The objectives of the current study were (1) to determine the gain in prognostic accuracy of preoperative l-lactate concentration (LAC) measured on farm on cows with right displaced abomasum (RDA) or abomasal volvulus (AV) for predicting negative outcome; and (2) to suggest clinically relevant thresholds for such use. A cohort of 102 cows with on-farm surgical diagnostic of RDA or AV was obtained from June 2009 through December 2011. Blood was drawn from coccygeal vessels before surgery and plasma LAC was immediately measured by using a portable clinical analyzer. Dairy producers were interviewed by phone 30 d following surgery and the outcome was determined: a positive outcome if the owner was satisfied of the overall evolution 30 d postoperatively, and a negative outcome if the cow was culled, died, or if the owner reported being unsatisfied 30 d postoperatively. The area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve for LAC was 0.92 and was significantly greater than the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve of heart rate (HR; 0.77), indicating that LAC, in general, performed better than HR to predict a negative outcome. Furthermore, the ability to predict a negative outcome was significantly improved when LAC measurement was considered in addition to the already available HR data (area under the curve: 0.93 and 95% confidence interval: 0.87, 0.99). Important inflection points of the misclassification cost term function were noted at thresholds of 2 and 6 mmol/L, suggesting the potential utility of these cut-points. The 2 and 6 mmol/L thresholds had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for predicting a negative outcome of 76.2, 82.7, 53.3, and 93.1%, and of 28.6, 97.5, 75, and 84%, respectively. In terms of clinical interpretation, LAC ≤2 mmol/L appeared to be a good indicator of positive outcome and could be used to support a surgical treatment decision. The treatment decision for cows with LAC between 2 and 6 mmol/L, however, would depend on the economic context and the owner's attitude to risk in regard to potential return on its investment. Finally, performing a surgical correction on commercial cows with RDA or AV and a LAC ≥6 mmol/L appeared to be unjustified and these animals should be culled based on their high probability of negative outcome.

Background: Paratuberculosis has a worldwide distribution and many countries have implemented control programs to prevent transmission among and within herds. For these programs to be efficient, knowledge of the risk factors involved in transmission is essential.Objectives: Systematically review the scientific literature concerning risk factors associated with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) transmission to dairy calves.Study Design: Systematic review. Methods: An electronic search was done in PubMed and CAB to retrieve references relevant to answer at least 1 of the 5 questions concerning neonatal environment, colostrum, milk, housing of calves, and contact of calves with adult cow feces as risk factors in MAP transmission. A 1st screening was done using titles only, then abstracts, and finally full-length articles were reviewed for relevance. From the articles selected, risk factors and presence of a significant association between these risk factors and MAP transmission were recorded.Results: Twenty-three articles from 11 different countries and published in 12 different journals were reviewed. The most common study design was cross-sectional (n = 16). The case definition and diagnostic tests used were very variable among studies, but serum ELISA was used in most studies (n = 14). The study unit was the herd in 18 studies.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The contact of calves with adult cow feces is the most important risk factor in MAP transmission. The 5 categories of risk factors are linked to one another.

Six nonlactating and six lactating adult female goats received a single subcutaneous injection of ceftiofur crystalline free acid (CCFA) at a dosage of 6.6 mg/kg. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein before and at multiple time points after CCFA administration. Milk samples were collected twice daily. Concentrations of ceftiofur and desfuroylceftiofur-related metabolites were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. Data were analyzed using compartmental and noncompartmental approaches. The pharmacokinetics of CCFA in the domestic goat was best described by a one compartment model. Mean (±SD) pharmacokinetic parameters were as follows for the nonlactating goats: area under the concentration time curve(0-∞) (159 h·μg/mL ± 19), maximum observed serum concentration (2.3 μg/mL ± 1.1), time of maximal observed serum concentration (26.7 h ± 16.5) and terminal elimination half life (36.9 h; harmonic). For the lactating goats, the pharmacokinetic parameters were as follows: area under the concentration time curve(0-∞) (156 h·μg/mL ± 14), maximum observed serum concentration (1.5 μg/mL ± 0.4), time of maximal observed serum concentration (46 h ± 15.9) and terminal elimination half life (37.3 h; harmonic). Ceftiofur and desfuroylceftiofur-related metabolites were only detectable in one milk sample at 36 h following treatment. There were no significant differences in the pharmacokinetic parameter between the nonlactating and lactating goats.

A condition clinically resembling abomasal volvulus but affecting the duodenal sigmoid flexure has been recognized in dairy cattle. When a focal, dorsal right-sided ping and succussion are present combined with severe hypokalemic, hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis and high bilirubin concentration, DSFV should be suspected, especially when there is a history of prior abomasal fixation. After surgical correction, the prognosis is fair to good.

Holstein dairy cattle affected by liver abscess exhibit no pathognomonic clinical signs. Clinicopathologic findings were often consistent with a chronic active inflammation. Liver abscesses should be included in the differential diagnosis in cattle with a chronic inflammatory process, cranial peritonitis, or vagal indigestion. Prolonged treatment with antimicrobials might be successful.