Detection of Lung Lesions by Ultrasonography Technique in Buffalo Calves

Abstract

B ACKGROUND: Bovine Respiratory Disease is complex, multifactorial diseases process cause mortality in buffalo calves. Early diagnosis of such conditions could be difficult with the absent of noticeable clinical signs. Ultrasonography examination is a noninvasive tool that has been used frequently in the thoracic diagnosis of buffalo and cattle calves. Objective:The aim of this study was to detect and assess the lung lesions in buffalo calves using ultrasonography examination. Methods:The study included examination of 130 local buffalo calves divided into (100) calves showed respiratory symptoms including coughing, lacrimation, nasal discharge, general weakness, fever, and (30) clinically healthy calves as a control group, during the period from November 2021 until April 2022, their ages ranged between (2-6) months and from different areas in Mosul city. Results:The results indicated that most of the infection was of the severe type (84%), and (16%) was mild infection. Moreover, calves with age ≥90 days are mostly affected, and the severity of infection was assessed (≥4) with rate of (54%), while the least infection was at the ages of <90 days. Results from ultrasound examination showed different pulmonary lesions, including irregular pleura (94%), comet-tail artifact (78%), alveologram (72%), while the lung consolidation was the least (33%). Conclusion: The ultrasound was highly accurate in diagnosing the type and severity of the lung lesion compared to the recording of clinical signs ,and proved the presence of respiratory tract diseased in buffalo calves.