Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis in Recumbent Adult Dairy Cows With or Without Spinal Cord Lesions.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) lesions in recumbent dairy cattle (RDC) is challenging because neurologic examination is limited and medical imaging often is challenging or unrewarding. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis is useful in the diagnosis of CNS disorders in cattle. However, its utility in identifying spinal cord lesions in RDC remains to be evaluated. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that CSF analysis would discriminate between RDC with and without spinal cord lesions. ANIMALS: Twenty-one RDC with spinal cord lesions (RDC+) and 19 without (RDC-) were evaluated. METHODS: Spinal cord lesions were confirmed at necropsy. Signalment, clinical findings, and CSF results were compared retrospectively. Total nucleated cell count and differential, protein concentration, and red blood cell count in RDC+ and RDC- were compared. RESULTS: Neoplasia, trauma, and infectious processes were the most frequent spinal cord lesions identified. Cerebrospinal fluid protein concentrations and TNCC were significantly higher in RDC+ compared to RDC- (P = .0092 and P = .0103, respectively). Additionally, CSF protein concentrations and TNCC in RDC- were lower than previously published reference ranges. Using an interpretation rule based on CSF protein concentration and TNCC, it was possible to accurately identify 13 RDC with spinal cord lesions and 6 RDC without lesions. It was not possible to determine spinal cord status in the remaining 18 RDC. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Cerebrospinal fluid analysis is valuable in the evaluation of spinal cord status in RDC. The prognosis associated with these findings remains to be determined.

Validation of an ultrasound imaging technique of the tympanic bullae for the diagnosis of otitis media in calves.

BACKGROUND: Otitis media is a common disease in calves that can be subclinical, making antemortem on-farm diagnosis challenging. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography of tympanic bullae for the diagnosis of clinical and subclinical otitis media and to evaluate the reproducibility of the technique. ANIMALS: Forty calves 19-50 days of age were selected from a veal calf farm. METHODS: Prospective study. Ultrasonography was first performed on the farm by ultrasonographer A (US A). Ultrasonography was repeated by ultrasonographer A (US A') and another ultrasonographer (US B) at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vétérinaire. Images were later reread by both examiners and a diagnosis was recorded. The calves were euthanized and submitted for necropsy, and histopathologic diagnosis was used as the gold standard. RESULTS: Forty-five bullae were affected by otitis media and 35 bullae were normal. Sensitivity and specificity of the ultrasound technique ranged from 32 to 63% and 84 to 100%, respectively, depending on the examiner and classification of suspicious ultrasonography results. Kappa analysis to evaluate interobserver agreement between A' and B yielded a к value of 0.53. Agreement within the same examiner (A versus A') yielded a к value of 0.48, and real-time ultrasound versus rereading of recorded images for A' and B yielded к values of 0.58 and 0.75, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Sensitivity and specificity of the ultrasound imaging technique are, respectively, low and high for diagnosis of clinical and subclinical otitis media in calves, with moderate reproducibility.

Etiology, forms, and prognosis of gastrointestinal dysfunction resembling vagal indigestion occurring after surgical correction of right abomasal displacement.

The objectives of this study were to determine the etiology and types of vagal indigestion (VI) occurring after right displacement of the abomasum or abomasal volvulus (RDA/AV), and the prognosis for each type. Data of cows presented for RDA/AV from a retrospective (n = 288) and a prospective (n = 132) study were used. Vagal indigestion occurred in 39 and 22 cows in each study, respectively. A necropsy was performed in 29 cases. Gastric compartment dilation compatible with VI type III or IV occurred in 23 cases. An abnormal gastric wall was detected in 22 cases. Peritonitis was present in 18 cows. Vagal nerve lesions were present in 5 out of 13 cases studied. Clinical, hematological, and necropsy results suggested a classification of VI with respect to presence or absence of peritonitis. Gastric wall damage, peritonitis and vagal nerve lesions appear important in the etiology. Considering peritonitis occurrence, antimicrobial therapy appears necessary in the treatment of RDA/AV.

Benefits and problems with cloning animals.

Animal cloning is becoming a useful technique for producing transgenic farm animals and is likely to be used to produce clones from valuable adults. Other applications will also undoubtedly be discovered in the near future, such as for preserving endangered breeds and species. Although cloning promises great advantages for commerce and research alike, its outcome is not always certain due to high pregnancy losses and high morbidity and mortality during the neonatal period. Research into the mechanisms involved in the reprogramming of the nucleus is being conducted throughout the world in an attempt to better understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in correcting these problems. Although the cause of these anomalies remains mostly unknown, similar phenotypes have been observed in calves derived through in vitro fertilization, suggesting that culture conditions are involved in these phenomena. In the meantime, veterinarians and theriogenologists have an important role to play in improving the efficiency of cloning by finding treatments to assure normal gestation to term and to develop preventative and curative care for cloned neonates.