Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is one of the most important diseases in feedlot calves especially
in intensely raised and newly transported calves. With the recent availability of modern portable diagnostic
techniques, the veterinary practitioner can now be quickly examined the surface and superficial lung
parenchyma at farm. The purpose of our study was to investigate the diagnostic utility of computer-aided lung
scoring system and lung ultrasonography at initial diagnosis of naturally occurring BRD in feedlot cattle.
A total of one hundred thirty-five feedlot calves at high risk of developing BRD were monitored daily during
the first month after entry at the feedlot for clinical signs of BRD. Calves with visual signs of BRD identified
by pen checkers were examined by computer-aided stethoscope and portable ultrasonography. For each calf
examined for BRD, one pen matched apparently healthy calf was selected as control and examined in the same
manner. Of the 135 steers, 24 BRD cases with 24 pen matched healthy controls calves were enrolled in our
study. All feedlot calves with visual signs of BRD had abnormal lung sounds with lung scores ranging from
2 to 5. Moreover, lung ultrasonography identified lung lesions in 17/24 (70.83%) from BRD affected calves and
3/24 (12.5%) from pen matched controls. Our study results revealed that, using computer aided lung score at
initial diagnosis of BRD with lung ultrasonography could help in improve case definition, treatment decision
and evaluating disease risk during the initial identification of the diseased animals. |
