BackgroundRespiratory troubles have economic impacts in countries where livestock industry is an important segment of the agricultural sector, as well as these problems may cause significant economic losses for bovine producers. Various practical methods are used to assess diseases that affect the bovine respiratory system. Ultrasonography is a noninvasive tool that has been used frequently in diagnosis of various animal diseases. The present study was designed to establish whether thoracic ultrasonography is a diagnostic tool for detection of respiratory troubles in weaned buffalo and cattle calves, as well as to assess its prognostic value in comparison with clinical respiratory scores. Thirty five (15 buffalo and 20 cattle) calves were included. Twelve (6 buffalo and 6 cattle) clinically healthy calves were enrolled as controls.ResultsBased on physical examinations, clinical respiratory scores (CRS), ultrasound lung scores (ULS) and postmortem findings, animals were classified into 4 groups as pulmonary emphysema (n = 8), interstitial pulmonary syndrome (n = 7), bronchopneumonia (n = 12), and pleurisy (n = 8). The mean values of CRS and ULS were significantly higher in diseased calves (P < 0.01). In calves with pulmonary emphysema and interstitial syndrome, thoracic ultrasonography revealed numerous comet-tail artifacts, which varied in numbers and imaging features. Furthermore, variable degrees of pulmonary consolidation with alveolograms and bronchograms were noticed in bronchopneumonic calves. In addition, thick irregular or fragmented pleura with pleural effusions and fibrin shreds were imaged in calves with pleurisy. A weak correlation was calculated between CRS and ULS (r = 0.55, P < 0.01). Hematologically, the counts of white blood cells, activities of aspartate aminotransferase and partial tensions of carbon dioxide were significantly increased in all diseased groups. Serum concentrations of total globulins were higher in claves with bronchopneumonia (P < 0.05). The partial tension of oxygen was decreased in all diseased calves (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThoracic ultrasonography is a diagnostic tool for various lung troubles and assessment the grade and severity of pulmonary diseases, as well as it can be used as a follow-up tool for evaluating the prognosis of respiratory troubles and monitoring the efficacy of therapies.

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ZusammenfassungDer Fallbericht beschreibt die Abklärung von Bewegungsstörungen bei drei männlichen Wasserbüffeln (1–2 Jahre) aus extensiver Freilandhaltung. Die drei aufgrund von Mattigkeit und vermehrtem Liegen vorgestellten Jungbullen konnten nur mühsam aufstehen und zeigten staksigen Gang, teilweise mit Muskeltremor im Bereich der Gliedmaßen. Die Abschätzung der Selenkonzentration anhand der Aktivität der selenabhängigen Glutathion-Peroxidase im Vollblut (EDTA) ergab bei allen drei Tieren einen Selenmangel. Dies bestärkte die Verdachtsdiagnose einer nutritiven Myodystrophie infolge Selenmangels. Die drei Jungbullen erholten sich nach Injektion von 1500 mg all-rac-alpha-Tocopherolacetat und 11 mg Natriumselenit. Die von sieben adulten Wasserbüffeln im Betrieb untersuchten Vollblutproben wiesen alle auf einen Selenmangel hin. Infolge dieser Befunde wurden den adulten Tieren im Bestand soweit möglich einmalig selenhaltige Langzeit-Spurenelementboli oral verabreicht. Bei der Untersuchung nach einem Jahr zeigten diese Tiere bis auf eine Büffelkuh mit gescheiterter Boluseingabe eine gute bis sehr gute Selenversorgung.