Urolithiasis, Biology

Assignment Help:

Urolithiasis

The presence of calculi (urolith) in the urinary system is termed as urolithiasis, and the disease is characterized by distension of bladder and partial or complete absence of urine passage.

Etiology: Precipitation of urinary solutes and its deposition around the nidus results in calculi formation in the urinary tract. Mostly the inorganic salts are precipitated. Nidus is formed by casts, bacteria, leukocytes, degenerated or desquamated cells, and mucoproteins. Change in the pH, dehydration, lack of water and metabolic defects help in precipitation of the solutes over the nidus. Mucopolysaccharides serve as cementing agent and help in enlargement of calculi.

Urolith formation is common in castrated animals. Ingestion of fodder crops high in phosphates also helps in calculi formation. This may be the reason why ruminants in some areas like paddy growing areas are more prone to urolithiasis. The problem is also common in hilly areas with high mineral contents of feed, fodder and water. Males because of longer urethra and presence of curve due to sigmoid flexure are more commonly affected than females. In males, calculi commonly occur in urethra while in females these are seen in urinary bladder.

The pH of urine affects composition of calculi. In alkaline urine, carbonate and phosphates of calcium, magnesium and ammonium are the major constituents of calculi while oxalates, urates and xanthines are mainly present in animals with acidic urine. Bacterial infection also alters the composition of calculi. Deficiency of vitamin A, presence of infection in urinary tract, concentration of salts, deficiency of green fodder, excess use of sulfonamides and estrogenic hormone are the major predisposing factors for calculi formation.

Pathogenesis: The calculi block the urinary passage either partially or completely resulting in retention of urine and distention of bladder, leading to uremia and toxaemia. The distended bladder ruptures after 24-48 h and urine accumulates in the pelvic cavity.

Clinical signs: Urolithiasis is characterized by complete cessation of urination or partial flow of urine and continuous dribbling of urine. The animal shows signs of severe abdominal pain, uneasiness, stiff gait, kicking at the belly. Repeated twitching of penis in male animals and frequent attempts to urinate are commonly noticed. Urine mixed with few drops of blood may be passed with grunting. The abdomen is distended and on rectal palpation, full urinary bladder may be felt. Bladder or urethra ruptures releasing urine into pelvic cavity if corrective measures are not taken for continuance of urine flow.

Diagnosis: Clinical examination of the patient, symptoms and rectal palpation can help in tentative diagnosis of urolithiasis. It can be confirmed by passing catheter through urethral opening. Radiological examination reveals presence of calculi in the urinary passage. On microscopic examination of urine, presence of excessive crystals and cells is indicative of the disease. Blood urea nitrogen and serum / plasma creatinine level are highly elevated.

The disease should be differentiated from pyelonephritis and cystitis. In these cases, urinary bladder is not full of urine and radiological examination also helps in the differentiation.

Treatment: Calculi can be removed by the surgical treatment. Calculi present in the upper portion of urethra can be pushed into bladder with the help of a catheter. Use of protein-free extract of mammalian pancreas @ 5-10 ml intramuscularly for 2-3 days and muscle relaxants like amino-promazine also helps in these cases. Urinary antiseptics like 4-5 g of hexamine and antibiotics like streptomycin, nitrofurantoin, norfloxacin or cephalosporines should be administered for 5 to 7 days. Some of the ayurvedic preparations like cystone powder or tablets are of value in dissolution of the small calculi.


Related Discussions:- Urolithiasis

What are the hyphae and the mycelium of pluricellular fungi, What are the h...

What are the hyphae and the mycelium of pluricellular fungi? The major structures of pluricellular fungi are the hyphae (threadlike filaments made of contiguous uni or multinuc

What is S shaped incision, Q. What is S shaped incision? The S - shaped...

Q. What is S shaped incision? The S - shaped incision is indicated where a papilla needs to be developed and was first described by Palacci. This type of incision is essentiall

Define feeding and nutritional management of spinal trauma, Define the Feed...

Define the Feeding and Nutritional Management of spinal trauma? The main objectives of nutritional management are to meet the nutritional needs of the initial acute phase and

Properties and functions of synapses, Properties and Functions of Synapses ...

Properties and Functions of Synapses There is an interval between depolarisation of the presynaptic terminal and the earliest appearance of a postsynaptic response. This inter

Effect of water pollution, (i) Effect of Human Health: (a) Mercury co...

(i) Effect of Human Health: (a) Mercury compounds in waste water in converted into methyl mercury by Bacterial action which causes numbness of limbs, lips and tongue, deaf

What are the main features of the meristematic cells, What are the main fea...

What are the main features of the meristematic cells? Why do these cells require to have a high mitotic rate? Meristematic cells have very thin cell walls, small vacuoles, a w

Explain arterial switch operation surgery, Explain Arterial Switch Operatio...

Explain Arterial Switch Operation Surgery? This is the operation of choice for simple transposition of the great arteries as it ensures anatomical correction. The approach is t

Male reproductive disorders-congenital impotentia genarandi, Congenital imp...

Congenital impotentia genarandi Some bulls which are otherwise normal and healthy produce semen containing spermatozoa with specific morphological abnormalities together with

Embrylogical devlopment of hypospadias, Embrylogical Devlopment of Hypos...

Embrylogical Devlopment of Hypospadias The development of the penis and scrotum is intluenced by the testes. In the absence of the testes, the female structures of the

Differance between rescue-capacity-building strategy, QUESTIONS: Write ...

QUESTIONS: Write an analysis of the Chapter Twelve, the concluding chapter in ROLL AWAY THE STONE. It will be worth UP TO 50 points if you do it well. Submit it through the "Ex

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd