title: Gross lesions of alimentary disease in adult cattle.
abstract: The purpose of the gross necropsy examination of the gastrointestinal tract is to recognize the presence of lesions, thus requiring a basic understanding of its normal appearance and anatomy. This article highlights gross changes to the gastrointestinal tract of adult cattle that help place the disease processes into broad categories. Although few gross lesions reach the zenith of pathognomonic, there are numerous lesions that, when considered in aggregate with history (eg, number of animals affected, environment, duration of signs, time of onset relative to management changes, previous management) and clinical signs, can help narrow the spectrum of causes, provide a basis for a strong presumptive diagnosis, and focus diagnostic test selection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74074-2007, USA. brad.njaa@okstate.edu
authors.forename: Bradley L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Njaa
authors.forename: Roger J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Panciera
authors.forename: Edward G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Catherine G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Lamm
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001344:Autopsy / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000473:pathology*