Diagnostic Imaging Applied to the Internal Medicine of Ruminants

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Clinical Studies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 19751

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Agripolis, Legnaro (Padova), Italy
Interests: animal production; animal physiology; nutritional; diseases; dairy science; ruminant nutrition; veterinary diagnostics

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Guest Editor
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro (PD), Italy
Interests: bovine medicine; cattle lameness; cattle; bovine feet

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The use of diagnostic imaging equipment is becoming widespread in several sectors of veterinary practice and research.

Ultrasonography, radiography, and thermography are very useful tools to achieve diagnoses of diseases, and these devices can be applied in the field, hospital, and ambulatory settings.

This Special Issue is specifically oriented to the description of recent advances, innovations, and applications involving diagnostic imaging techniques, and especially to the use of imaging in gastrointestinal, locomotor, respiratory, liver, thoracic, urogenital, umbilical, and mammary gland disorders of ruminants.

Research articles, reviews, and single or herd clinical cases oriented to the description of recent developments, easy of use of imaging in the field, innovations, or integrated approaches between various imaging methods will be considered in this Special Issue.

Prof. Enrico Fiore
Dr. Giorgia Fabbri
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • ultrasound
  • radiology
  • thermography
  • ruminants
  • diagnostic imaging

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 2281 KiB  
Article
Ocular Ultrasonography in Healthy Calves with Different Transducers
by Giuliano Borriello, Flaminia Valentini, Mauro Rampinelli, Sara Ferrini, Giulia Cagnotti, Antonio D’angelo and Claudio Bellino
Animals 2023, 13(4), 742; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040742 - 19 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1471
Abstract
Ocular ultrasonography is seldom performed in cattle. Here, we compared three ultrasound probes (linear, convex, transrectal gynecological) for the measurement of eight eye biometry parameters on vertical and horizontal scans. The sample population was 20 healthy calves (n = 10 Holstein, n = [...] Read more.
Ocular ultrasonography is seldom performed in cattle. Here, we compared three ultrasound probes (linear, convex, transrectal gynecological) for the measurement of eight eye biometry parameters on vertical and horizontal scans. The sample population was 20 healthy calves (n = 10 Holstein, n = 10 Piedmontese breed). Intragroup (same probe for vertical vs. horizontal scanning) and intergroup (different probes measuring the same biometric parameter) comparisons were performed using Student’s t-test and the Mann–Whitney U test. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Intragroup comparison revealed few significant differences. Ultrasound examination with the convex transducer detected more differences than either of the two other probes on vertical (linear six out of eight; transrectal gynecological four out of eight) and horizontal (linear six out of eight; transrectal gynecological six out of eight) scans. Similar results were obtained for both breeds. More non-valuable parameters on the horizontal (77 out of 320, 24%) and the vertical (85 out of 320, 26%) (p ≤ 0.001) scans were obtained with the convex transducer. Both linear transducers were found comparable for ocular ultrasonography in field conditions. However, given its widespread application in the field, the transrectal gynecological transducer may offer veterinarians the added advantage of familiarity and ease-of-use without any additional costs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnostic Imaging Applied to the Internal Medicine of Ruminants)
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11 pages, 1434 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of a Novel Infrared Thermography Projection to Assess Udder Health in Primigravid Dairy Heifers
by Patrícia B. A. Simões, Lorenzo Viora, Pieter T. Pepler, Timothy Geraghty, Dominic J. McCafferty and Ruth N. Zadoks
Animals 2022, 12(23), 3410; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12233410 - 3 Dec 2022
Viewed by 2038
Abstract
Heifer mastitis in early lactation impacts negatively on animal welfare, milk production and longevity. A major challenge for the prevention and control of mastitis in dairy heifers is to establish when intramammary infection occurs because pre-partum secretum sampling is risky. We evaluated a [...] Read more.
Heifer mastitis in early lactation impacts negatively on animal welfare, milk production and longevity. A major challenge for the prevention and control of mastitis in dairy heifers is to establish when intramammary infection occurs because pre-partum secretum sampling is risky. We evaluated a ventrodorsal projection to capture thermal images of the entire udder of primigravid and compared results against caudocranial projection, which is used in lactating cattle. Based on the analysis of 119 heifers and images taken at 2 months and 2 weeks pre-partum, a very strong positive correlation (r = 0.91 and r = 0.96, respectively) was shown between caudocranial and ventrodorsal projections of hind quarters. Quarter maximum gradient temperatures were consistently greater on ventrodorsal projection than on caudocranial projection, and less variable than minimum gradient temperatures. The collection of ventrodorsal images is a simple one-step method involving the imaging of the entire udder in a manner safe for both the cattle and handlers. Together, these results demonstrate that a single projection can be used to scan the entire udder of primigravid dairy heifers in commercial farm conditions, with the potential to implement this as a routine method for the early detection of intramammary infection based on udder surface temperature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnostic Imaging Applied to the Internal Medicine of Ruminants)
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13 pages, 762 KiB  
Article
Lung Ultrasonography and Clinical Follow-Up Evaluations in Fattening Bulls Affected by Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) during the Restocking Period and after Tulathromycin and Ketoprofen Treatment
by Enrico Fiore, Anastasia Lisuzzo, Andrea Beltrame, Barbara Contiero, Matteo Gianesella, Eliana Schiavon, Rossella Tessari, Massimo Morgante and Elisa Mazzotta
Animals 2022, 12(8), 994; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12080994 - 12 Apr 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2195
Abstract
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a global infectious disease, causing decreased well-being and economic losses in livestock, frequently during the restocking period. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) to assess BRD in restocked animals, and [...] Read more.
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a global infectious disease, causing decreased well-being and economic losses in livestock, frequently during the restocking period. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) to assess BRD in restocked animals, and the effectiveness of tulathromycin and ketoprofen treatment in sick animals. A total of 60 Limousin fattening bulls were enrolled. On the day of restocking (T0), the animals were divided into two groups based on TUS assessment of six lung areas: group C (ultrasonography score (US score) < 3) and group D (US score ≥ 3). Group D received a single administration of tulathromycin and ketoprofen at T0: this group was revaluated after 1.5, 3, 7, and 14 days. Both groups were revaluated after 21 days. The two groups showed a significant difference both in US score and clinical symptoms (respiratory score, nasal and ocular discharges, and rectal temperature) at T0. In group D, the treatment was effective in improving the clinical symptoms and US score, particularly reducing the severity of lung lesions. TUS represents a non-invasive and cost-effective tool for BRD early diagnosis and for monitoring treatment efficacy in restocked livestock. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnostic Imaging Applied to the Internal Medicine of Ruminants)
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9 pages, 1257 KiB  
Article
Thermographic Screening of Beef Cattle Metatarsal Growth Plate Lesions
by Giorgia Fabbri, Matteo Gianesella, Rossella Tessari, Andrea Bassini, Massimo Morgante, Barbara Contiero, Vanessa Faillace and Enrico Fiore
Animals 2022, 12(2), 191; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12020191 - 13 Jan 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2225
Abstract
Lameness represents one of the main causes of decreased productive performance and impaired animal welfare in the bovine industry. Young beef bulls are predisposed to develop diseases of the growing skeleton, especially growth plate lesions. Early diagnosis is indispensable for ensuring correct treatment, [...] Read more.
Lameness represents one of the main causes of decreased productive performance and impaired animal welfare in the bovine industry. Young beef bulls are predisposed to develop diseases of the growing skeleton, especially growth plate lesions. Early diagnosis is indispensable for ensuring correct treatment, fast recovery and reduction losses. However, when dealing with beef cattle, this is not always possible. Fast and reliable diagnostic imaging techniques are necessary to improve dealing with lameness in beef animals. The aim of the present study was to examine the potential of thermographic imaging as a non-invasive tool for rapidly screening beef bulls for the presence of growth plate lesions. Here, 20 Charolais and Limousine beef bulls affected by growth plate lesions in one of the rear limbs were selected. IRT was performed on both hind limbs using a digital infrared camera (ThermaCam T420 Model, Flir Systems, Boston, MA, USA), prior to radiographic imaging and clinical examination. The temperature of healthy and affected limbs was measured in two regions: the area correspondent to the growth plate (AR01) and the whole area of the metatarsus (AR02). Growth plate lesions were found to increase the maximum, mean, and minimum temperatures in AR01; and the mean and maximum temperatures in AR02, therefore, indicating the potential of IRT as a reliable, practical tool for screening growth plate lesions in beef bulls. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnostic Imaging Applied to the Internal Medicine of Ruminants)
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10 pages, 2272 KiB  
Article
Application of Ultrasound Images Texture Analysis for the Estimation of Intramuscular Fat Content in the Longissimus Thoracis Muscle of Beef Cattle after Slaughter: A Methodological Study
by Giorgia Fabbri, Matteo Gianesella, Luigi Gallo, Massimo Morgante, Barbara Contiero, Michele Muraro, Matteo Boso and Enrico Fiore
Animals 2021, 11(4), 1117; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11041117 - 13 Apr 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3120
Abstract
Intramuscular fat (IMF) is a major trait in the evaluation of beef meat, but its determination is subjective and inconsistent and still relies on visual inspection. This research objective was a method to predict IMF% from beef meat using ultrasound (US) imaging texture [...] Read more.
Intramuscular fat (IMF) is a major trait in the evaluation of beef meat, but its determination is subjective and inconsistent and still relies on visual inspection. This research objective was a method to predict IMF% from beef meat using ultrasound (US) imaging texture analysis. US images were performed on the longissimus thoracis muscle of 27 Charolaise heifers. Cuts from the 12th to 13th ribs were scanned. The lipid content of the muscle samples was determined with the petrol ether (Randall) extraction method. A stepwise linear discriminant analysis was used to screen US texture parameters. IMF% measured by chemical extraction (IMFqa) was the dependent variable and the results of the texture analysis were the explanatory variables. The model highlighted seven parameters, as a predictive and a multiple regression equation was created. Prediction of IMF content (IMFpred) was then validated using IMFqa as ground truth. Determination coefficient between IMFqa and IMFpred was R2 = 0.76, while the ROC analysis showing a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 90%. Bland-Altman plot upper and lower limit were +1.34 and −1.42, respectively (±1.96 SD), with a mean of −0.04. The results from the present study therefore suggest that prediction of IMF content in muscle mass by US texture analysis is possible. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnostic Imaging Applied to the Internal Medicine of Ruminants)
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18 pages, 5513 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Cardiac Functions Using Full Conventional Echocardiography with Tissue Doppler Imaging before and after Xylazine Sedation in Male Shiba Goats
by Ahmed S. Mandour, Haney Samir, Tomohiko Yoshida, Katsuhiro Matsuura, Hend A. Abdelmageed, Mohamed Elbadawy, Salim Al-Rejaie, Hussein M. El-Husseiny, Ahmed Elfadadny, Danfu Ma, Ken Takahashi, Gen Watanabe and Ryou Tanaka
Animals 2020, 10(12), 2320; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10122320 - 7 Dec 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4811
Abstract
The present study aimed to provide a complete conventional echocardiographic protocol in adult male Shiba goats by using two-dimensional, M-mode, Pulsed Wave Doppler, and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) echocardiography, and to study concomitantly xylazine-induced alteration of cardiac functions in a highly sensitive species. [...] Read more.
The present study aimed to provide a complete conventional echocardiographic protocol in adult male Shiba goats by using two-dimensional, M-mode, Pulsed Wave Doppler, and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) echocardiography, and to study concomitantly xylazine-induced alteration of cardiac functions in a highly sensitive species. For this purpose, 12 male Shiba goats were included and complete conventional echocardiography from the standard right and left parasternal views was carried to report the echocardiographic data in male Shiba goats, and also before and after xylazine (Pre-Xyl and Post-Xyl) administration (0.05 mg/IM/kg). Results revealed that the full echocardiographic protocol was feasible in all goats through different cardiac windows and good Doppler alignment was achieved with non-significant variability for assessment of the left ventricular dimensions, trans-pulmonary, trans-aortic, and trans-mitral blood flow. The TDI, which was not reported previously in goats, was successfully assessed from the standard left apical view and showed distinct systolic and diastolic patterns. Xylazine administration was found to significantly reduce heart rate, fractional shortening, and cardiac output as well as the Doppler hemodynamic parameters of the pulmonary artery, aortic and mitral inflows (p < 0.05). For TDI, the Post-Xyl group revealed a significant decrease in the myocardial velocities of the septal and lateral wall of the left ventricle. The present study provides, for the first time, complete data of conventional echocardiography in male goats using the full protocol, which is routinely used in pet’s practice. Further, we illustrate in-depth the adverse effect of short-term sedative, xylazine, as used under field conditions and emphasize a simultaneous reduction in both systolic and diastolic cardiac function in goats based on full echocardiography assessment of the heart. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnostic Imaging Applied to the Internal Medicine of Ruminants)
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11 pages, 2153 KiB  
Article
Mammary Cistern Size during the Dry Period in Healthy Dairy Cows: A Preliminary Study for an Ultrasonographic Evaluation
by Francesca Bonelli, Chiara Orsetti, Luca Turini, Valentina Meucci, Alessio Pierattini, Micaela Sgorbini and Simonetta Citi
Animals 2020, 10(11), 2082; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10112082 - 10 Nov 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2290
Abstract
We evaluated the udder cistern (UC) size during the dry period using ultrasound. Forty healthy quarters were evaluated in both the longitudinal and cross-section of the UC. Quarters were evaluated at the drying-off (T0) and 24 h later (T1), then regularly until the [...] Read more.
We evaluated the udder cistern (UC) size during the dry period using ultrasound. Forty healthy quarters were evaluated in both the longitudinal and cross-section of the UC. Quarters were evaluated at the drying-off (T0) and 24 h later (T1), then regularly until the end of the dry period (T7–T58), during the colostrum production phase (TCPP) and at 7 days in milking (T7PP). The Spearman test was applied to find the correlation between the ultrasonographic UC size (UUCS) assessment and time. The Friedman test and Dunn’s test for multiple comparisons as a post-hoc test were performed to compare the forequarter and hindquarter cross-sections (FQCSs and HQCSs, respectively) and the forequarter and hindquarter longitudinal sections (FQLSs and HQLSs, respectively) at T0 vs. T58 vs. TCPP vs. T7PP. A total of 440 images were evaluated. A negative linear correlation between time and FQCS and FQLS (r = −0.95; p < 0.0004) and between time and HQCS and HQLS (r = −0.90; p < 0.002) was found. The UUCS decreased throughout the dry period, starting to increase at the beginning of the next lactation. Measuring the UUCS provides useful information for monitoring the dry period. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnostic Imaging Applied to the Internal Medicine of Ruminants)
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