B‐Mode and Doppler Sonography of the Mammary Glands in Dairy Goats for Mastitis Diagnosis

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the sonographic characteristics of the udder and teats and to determine the Doppler indexes of mammary artery in healthy and undergoing subclinical and clinical mastitis goats. Thirty animals among Saanen and Alpine Brown goats were arranged in three groups, healthy goats (HG), goats with subclinical mastitis (SMG) and goats with clinical mastitis (CMG). Using the B-mode, the sonographic characteristics (echotexture and echogenicity) and biometry (diameter and area of the udder cistern, diameter and area of the teat cistern and thickness of the teat wall) were evaluated. Using Doppler ultrasonography, the vascular indexes of the mammary artery were obtained. It was observed hyperechogenicity with solid component in the gland cistern when comparing animals with clinical mastitis and healthy mammary tissue. Regarding the echotexture of the breast tissue, there was heterogeneity in the mammary parenchyma on the three groups, for the milk, it was observed homogeneity for animals on HG and SMG and heterogeneity for animals on CMG. Grey-scale quantitative assessment revealed increase in echogenicity (mean value) for all the structures when comparing the three groups. Biometry did not reveal statistical difference between groups, for none of the evaluated structures. Doppler examination of the mammary artery showed the decrease of end diastolic velocity and raise of pulsatility index between groups. The association of B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography is useful for the evaluation of the udder of dairy goats with mastitis. It is a sensitive and specific method for the study of this disease. Doppler mode was unable to establish reliable criteria for diagnosis of subclinical mastitis. Moreover, the quantification of echogenicity is a useful technique for the evaluation of the milk in animals with mastitis; therefore, it is suggested that it can be used as complementary technique for the diagnosis of mastitis in goats.

Associations between Mammary Gland Echotexture and Milk Composition in Cows

“…The application of ultrasound technology for the determination of milk compositions would offer several benefits that are not currently available with the use of on-farm equipment or standard laboratory testing. Ultrasound examination is a non-invasive, non-destructive method placing minimal stress on the animal [8]. Ultrasound imaging is easily accessible and portable ultrasound units can be used in developing countries or in rural areas that have limited access to laboratory services or are not willing to pay for shipping of multiple milk samples.…”

Echotextural characteristics of the mammary gland during early lactation in two breeds of sheep varying in milk yields

“…Ultrasound images of the mammary gland in ruminant species have been described as exhibiting granular texture due to the presence of less echoic lobular alveoli being dispersed within hyperechoic connective tissue (Olechnowicz and Jaśkowski, 2009;Santos et al, 2015;Barbagianni et al, 2017). The mammary parenchyma in healthy dairy goats appears as a hyperechoic structure with slightly coarse echotexture (Fasulkov, 2012;Santos et al, 2015;Barbagianni et al, 2017). Occasionally, anechoic lactiferous ducts or larger blood vessels are identified during the scanning of the udder (Ruberte et al, 1994;Nudda et al, 2000).…”

Relationship between pulsed wave Doppler ultrasonographic features of milk veins and CMT scores in Simmental cows

“…Same study determined that the increase in SPV was related to increased blood flow to affected region due to increased inflammation, while the decrease in RI was suggested to be related to an increase in vascular resistance due to the same increased blood flow (18). Braun and Hoegger (5) reported a mean maximum blood flow velocity of 45.4 cm/sec, mean velocity of 33.5 cm/sec, and minimum velocity of 25.8 cm/sec before sedation in 29 healthy Swiss Brown cows, which were sedated.…”

“…Berger et al reported that pulsed wave Doppler ultrasonography can be used to analyze blood flow to udder, sharing the finding that ultrasonographic parameters regarding blood flow to udder increased with milk yield (1). Pulsed wave Doppler ultrasonography is used to measur values such as Time-Averaged Maximum Velocity (TAMV), blood flow volume, Systolic Peak Velocity (SPV) and Resistant Index (RI) in vessels supplying blood to udders (10,17,18,19).…”