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Cited by 113Microbial infections and disease researchAnimal health and immunologyUltrasound in Clinical Applications

Thoracic Ultrasonography and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Analysis in Holstein Calves with Subclinical Lung Lesions

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Ollivett, T.L., Caswell, J.L., Nydam, D.V., Duffield, T., Leslie, K.E., Hewson, J., Kelton, D.·2015·Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
DOI 10.1111/jvim.13605PMC PMC4895683
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Abstract

Background: Thoracic ultrasonography (US) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) analysis are antemortem methods used to identify the lung lesions associated with bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Accuracy of US and the cell distributions in BALF have not been characterized in calves with subclinical disease. Objectives: To evaluate the accuracy of US and BALF and describe BALF characteristics in calves with subclinical lung lesions. Animals: Twenty-five Holstein calves, 1–12 weeks old. Methods: In this prospective study, calves with low respiratory scores underwent US, BALF and postmortem examination (normal US, n = 5; comet-tails, n = 5; consolidation, n = 15). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was collected and analyzed for total and differential cell counts. Lung lesions were assessed by gross and histopathologic examination. Data were analyzed using nonparametric methods and relative risk analysis. The accuracy of US and BALF were estimated relative to postmortem examination. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of US for detecting lung lesions was 94% (95% CI, 69–100%) and 100% (95% CI, 64–100%), respectively. A cut-point of ≥4% BALF neutrophils was associated with the highest BALF sensitivity and specificity, 81% (95% CI, 56–94%) and 75% (95% CI, 36–95%). The presence of consolidation on US increased the risk of having a BALF neutrophil proportion ≥4% (RR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.13–13.45; P = .003). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Ultrasonography accurately detects lung lesions in calves with subclinical disease. Clinicians should use a cut-point of ≥4% BALF neutrophils to diagnose subclinical respiratory disease.

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  • Research indicates that while there may be variability in pulmonary inflammation, systemic inflammation appears comparably consistent in both non-diseased and subclinically affected calves.

    “Research indicates that while there may be variability in pulmonary inflammation, systemic inflammation appears comparably consistent in both non-diseased and subclinically affected calves [111].”

    From Strategies for Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) Diagnosis and Prognosis: A Comprehensive Overview (2024) · cites this paper as [111]

    The Results (page not provided) show a difference in pulmonary inflammation: BALF neutrophils were 14% in calves with consolidated lungs versus 1.25% in calves with normal lungs. The paper does not report a comparison of systemic inflammation between those groups; its discussion of fever and acute-phase proteins does not establish that systemic inflammation was comparable. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Ollivett et al. (2015) found that TUS had a high sensitivity (94; 69-100) and specificity (100; 64-100) for detecting lung lesions related to BRD in asymptomatic calves, using necropsy as the benchmark.

    “Their findings indicated that TUS had a high sensitivity (94; 69–100) and specificity (100; 64–100) for detecting lung lesions related to BRD in asymptomatic calves [111].”

    From Strategies for Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) Diagnosis and Prognosis: A Comprehensive Overview (2024) · cites this paper as [111]

  • A high neutrophil count ≥4% in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from Holstein calves correlates with lung consolidation.

    “For example, a high neutrophil count ≥4% in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from Holstein calves correlates with lung consolidation [111].”

    From Strategies for Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) Diagnosis and Prognosis: A Comprehensive Overview (2024) · cites this paper as [111]

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Authors
Ollivett, T. L., Caswell, J. L., Nydam, D. V., Duffield, T., Leslie, K. E., Hewson, J., & Kelton, D.
Affiliations
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
  • Ontario Veterinary College (CA)
  • Cornell University (US)
Corresponding author
Ollivett, T.L.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2015-11-01
Volume
29
Issue
6
Pages
1728-1734
ISSN
  • 0891-6640 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1676
DOI
10.1111/jvim.13605
PMC
PMC4895683
OpenAlex
W1927348325
Cited by
113
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3
FWCI
3.93
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs
  • Zoetis Canada
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Microbial infections and disease research
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal health and immunology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine › Ultrasound in Clinical Applications
Keywords
bovine respiratory disease, Holstein calves, thoracic ultrasound, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, neutrophil percentage, diagnostic accuracy, lung consolidation, cometary tails, differential cell count, antemortem diagnosis
MeSH terms
Animals, Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid, Cattle, Cattle Diseases, Lung Diseases, Male, Sensitivity and Specificity, Ultrasonography

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