Periparturition alterations to liver ultrasonographic echo-texture and fat mobilization parameters in clinically healthy Holstein cows

Abstract

The objective of present study was to record the sequential alterations in liver echo-texture through digital analyzing of the B-mode ultrasonography in three groups of under-conditioned (UC), moderate-conditioned (MC), and over-conditioned (OC) clinically healthy Holstein cows from 30 days to calving until 30 days in milk. Furthermore, to compare their changes in association with the changes of fat mobilization parameters of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), betahydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), and body condition score (BCS). Although the cows lost significant (P < 0.05) BCS from calving and the NEFA values showed an increasing trend near calving and the BHBA values significantly inclined postparturition, the mean grey scale histogram (MGSH) of liver images did not reveal significant fluctuations unless a significant decrease on calving day (P < 0.05). The MGSH drop was predicted to be the result of anatomical changes in abdominal cavity, related to delivery and liver's blood flow. OC cows had higher NEFA on day +20 than UC and MC cows (P < 0.05). UC cows showed higher MGSH values on day -30 than MC cows and again on day -10 comparing to MC and OC cows (P < 0.05). MGSH values correlated with BCS values (rUC = -0.186; rMC = -0.283; rOC = -0.158). It was concluded that the studied cows did not show significant alterations in textural changes in their liver ultrasound whilst going through fat mobilization. As quantitative ultrasonography has shown the potential to detect cases of fatty liver, it could gain the attention to become a feasible device for liver health monitoring on a herd basis.

Hepatic ultrasonography in three breeds of healthy calves: Nellore, Curraleiro Pe‐duro and Pantaneiro

“…In cattle, the organ evaluation constitutes a challenge for veterinarians, because the clinical signs of hepatic disease are usually unspecific and the laboratory tests can be inconclusive until two‐thirds of the organ are damaged (Parkinson, Vermunt, & Malmo, 2010). The ultrasonography has gained higher attention in bovine practice due to its non‐invasive and practical examination (Rafia, Taghipour‐Bazargani, Asadi, Vajhi, & Bokaie, 2011).…”

Technical note: Evaluation of fine needle aspiration cytology for the diagnosis of fatty liver in dairy cattle

“…Another technique for the diagnosis of hepatic lipidosis in cattle is transcutaneous ultrasound; nevertheless, this methodology has low sensitivity (Se) when TG contents are <10%. This method is therefore more accurate for the diagnosis of severe fatty liver (TG >10%; Haudum et al, 2011;Rafia et al, 2011;Starke et al, 2011;Weijers et al, 2012).…”

“…Noninvasive techniques that aid in the diagnosis of fatty liver in dairy cattle include the determination of circulating levels of orinithine carbamoyl transferase (>25 U/L), glutamate dehydrogenase (>8.9 U/L); NEFA (>1 mmol/L; Kalaitzakis et al, 2010), decreased liver propionate to glucose conversion (McCarthy et al, 2015), and altered transcutaneous ultrasound imaging (TG liver content >10%; Haudum et al, 2011;Rafia et al, 2011;Starke et al, 2011;Weijers et al, 2012). Unfortunately, these methods are only reliable when the hepatic TG content is >5%.…”