A retrospective study of 29 cases of otitis media/interna in dairy calves

• Published in: Canadian veterinary journal 2012-09, Vol.53 (9), p.957-962
• Main Authors: Bernier Gosselin, Véronique, Francoz, David, Babkine, Marie, Desrochers, André, Nichols, Sylvain, Doré, Elizabeth, Bédard, Christian, Parent, Joane, Fairbrother, Julie-Hélène, Fecteau, Gilles
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - diagnosis; Cattle Diseases - drug therapy; Cattle Diseases - epidemiology; Ear, Middle - microbiology; Ear, Middle - pathology; Female; Labyrinthitis - diagnosis; Labyrinthitis - epidemiology; Labyrinthitis - veterinary; Mycoplasma - isolation & purification; Mycoplasma Infections - diagnosis; Mycoplasma Infections - drug therapy; Mycoplasma Infections - epidemiology; Mycoplasma Infections - veterinary; Otitis Media - diagnosis; Otitis Media - epidemiology; Otitis Media - veterinary; Retrospective Studies; Scientific
• ISSN: 0008-5286

Epidemiological data, clinical findings, laboratory data, medical imaging, and outcomes were reviewed in 29 dairy calves with otitis media/interna. Age at admission ranged from 1 to 24 wk. The majority of calves were referred during winter. Clinical signs included drooping ear, ptosis, head tilt, abnormal nystagmus, strabismus, dysphagia, regurgitation, stiff neck, opisthotonos, facial hyperesthesia, and purulent aural discharge. Intranasal endoscopic examination of 5 animals revealed nasopharyngeal collapse in 4. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was abnormal in all of 7 cases. Mycoplasma bovis was cultured from all but 1 case with external ear or tympanic bullae samples (n = 12), and Mycoplasma arginini was cultured from the remaining ear sample. Radiographs of the tympanic bullae were performed in 24 calves, tomodensitometry (CT) in 3 calves and ultrasound in 4 calves. According to medical imaging techniques or necropsy, 69% of the cases were classified as chronic. Mean duration of treatment was 23.3 d. The rate of clinical recovery was 75%. Epidemiological data, clinical findings, laboratory data, medical imaging, and outcomes were reviewed in 29 dairy calves with otitis media/interna. Age at admission ranged from 1 to 24 wk. The majority of calves were referred during winter. Clinical signs included drooping ear, ptosis, head tilt, abnormal nystagmus, strabismus, dysphagia, regurgitation, stiff neck, opisthotonos, facial hyperesthesia, and purulent aural discharge. Intranasal endoscopic examination of 5 animals revealed nasopharyngeal collapse in 4. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was abnormal in all of 7 cases. was cultured from all but 1 case with external ear or tympanic bullae samples ( = 12), and was cultured from the remaining ear sample. Radiographs of the tympanic bullae were performed in 24 calves, tomodensitometry (CT) in 3 calves and ultrasound in 4 calves. According to medical imaging techniques or necropsy, 69% of the cases were classified as chronic. Mean duration of treatment was 23.3 d. The rate of clinical recovery was 75%.