The Role of Ultrasonography in 20 Calf with Pneumonia: Diagnostic and Prognostic Value

Abstract

This study aims to show the importance of ultrasonography in assessing the severity of
pneumonia in calves and they determine the prognostic value of lung lesions.For this purpose,
20 calves that were brought to the animal hospital of Ondokuz Mayıs University with the
complaint of respiratory system complaints, included in the study. Thoracic ultrasonography
was performed by the same operator as all calves. The area between right 1-10th and left 2-
10th intercostal spaces scanned for lung lesions. The area was swabbed with %70 isopropyl
alcohol to remove the excess oil, and acoustic gel was applied. The hair was not clipped or
shaved from the chest. In calves, 2.5-6.6 MHz convex probe with 5-15 cm depth was used.
Thoracic ultrasonography was performed to both side of thorax and findings was noted as
comet-tail artifacts (COMT), diffuse comet- tail artifacts, pleural irregularities, effusions, lung
consolidations, and hepatized areas of the lung. The most common lesions were determined as
COMT (23.3%) and pleural irregularities (25.23%), and also appearance of COMT artefacts
and pleural irregularities were found higher in the right side of thorax (P>0.05). Diagnosis of
thoracic diseases were made on the basis of clinical and ultrasonographic findings and
confirmed in nine patients in necropsy. Hepatization of the lung (10.28%) and effusion
(6.54%) in the thoracal cavity was found in these calves. In conclusion ultrasonography is
useful tool for detecting lung lesions and making decision severity of lesions.