Update on Ruminant Ultrasound

Contents

Preface: We Need More Studies on the Diagnostic and Prognostic Use of

Ultrasound in Ruminants! xi
Sébastien Buczinski

Specific Challenges in Conducting and Reporting Studies on the Diagnostic

Accuracy of Ultrasonography in Bovine Medicine 1
Sébastien Buczinski and Annette M. O’Connor
Ultrasonography is used by bovine practitioners more for reproductive
issues rather than as a diagnostic test for medical and surgical diseases.
This article reviews the specific challenges and standards concerning
the reporting of studies on diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in cattle for
non-reproductive issues. Specific biases and applicability concerns in
studies reporting ultrasonography as a diagnostic test are also reviewed.
Better understanding of these challenges will help the practitioner to inter-
pret and apply diagnostic accuracy study results depending on the field
context. Examples of application of sensitivity and specificity results in a
clinical context are given using the Bayes theorem.

On-Farm Use of Ultrasonography for Bovine Respiratory Disease 19

Theresa L. Ollivett and Sébastien Buczinski
Thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) in young cattle has recently gained
momentum as an accurate and practical tool for identifying the lung le-
sions associated with bovine respiratory disease. As cattle producers
increasingly seek input from their veterinarians on respiratory health
issues, bovine practitioners should consider adding TUS to their practice
models. This article discusses the relevant literature regarding TUS in
young cattle, current acceptable techniques, and practical on-farm
applications.

Echocardiography for the Assessment of Congenital Heart Defects in Calves 37

Katharyn Jean Mitchell and Colin Claudio Schwarzwald
Videos showing echocardiographic examples of congenital heart
defects in calves accompany this article

Congenital heart disease should be considered when evaluating calves

with chronic respiratory signs, failure to thrive, poor growth, or if a murmur
is heard on physical examination. Echocardiography is currently the gold
standard for diagnosing congenital heart defects. A wide variety of
defects, either alone or in combination with a ventricular septal defect,
are possible. A standardized approach using sequential segmental
analysis is required to fully appreciate the nature and severity of more
complex malformations. The prognosis for survival varies from guarded
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to poor and depends on the hemodynamic relevance of the defects and

the degree of cardiac compensation.

Ascites in Cattle: Ultrasonographic Findings and Diagnosis 55

Ueli Braun
Ultrasonography enables the examiner to detect very small amounts of
fluid in the peritoneal cavity and to determine its location, amount, and
sonographic features. The pathologic process responsible for the ascites,
for example, ileus, hepatic fibrosis, thrombosis of the caudal vena cava, or
traumatic reticuloperitonitis, can often be identified. Abdominocentesis
and analysis of the aspirated fluid allow differentiation of inflammatory
and non-inflammatory ascites, as well as the diagnosis of uroperitoneum,
hemoperitoneum, chylous ascites, and bile peritonitis.

Ultrasonographic Examination of the Reticulum, Rumen, Omasum, Abomasum,

and Liver in Calves 85
Ueli Braun
This article describes the ultrasonographic findings of the reticulum,
rumen, omasum, abomasum, and liver of calves from birth to 100 days
of age. Reticular motility is used to exemplify how the forestomach func-
tion in calves progresses and gradually approaches that of adult cattle.
The ultrasonographic examination of the esophageal groove reflex and
the investigation of factors affecting esophageal groove closure are
described. The ultrasonographic findings of the forestomachs and
abomasum of calves with ruminal drinker syndrome are discussed. The
article concludes with the description of the ultrasonographic examination
of the liver.

Ultrasonographic Examination of the Spinal Cord and Collection of Cerebrospinal

Fluid from the Atlanto-Occipital Space in Cattle 109
Ueli Braun and Jeannette Attiger
Ultrasonography is useful for the visualization of the spinal cord and asso-
ciated structures, and facilitates the safe collection of cerebrospinal fluid
from the atlanto-occipital space in cattle. This technique is less stressful
than the blind puncture technique because it does not require strong ven-
troflexion of the head. Furthermore, painful puncture of the spinal cord can
largely be avoided when ultrasound guidance is used.

Ultrasonography of the Tympanic Bullae and Larynx in Cattle 119

Véronique Bernier Gosselin, Marie Babkine, and David Francoz
Diseases of the middle ear or the larynx are not frequent in cattle, but their
diagnosis can be challenging for veterinary practitioners in the field. This
article presents the ultrasonography of these two anatomic structures in
order to provide new diagnostic tools to veterinary practitioners in the field.
Brief anatomic reminders are first reported. Then, the scanning techniques
and normal images are described. Finally, abnormal images of specific
conditions are presented.
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Ultrasound-Guided Nerve Block Anesthesia 133

Michela Re, Javier Blanco, and Ignacio A. Gómez de Segura
Superficial nerves can be visualized through ultrasonography in the cattle
and facilitate local anesthetic disposition around nerve structures.
Expected advantages include a higher successful rate of nerve block
improving the degree and duration of the block. Among others, conduction
nerves of clinical interest in cattle include the paravertebral nerves, nerves
of the epidural space, the brachial plexus, and the sciatic and femoral
nerves, and nerves of the head.

Ultrasonographic Doppler Use for Female Reproduction Management 149

Heinrich Bollwein, Maike Heppelmann, and Johannes Lüttgenau
Transrectal color Doppler ultrasonography is a useful technique to get new
information about physiologic and pathophysiologic alterations of the
uterus and ovaries in female cattle. During all reproductive stages charac-
teristic changes in uterine blood flow are observed. Cows with puerperal
disturbances show delayed decrease in uterine blood flow in the first
few weeks postparturition compared with healthy cows. Measurement of
follicular blood flow is used to identify normally developing follicles and
predict superovulatory response. Determination of luteal blood is more
reliable than B-mode sonography to distinguish between functional and
nonfunctional corpora lutea. Color Doppler ultrasonography is a promising
tool to improve reproductive management in female cattle.

Methods for and Implementation of Pregnancy Diagnosis in Dairy Cows 165

Paul M. Fricke, Alessandro Ricci, Julio O. Giordano, and Paulo D. Carvalho
The first part of this article defines the attributes of the ideal pregnancy test
and describes the direct and indirect methods for pregnancy diagnosis in
dairy cows that are currently available, and that have the potential to
replace transrectal palpation. Second, this new technology must be prac-
tically integrated into a systematic on-farm reproductive management
strategy and empirically demonstrated to exceed the status quo of the in-
dustry in reproductive performance. Finally, a future direction for research
and technology in the area of early pregnancy diagnosis in dairy cows is
presented, and the overall conclusions of the ideas presented herein are
drawn.

Practical Use of Ultrasound Scan in Small Ruminant Medicine and Surgery 181
Phil Scott
Videos of ultrasound examples accompany this article

Modern portable ultrasound scan machines provide the veterinary clinician

with an inexpensive and noninvasive method to further examine sheep
on farms, which should take no more than 5 minutes with the results avail-
able immediately. Repeat examinations allow monitoring of the disease
process and assessment of therapy. 5 MHz linear array scanners can be
used for most organs except the heart and right kidney. Transthoracic ul-
trasonography is particularly useful for critical evaluation of lung and
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pleural pathologies. Transabdominal ultrasonographic examination can

readily identify distended urinary bladder and advanced hydronephrosis.

Ultrasound Use for Body Composition and Carcass Quality Assessment in Cattle
and Lambs 207
Richard Gregory Tait Jr
Genetic evaluation for carcass quality traits has evolved over time, in large
part because of introduction of new technology, such as ultrasound mea-
sures of body composition. Ultrasound-measured body composition traits
emulate important carcass traits, are very informative for selection
purposes, are acquired before final selections of seed stock candidate
animals are made, and have seen high adoption rates by beef seed stock
producers. The Ultrasound Guidelines Council certifies technicians who
collect and interpret ultrasound data for beef producers. Multiple traits
important to beef quality and quantity are evaluated at the same time
with one scan session.

Index 219