Black grains within rumen wall?

[Henry Straker]

I posted this a couple of years ago on various sites and still not had a explanation of these grains within the rumen wall of roe (see photos) - relaunching thread to see if there are new eyes that might recognise what these are.

I see these alot.....Don't think I have ever seen them on roe less than a year old and the older the deer the more likely I am to see them. I also don't see these in habitats where there isn't bramble and / or heather. The grains do not penetrate the rumen wall. Seem to be made of hardish black organic matter.

Anyone got any ideas?

 

[Buchan]

They look like they are blood clots as most seem to be on a vessel. Odd that you see them change with age. IF they don't penetrate the wall, it would go against parasitic cause. Be good to cut a section out and preserve it for histology.