Oral and Poster Abstracts

position. A fusiform skin incision was created around the protruding
mass and the hernial ring and abdominal wall were exposed. The
hernial ring was excised and the protruding mass was identified as
the abomasum. A large part of the abomasal body (including the
curvatura major and minor) was involved in the hernia. After
removal of all necrotic tissue, the abomasum was reconstructed
using an end-to-end anastomosis. The surgical procedure was
accompanied with a severe haemorrhage inducing a decrease of the
packed cell volume from 24 to 17%. Recovery from anaesthesia was
uneventful. An intensive intravenous supportive therapy was
installed afterwards (lactated ringer solution supplemented with
glucose, calcium and potassium chloride). Apart from some oedema
around the abdominal wound, the cow had fully recovered after 10
days and was dismissed from the clinic. The subsequent lactation
was uneventful.
Abomasal fistulation has rarely been described as a complication of
omentopexy. This fistulation might be caused by inadvertent
penetration of the abomasal lumen during a standard omentopexy
procedure. Eventually, abomasal ulcerations can be induced by the
chronic inflammation following the omentopexy, creating a
fistulation through the abdominal wall. The combination of an
abomasal fistula and an abdominal hernia can end in a complete
herniation of the abomasum, requiring an end-to-end anastomosis.
424 Laparoscopy-assisted Biopsy of Mesenteric Lymph Nodes in
Calves
T. Seeger1 , P. Berisha1 , K. Koehler2 , M. Buelte3 , K. Doll1 1 University of Giessen, Clinic of Ruminants, Giessen, Germany
2 University of Giessen, Institute for Veterinary Pathology, Giessen,
Germany
3 University of Giessen, Institute of Veterinary Food Science, Giessen,
Germany
Objectives of study: Examination of mesenteric lymph nodes is still
the “gold-standard” for diagnosis of infections with Mycobcterium
avium ssp. paratuberculosis in cattle. Results of other studies have
shown that this bacterium is also detectable in mesenteric lymph nodes
of young animals. Aim of this study was to validate a laparoscopic
method for the biopsy of these lymph nodes in calves.
Material and Methods: The study was performed on 15 Holstein
calves. All calves were between 2 and 4 weeks of age. During the 3
week study period the animals were housed in the clinic. To identify
complications after laparoscopic surgery clinical examinations were
performed twice daily and blood samples were taken on several
study days. At the end of the study period all calves were euthanised
and a necropsy was performed at the Institute for Veterinary
Pathology. The laparoscopy-assisted biopsy was performed on day 7
of the study. Before surgery all calves were treated with antibiotics
and antiphlogistics for one time. Detomidine (0.05 mg/kg im) and
ketamine (6 mg/kg iv) were admistered for anesthesia. The calves
were fixed on an operating table in right lateral recumbency. The left
abdominal wall was prepared for aseptic surgery. Three stab
incisions of the skin were performed and a Verres needle was
inserted into the abdomen to create a pneumoperitoneum. Three
magnetic valve trokars were inserted such that a rigid laparoscope
and 2 forceps could be introduced into the abdominal cavity. After
visualisation and fixation of the cecum the ileocecal lymph node was
fixated and a biopsy was taken with a special spoon forceps. Same
procedure was performed for biopsy of one lymph node adjacent to
the caudal part of the jejunum. At the end of surgery the 3 skin
incisions were closed by a simple suture.
Results: No complications due to the anesthesia or the
pneumoperitoneum were observed. The average operation time was
26.2 minutes with a range from 18 to 37 minutes. The biopsy of a
jejunal lymph node was successful in all calves. In one calf only the
biopsy of the ileocecal lymph node was impossible. No major
postoperative complications were observed. During the necropsies no
signs of peritonitis or wound complications were detected.
Conclusions: The results of this study show that the described
laparoscopic method for biopsy of mesenteric lymph nodes in calves is
well suited to obtain these important specimens for paratuberculosis
diagnosis.
Key words: laparoscopy, lymph node biopsy, paratuberculosis, calf
425 Two-dimensional and M-mode Echocardiographic
Parameters Measured in Fifteen Healthy Calves
258 XXV. Jubilee World Buiatrics Congress 2008
N. Cesbron 1 , V. Charot 2 , A. Dorizon 2
1 National Veterinary School of Nantes, Unité de Médecine des
Animaux d’Elevage, Nantes, France
2 National Veterinary School of Nantes, Unité d’Imagerie Médicale,
nantes, France
Objectives of study: Within ultrasonography procedures,
echocardiography has not been studied as extensively in cattle as in
pets. Among all the studies dealing with echocardiography in cattle,
most of them were mainly focused either (i) on examinations of cardiac
affections (like endocarditis, pericarditis or congenital abnormalities)
or (ii) in healthy adult cattle. Few studies have been made in calves.
Therefore, the aim of this study was to obtain reference values for the
echocardiographic parameters in healthy calves using both twodimensional
real-time and M-Mode echography.
Materials and methods: To reach this goal, fifteen Holstein
clinically healthy calves were used. Their ages ranged from 2 weeks
to 1 month. The examinations were made while the calves were
standing using a 2.5 MHz convex transducer. The heart was
examined ultrasonographically on the right and then the left side
with the transducer in four positions: caudal long, caudal short and
cranial long axes on the right side; caudal long axe on the left side.
The variables were measured in a short axis view of the heart and
both two-dimensional (2D) and cursor- directed time-motion (M)
modes were used. Measurements, at systole (s) and diastole (d), of
the left ventricular internal diameter (respectively LVDs and LVDd),
and of the interventricular septum thickness (respectively IVSs and
IVSd) were obtained according to the previous described procedure.
The left atrial diameter (LAD), the aortic root diameter (AOD) and
their ratio [LAD/AO] were described.
Results: For the ventricular internal diameter at systole and diastole,
the following results (in mm) were obtained with respectively [LVDd:
44.57 ± 6.53], [LVDs: 30.07 ± 5.82]. For the interventricular septum
thickness, we observed at systole and diastole (in mm) [LVSd: 11.90 ±
2.33], [IVSs: 16.64 ± 2.19]. Lastly, concerning the left atrial and the
aortic diameters, we observed (in mm) [AOD: 31.18 ± 3.02], [LAD:
34.31 ± 4.26] leading to a ratio [LAD/AO: 1.11 ± 0.17].These results
are slightly lower than those reported by a previous study performed by
Amory et al. on older calves (> 2 months).
Conclusion: The echocardiographic reference values obtained on these
healthy calves aged from less than one month were similar to those
classically reported for dogs of similar body weight (large breed size).
Key words: echocardiography, calves, M-mode and two-dimensional
echocardiography
426 Measurements of Dimensions of Holstein-Friesian Calves
Using Computed Tomography in order to Compare Different
Obstetrical Traction Methods
C. Heun 1 , G. Tsousis 1 , M. Becker 1 , J. Rieder 2 , H. Bollwein 1
1 University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Clinic for Cattle,
Hannover, Germany
2 University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Small Animal Clinic,
Hannover, Germany
The aim of this study was to measure the difference in calves’
dimensions resulting from different obstetrical methods. 20 stillborn
calves (41.1 +/- 3.7 kg) were measured objectively by computed
tomography. The calves were placed stretched on their right side
simulating the simultaneous traction with both front legs on the same
level (0D), the alternate traction with 5 cm difference between the level
of the legs (5D) and the alternate traction with 10 cm difference
between the level of the legs (10D). All measurements were carried out
with special software. For the statistical analysis repeated measures
ANOVA was used. For each traction the maximum cross-sectional area
on the level of the forehead (ma-F) and on the elbows, the biggest width
of the shoulders on the level of the tuberculum majus (width-tm) and
the perimeter on the level of the forehead (peri-F) were measured. The
ma-F reduced from traction 0D to 5D with a mean difference of 2.9 ±
4.1 cm (p=0.005), from 5D to 10D with 8.8 ± 5.8 cm (p