Abstract
Simple SummaryKnowledge of the physiological renal blood flow in cattle is essential for interpretation of Doppler ultrasound. In this paper, we describe a protocol for obtaining the renal Doppler parameters resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) in a systematic ultrasound evaluation of the kidney in cattle and provide preliminary reference values for healthy adult Holstein-Friesian cows.There is a notable lack of reference values for the renal resistive indices in the bovine kidney. Ultrasound (US) Doppler evaluation of these indices is a powerful, non-invasive technique for assessing, monitoring and diagnosing renal diseases in humans and other animals (e.g., small animals and horses). The aims of the present study were to establish a protocol for renal Doppler US in adult healthy Holstein-Friesian cows and to provide reference values for the renal resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI). In cattle, the right kidney is always visible through a right abdominal window. Nevertheless, the left kidney is rarely accessible by transabdominal ultrasound. Doppler evaluation of the kidneys via a transabdominal approach is possible when accessible, but measurements can only be made in the larger vessels at the renal hilum. Normal RI and PI values were respectively 0.49 ± 0.07 and 0.70 ± 0.15 for the right kidney and 0.53 ± 0.05 and 0.79 ± 0.11 for the left kidney. We suggest an upper cut-off value for the RI of 0.63 and for the PI of 1.00 in healthy Holstein-Friesian cows. This is the first report describing normal values for the renal RI and PI in cattle that may be useful in future studies for characterizing different bovine pathologies that affect the renal parenchyma.
Highlights
Transcutaneous renal B-mode US examination in cattle is well documented, indicating that only the right kidney is usually visible in normal conditions and difficult to measure because the entire organ is not completely included in one view [1,2,7]
Doppler measurements were more difficult to obtain depending on individual factors such as cooperation, amount of intestinal gas, availability of the left kidney, and difficulties to locate and obtain quality Doppler measurements
The right kidney was visible in all animals, whereas the left kidney was only visible in 3 of the 25 animals
Summary
B-mode US helps bovine clinicians to distinguish between upper and lower urinary tract infection, focal or diffuse renal involvement, and sometimes between acute and chronic kidney disease [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. It cannot differentiate many kidney diseases, especially diffuse diseases, i.e., toxicosis and inflammatory or infectious diseases [6,7], because of its low specificity in these situations [9,10]. Fatty tissue, dehydration, low frequency transducers, and intestinal gas make US evaluation of the kidneys difficult [7]
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