Comparison of thoracic ultrasonography and thoracic radiography between healthy adult horses and horses with bacterial pneumonia using a novel, objective ultrasonographic scoring system.
Abstract: Thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) is widely used in equine practice but comparison to radiography is limited in horses. Unassigned: To validate a novel, objective scoring system for TUS in adult horses and to compare ultrasonographic and radiographic findings. Unassigned: 13 healthy horses and 9 with confirmed bacterial pneumonia. Unassigned: Prospective study in which TUS and radiography were performed on healthy horses and those with bacterial pneumonia confirmed by clinical signs and results of transtracheal wash analysis. Ultrasonography was scored utilizing a novel scoring system evaluating number of comet tail lesions, the presence or absence of pleural effusion and/or pulmonary consolidation in each intercostal space. Eighteen horses had thoracic radiographs taken that were scored by a board-certified radiologist utilizing a previously described system. Total scores were recorded and compared between control and diseased patients. Unassigned: Ultrasonographic scores were significantly higher in the diseased group (median= 126) than in the control group (median = 20, = 0.01). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis identified a sensitivity of 66.7% (95% CI 0.417-1) and specificity of 92.3% (95% CI 0.462-1) for the ability of ultrasonography to identify bacterial pneumonia utilizing a TUS score cutoff of 37. Unassigned: TUS had moderate sensitivity and high specificity for identification of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses. TUS appears to be an acceptable stand-alone imaging modality for diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia in horses when radiography is not practical.
Copyright © 2022 Hepworth-Warren, Nelson, Dembek and Young.
Publication Date: 2022-10-13 PubMed ID: 36311667PubMed Central: PMC9608548DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.991634Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article presents a study comparing thoracic radiography and ultrasound in detecting bacterial pneumonia in horses, using a newly developed scoring system for ultrasound. The study suggests that ultrasound demonstrates high specificity and moderate sensitivity towards identifying bacterial pneumonia in horses.
Objective of the Study
- The primary goal of the study was to validate a unique objective scoring system developed for thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) in adult horses. Furthermore, it aimed to compare the ultrasonographic and radiographic findings in detecting bacterial pneumonia in horses.
Methodology
- The researchers conducted a prospective study involving 13 healthy horses and 9 horses confirmed with bacterial pneumonia through clinical signs and results of transtracheal wash analysis.
- Thoracic ultrasonography and radiography were performed on all the horses. The ultrasound was scored using the new scoring system which evaluated based on the number of comet tail lesions, and the presence or absence of pleural effusion and/or pulmonary consolidation in each intercostal space.
- A board-certified radiologist assessed the thoracic radiographs taken from the horses using a previously described system.
- The total scores both from TUS and radiography were recorded and compared between the control (healthy) and diseased groups.
Results
- The results of the study showed that the ultrasonographic scores were notably higher in the diseased group (median score = 126) than the control group (median score = 20).
- Through Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis, the sensitivity (ability to correctly identify those with the disease) of ultrasonography for identifying bacterial pneumonia was found to be 66.7% and its specificity (ability to correctly identify those without the disease) was at 92.3% using a TUS score cutoff of 37.
Conclusions
- The research concluded that Thoracic Ultrasonography (TUS) demonstrated moderate sensitivity and high specificity for the identification of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses.
- Given the results, the study suggests that TUS could be a stand-alone imaging method for diagnosing bacterial pneumonia in horses, especially in scenarios where radiography may not be practical or available.
Cite This Article
APA
Hepworth-Warren KL, Nelson N, Dembek KA, Young KAS.
(2022).
Comparison of thoracic ultrasonography and thoracic radiography between healthy adult horses and horses with bacterial pneumonia using a novel, objective ultrasonographic scoring system.
Front Vet Sci, 9, 991634.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.991634 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States.
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Tharwat M, Abdallah A. The diagnostic utility of thoracic ultrasonography in sheep and goats with contagious caprine pleuropneumonia. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1736810.
- Balakrishnan A, Silverstein DC, Bedenice D, Bersenas A, Bourgeois JP, Carroll CL, Dunkel B, Greensmith T, Hopper K, Lascola K, Mangalmurti N, Rozanski E, Wilkins P, Yehya N. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Veterinary Medicine-The ARDSVet Definitions. J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio) 2025 Jul-Aug;35(4):327-338.
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