Ultrasonography of the cranial part of the thorax is a quick and sensitive technique to detect lung consolidation in veal calves

• Published in: Veterinary medicine and science 2022-05, Vol.8 (3), p.1229-1239
• Main Authors: Masset, Nicolas, Assié, Sébastien, Herman, Nicolas, Jozan, Thibault, Herry, Vincent
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alliances; Animals; bovine; bovine respiratory disease; Bronchopneumonia; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - diagnosis; diagnostic imaging; Farms; infectious disease; Life Sciences; Lung - diagnostic imaging; Lung Diseases - veterinary; Lungs; Morbidity; Original; pneumonia; Red Meat; Respiratory diseases; RUMINANTS; Skull; Thorax; Thorax - diagnostic imaging; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography - veterinary; Veal
• ISSN: 2053-1095; 2053-1095
• DOI: 10.1002/vms3.774

Background In the veal calf industry, bovine respiratory disease is the main cause of morbidity and mortality. Lung ultrasonography (LUS) is an accurate technique to diagnose bronchopneumonia in calves. Due to the economic constraints faced by the industry, a screening technique able to rapidly examine large numbers of calves is required. Objective To determine if lung ultrasonography focusing on the cranial part of the thorax (1st to 2nd intercostal space (ICS) on the right and 2nd to 3rd on the left) and/or on the middle part of the thorax (3rd to 5th ICS on the right and 4th to 5th on the left) (alternative techniques) are rapid screening techniques as sensitive as LUS of the entire lung (reference technique) to identify calves with lung consolidation lesions. Methods Data on 300 veal calves aged 33.1 ± 8.0 days and weighing on average 67.5 ± 4.0 kg at LUS from two farms were analysed. Systematic LUS of the entire lung was performed on all calves and a lung consolidation score was given to different parts of the thorax. Agreements between the alternative and the reference techniques were measured by Cohen's κ, McNemar's test and weighted κ. Results Agreement between LUS focusing on the cranial + middle part or on the cranial part only of the thorax and the reference technique were almost perfect with a cutoff of 1 cm. The relative sensitivity of these two alternative techniques was high (> 93%). Conclusion Lung ultrasonography of the cranial + middle part or on the cranial part only of the thorax are quick and sensitive techniques to identify veal calves with lung consolidation lesions shortly after arrival at the facility. Young veal calves with lung consolidation lesions could be rapidly identified by focusing the ultrasonography examination on the cranial and middle part or the cranial part only of the thorax. Agreement between thoracic ultrasonography focusing on the cranial and middle part or the cranial part only of the thorax and thoracic ultrasonography of the entire thorax was almost perfect. Focused thoracic ultrasonography is a sensitive technique allowing examination of a large number of calves.