Published in Scientific Works. Series C. Veterinary Medicine, Vol. LXII, Issue 1
Written by Latif Emrah YANMAZ, Elif DOGAN, Zafer OKUMUS, Mahir KAYA, Armagan HAYIRLI
Ultrasonography is the most reliable examination in the diagnosis of umbilical diseases in calves. However, a large number of veterinarians are not capable of performing ultrasonographic examination. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assist practitioner in consideration of easily obtained clinical findings and possible outcome of the umbilical diseases according to clinical score. Medical records of owned 322 calves with different umbilical diseases (Omphalitis, umbilical abscess, urachal infection, umbilical hernia, omphalophlebitis, umbilical abscess+umbilical hernia, omphalitis+umbilical hernia) were reviewed. Clinical findings of each calf were pointed according to clinical scoring system. Surgery was performed in all types of umbilical diseases except for calves in group of omphalitis (medical treatment). The clinical score of animals was significantly changed according to umbilical disease. The highest clinical score was obtained in calves group of umbilical abscess+umbilical hernia (16.21±0.35). However, the calves in group of umbilical hernia (2.29±0.38) had the lowest clinical score. The clinical score with the highest specificity and sensitivity was >15 (sensitivity = 100 %, specificity = 91.5 %). A clinical score > 15 was associated with mortality rate of 98 % (95 % CI = 96-100). Mortality rates of omphalophlebitis, umbilical abscess+umbilical hernia and umbilical abscess were 16.7% (4/24), 15.2% (5/33) and 9.6% (7/73), respectively. Overall, 95% (306/322) of our calves were survived onemonth following surgery. In conclusion, the clinical score has an important role for outcome of the umbilical disease in calves.
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