Vagal Indigestion in a Buffalo Due to Obstruction of Cardia by a Cloth

In 1940, Hofl und, in his experimental study, produced chronic indigestion in cattle simulating functional stomach disorders after selective vagotomy. Hofl und concluded that injury to the vagus nerve is the main etiological factor for the production of chronic indigestion and hence coined the term‘vagal indigestion.’ After the name of the scientist, vagal indigestion is also referred to as Hofl und syndrome. The various causes of vagal indigestion reported by various scientists include foreign bodies (Braun et al., 1990a), advanced pregnancy (Van Metre et al., 1995), phytobezoar (Nayak and Suresh Babu, 1996), fi bropapilloma (Gordon, 1997), liver hemangioma (Curtis and De Groot, 1967), reticular abscess (Fubini et al., 1989), right volvulus of abomasums, diffuse peritonitis (Rebhun et al., 1988), abomasal impaction (Radostitis et al., 2007), liver abscess, omasal impaction, pericarditis and idiopathic causes (ElSabaie et al., 1997). The clinical symptoms in cattle and buffaloes are anorexia, dehydration, depression, muscular weakness and indifference to normal stimuli, dropping of ears, sunken eyes, dry muzzle, distended abdomen and cold extremities (Behl et al., 1997; Radostits et al., 2007).