Radiographic Changes vis-à-vis Tracheo-bronchial Aspirate Cytology Profile in Pneumonic Cattle

Abstract

Background: The study was conducted to establish the utility of radiography in the diagnosis of lung diseases in cattle and its correlation with different pneumonia diagnosed on the basis of TBA cytology. Methods: Lateral chest radiography and tracheo-bronchial wash was performed in control (n=21) and diseased group (n=55). Diseased group included cattle presented with respiratory signs and diagnosed with pulmonary diseases on the basis of history, physical and clinical examination and tracheo-bronchial wash cytology. Cytologic diagnosis was established as chronic pneumonia (n=24), acute pneumonia (n=18), tuberculosis (n=5) and aspiration pneumonia (n=8). Survivability was also correlated with lung patterns in diseased cattle. Result: Nodular interstitial pattern (27.3%), unstructured interstitial pattern (25.4%), bronchial pattern (20.0%), pleural effusions (12.7%), mixed lung patterns (10.9%) and miliary interstitial pattern (4.54%) was observed in diseased group. Unstructured interstitial pattern and pleural effusions were most evident in acute pneumonia. The radiographic findings in aspiration pneumonia did not correlate well with cytologic findings. Highest survivability was recorded in cows with bronchial pattern (81.8%) and lowest in miliary interstitial pattern (zero per cent).