Comparison of Thoracic Auscultation, Clinical Score, and Ultrasonography as Indicators of Bovine Respiratory Disease in Preweaned Dairy Calves

Abstract

BackgroundThe diagnostic tools for bovine respiratory disease diagnosis include clinical inspection, thoracic auscultation, and ultrasonography.HypothesisThoracic auscultation and clinical examination have limitations in the detection of lung consolidation in dairy calves.AnimalsProspective cohort of 106 preweaned calves from 13 different dairy herds (10 with a history of active bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in calves and 3 without suspected BRD problems).MethodsEach preweaned calf was clinically inspected using the Wisconsin calf respiratory scoring chart (CRSC) and treatment history was noted. Systematic thoracic auscultation and ultrasonography then were performed, the latter focusing on lung consolidation. Mortality was recorded over a 30‐day period.ResultsA total of 56 of 106 calves had ultrasonographic evidence of lung consolidation. The sensitivity of thoracic auscultation to detect consolidation was 5.9% (range, 0–16.7%). Only 41.1% (23/33) of calves with consolidated lungs had been treated previously by the producers. When adding CRSC and previous BRD treatment by the producer, sensitivity of detection increased to 71.4% (40/56). The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was 0.809 (95% CI, 0.721–0.879) for the number of areas within the lungs with consolidation and 0.743 (95% CI, 0.648–0.823) for the maximal depth of consolidation as predictors of death within 1 month after examination. These were not significantly different (P = .06).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThis study shows that thoracic auscultation is of limited value in diagnosing lung consolidation in calves. Ultrasonographic assessment of the thorax could be a useful tool to assess BRD detection efficiency on dairy farms.

Incremental Value (Bayesian Framework) of Thoracic Ultrasonography over Thoracic Auscultation for Diagnosis of Bronchopneumonia in Preweaned Dairy Calves

“…Clinical evaluation was performed using the CRSC as described, with a cut‐off of 5 or more defining a positive test . The AUSC was performed on the entire thoracic projection as described, using a conventional stethoscope . An abnormal AUSC was defined by presence of increased bronchial sounds or presence of abnormal sounds (ie, crackles and wheezes or total absence of lung sounds) or both.…”

“…Consequently, several clinical examination scores have been developed to improve its accuracy, with moderate success . For veterinarians, diagnosis of BP is typically based on presence of visual signs of respiratory disease and abnormal lung sounds at thoracic auscultation (AUSC), including increased bronchial sounds, crackles, wheezes, or absence of respiratory sounds . Thoracic auscultation is rapid and easy to perform under field conditions, but abnormal lung sounds can also result from causes other than respiratory disease, which calls into question accuracy of AUSC for BP diagnosis.…”

Association of lung lesions measured by thoracic ultrasonography at first diagnosis of bronchopneumonia with relapse rate and growth performance in feedlot cattle

“…A potential limitation of our study was that only 1 side of the thorax was examined in 30% of the cattle. In previous studies in both beef and dairy cattle, slight to moderate agreement was found between the right and left sides of the thorax for ultrasonographic diagnosis of consolidation. Perhaps, we did not capture the maximal depth or maximal area of lung consolidation in all cattle.…”

Acute phase proteins in naturally occurring respiratory disease of feedlot cattle

“…Buczinski et al (2014) showed that adding the clinical score assessment to thoracic auscultation and thoracic ultrasonography, increased sensitivity of BRD diagnosis in pre-weaned Dairy Calves, although it decreases specificity when compared with lung consolidation findings. The recommendation of the WI CHSC is to treat calves because of high BRD presumption if the score is ≥5, and to monitor calves with scores of 4.…”