Nasoruminal endoscopy of the rumen and reticulum in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) - a preliminary study

Twenty apparently healthy buffaloes were withdrawn of feed and water for 48 hours. Buffaloes were administered with fluids and were subjected to endoscopy every 12 hours. Olympus (TM) [GIF V70] flexible video endoscope was passed through the ventral nasal meatus, the pharynx, oesophagus and then into the reticulo-rumen in physically restrained buffaloes. The entire reticulum and part of the rumen could be visualized, when the animals were off feed and water for at least 48 hours and evacuations of rumen contents were done even after 48 hours of starvation to visualize the rumen in six buffaloes. The reticulum appeared light brown to pink coloured with honeycomb shape and the rumen appeared smooth, shiny pink, with numerous papillae throughout its surface. The procedure was well tolerated by all the buffaloes and satisfactory reticular and ruminal images could be obtained including biopsy.