intestinal atresia, (Van der Gass and Tibboel, 1980).Atresia ani is a congenital embryological disorder that results from the failure of the hindgut to connect with the perineum for discharge of muconium, (Gary, 2010).The congenital disorder of the rectum and anus are typically common in young animals where the anus could either be stenotic or imperforated (Nixon, 1972; Dreyfuss and Tulleners, 1989;Ansari, 2005;Gary, 2010).Different surgical interventions have been reported by several scholars with respect to correction of atresia ani in domestic mammals (Singh, 1983;Jubb et al., 1993), while some scholars reported euthanasia of the animal because of risk of survival.This report speaks of atresia ani, a case in a male calf, which was treated successfully by surgical procedures in Landmark University Teaching and Research Farm, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria.A three days old bull calf of white Fulani breed was observed at Landmark University Teaching and Research farm with absence of non-passage of faeces since parturition resulting Short communicationAbstract | Atresia ani has become a major clinical disease in Livestock especially pigs, cattle and small ruminants.It is a condition which do not often occur but requires a dogged approach in treating affected animals.Atresia ani is a congenital embryological condition that often suffice when the hindgut refuses to connect with the perineum for the proper discharge of muconium.In this study, a three-day-old calf was observed to be suffering from Atresia ani at the Landmark University Teaching and Research farm.This condition was obvious due to the inability of the calf to pass out faeces since parturition.The calf was operated on using standard clinical and surgical practices and also putting into consideration the Animal Welfare principles.The result from the surgical procedure showed that there was a massive improvement in defecation and general performance of the calf after the third day.Furthermore, there was no complication reported in the calf after fifteen days (15) of the procedure.This result shows that Atresia ani can be properly managed at the Landmark University Teaching and Research farm.This affirms the ability of the Institution to promote standard practices in Livestock Production Management.