Radiographic Study of Haematogenous Septic Arthritis in Dairy Calves

Abstract

Objectives (1) To develop an evaluation grid to provide a systematic interpretation of calves' articular radiographs, (2) to describe radiographic lesions of septic arthritis in dairy calves less than 6 months of age, (3) to investigate potential associations between demographic data or synovial bacteriological culture results and radiographic lesions (4) to determine whether an association is present between radiographic lesions, their severity and the long-term outcome.

Methods Medical records of 54 calves less than 180 days old treated for septic arthritis between 2009 and 2014 with radiographic images performed in the first 2 days after admission were reviewed.

Results Most common radiographic findings were increased articular joint space height (n = 49), irregularity of the articular surfaces (n = 24) and subchondral bone lysis (n = 24). The number of lesions observed and their severity were associated with older calves (p = 0.02), increased time between onset of clinical signs and admission (p = 0.0001) and the culture of Trueperella pyogenes within the joint (p = 0.02). The radiographic lesions associated with negative long-term prognosis were reduction in the joint space height (p = 0.01) and subchondral bone lysis on weight-bearing surfaces (p = 0.02).

Clinical Significance An evaluation grid designed for veterinarians can facilitate systematic reading of articular radiographs and can be used for dairy calves with a presumptive diagnosis of septic arthritis. This diagnostic tool may aid in establishing a prognosis and decision-making process in terms of treatment.

Keywords

joint - calves - septic arthritis - osteomyelitis - radiography

Author Contributions

Caroline Constant, Isabelle Masseau, Marie Babkine, and Andre Desrochers contributed to conception of study, study design, acquisition of data and data analysis and interpretation. Sylvain Nichols and David Francoz contributed to study design, acquisition of data and data analysis and interpretation. Gilles Fecteau contributed to conception of study, acquisition of data and data analysis and interpretation. Emma Marchionatti contributed to acquisition of data and data analysis and interpretation. Helene Larde contributed to acquisition of data. All authors drafted and revised and approved the submitted manuscript.

• References

• 1 Pardon B, De Bleecker K, Hostens M, Callens J, Dewulf J, Deprez P. Longitudinal study on morbidity and mortality in white veal calves in Belgium. BMC Vet Res 2012; 8: 26
• 2 Svensson C, Lundborg K, Emanuelson U, Olsson SO. Morbidity in Swedish dairy calves from birth to 90 days of age and individual calf-level risk factors for infectious diseases. Prev Vet Med 2003; 58 (3–4): 179-197
• 3 Svensson C, Hultgren J, Oltenacu PA. Morbidity in 3-7-month-old dairy calves in south-western Sweden, and risk factors for diarrhoea and respiratory disease. Prev Vet Med 2006; 74 (2–3): 162-179
• 4 Frees KE, Lillich JD, Gaughan EM, DeBowes RM. Tenoscopic-assisted treatment of open digital flexor tendon sheath injuries in horses: 20 cases (1992-2001). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002; 220 (12) 1823-1827
• 5 Wright IM, Smith MR, Humphrey DJ, Eaton-Evans TC, Hillyer MH. Endoscopic surgery in the treatment of contaminated and infected synovial cavities. Equine Vet J 2003; 35 (06) 613-619
• 6 Wright L, Ekstrøm C, Kristoffersen M. , et al. Haematogenous septic arthritis in foals: Short-and long-term outcome and analysis of factors affecting prognosis. Equine Vet Educ 2017; 29 (06) 328-336
• 7 Steel CM, Hunt AR, Adams PL. , et al. Factors associated with prognosis for survival and athletic use in foals with septic arthritis: 93 cases (1987-1994). J Am Vet Med Assoc 1999; 215 (07) 973-977
• 8 Schneider RK, Bramlage LR, Moore RM, Mecklenburg LM, Kohn CW, Gabel AA. A retrospective study of 192 horses affected with septic arthritis/tenosynovitis. Equine Vet J 1992; 24 (06) 436-442
• 9 Neil KM, Axon JE, Begg AP. , et al. Retrospective study of 108 foals with septic osteomyelitis. Aust Vet J 2010; 88 (1–2): 4-12
• 10 Desrochers A, Francoz D. Clinical management of septic arthritis in cattle. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 2014; 30 (01) 177-203 , vii
• 11 Thrall DE. Radiographic features of bone tumors and bone infection. In: Thrall ED. , ed. Textbook of Veterinary Diagnostic Radiology. 6th ed. Raleigh: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2013: 307-318
• 12 Verschooten F, Vermeiren D, Devriese L. Bone infection in the bovine appendicular skeleton: a clinical, radiographic, and experimental study. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2000; 41 (03) 250-260
• 13 Van Huffel X, Steenhaut M, Imschoot J. , et al. Carpal joint arthrodesis as a treatment for chronic septic carpitis in calves and cattle. Vet Surg 1989; 18 (04) 304-311
• 14 Morgan J, Watering C, Kersjes A. Salmonella bone infection in colts and calves: its radiographic diagnosis. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 1974; 15 (02) 66-75
• 15 Firth EC, Kersjes AW, Dik KJ, Hagens FM. Haematogenous osteomyelitis in cattle. Vet Rec 1987; 120 (07) 148-152
• 16 Rohde C, Anderson DE, Desrochers A, St-Jean G, Hull BL, Rings DM. Synovial fluid analysis in cattle: a review of 130 cases. Vet Surg 2000; 29 (04) 341-346
• 17 Legoupil V. Les arthrites chez le veau, etude bibliographique et etude retrospective de 26 cas presentes a la Faculte Veterinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe (Quebec) [thesis]. Maisons-Alfort (France): École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort; 2002
• 18 Allan G. Radiographic signs of joint disease in dogs and cats. In: Thrall ED. , ed. Textbook of Veterinary Diagnostic Radiology, 6th ed. Raleigh: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2013: 319-348
• 19 Heppelmann M, Staszyk C, Rehage J, Starke A. Arthrotomy for the treatment of chronic purulent septic gonitis with subchondral osteolysis in two calves. N Z Vet J 2012; 60 (05) 310-314
• 20 Love WJ, Lehenbauer TW, Van Eenennaam AL. , et al. Sensitivity and specificity of on-farm scoring systems and nasal culture to detect bovine respiratory disease complex in preweaned dairy calves. J Vet Diagn Invest 2016; 28 (02) 119-128
• 21 Buczinski S, Faure C, Jolivet S, Abdallah A. Evaluation of inter-observer agreement when using a clinical respiratory scoring system in pre-weaned dairy calves. N Z Vet J 2016; 64 (04) 243-247
• 22 Olstad K, Ytrehus B, Ekman S, Carlson CS, Dolvik NI. Epiphyseal cartilage canal blood supply to the tarsus of foals and relationship to osteochondrosis. Equine Vet J 2008; 40 (01) 30-39
• 23 Skeletal maturity, immaturity, and dysmaturity. In: Farrow CS. , ed. Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging: The Horse. Saint Louis: Mosby; 2006: 1-22
• 24 Kofler J. Ultrasonographic examination of the stifle region in cattle--normal appearance. Vet J 1999; 158 (01) 21-32
• 25 Bicalho ML, Machado VS, Oikonomou G, Gilbert RO, Bicalho RC. Association between virulence factors of Escherichia coli, Fusobacterium necrophorum, and Arcanobacterium pyogenes and uterine diseases of dairy cows. Vet Microbiol 2012; 157 (1–2): 125-131
• 26 Sillinger T, Lőrinczy D, Kocsis B. , et al. Differential scanning calorimetric measurement of cartilage destruction caused by Gram-negative septic arthritis. J Therm Anal Calorim 2014; 116 (02) 747-752
• 27 Mulon PY, Desrochers A, Francoz D. Surgical management of septic arthritis. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 2016; 32 (03) 777-795