Efficacy of ultrasonography to detect liver abscesses in cattle

Authors: THOMPSON, AUBREY - Texas Tech University; PERKIN, THOMAS - West Texas A & M University; LAWRENCE, TY - West Texas A & M University; AMACHAWADI, RAGHAVENDRA - Kansas State University; NAGARAJA, T - Kansas State University; Broadway, Paul; Sanchez, Nicole; MACHADO, VINCIUS - Texas Tech University; GALYEAN, MICHAEL - Texas Tech University; HALES, KRISTIN - Texas Tech University

Submitted to: Applied Animal Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/8/2024
Publication Date: 2/3/2025
Citation: Thompson, A.B., Perkin, T.L., Lawrence, T.E., Amachawadi, R.G., Nagaraja, T.G., Broadway, P.R., Sanchez, N.C., Machado, V., Galyean, M.L., Hales, K.E. 2025. Efficacy of ultrasonography to detect liver abscesses in cattle. Applied Animal Science. 41:21-27. https://doi.org/10.15232/aas.2024-02639.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15232/aas.2024-02639

Interpretive Summary: Visual inspection of the liver is the only way to accurately identify the presence liver abscesses. Methods to detect liver abscesses in live cattle would aid in understanding the timing of abscess formation and whether resolution occurs. Ultrasound has been used since the 1940s as a diagnostic tool among different animal species. While the liver in cattle can be examined using ultrasound, other organs obstruct the view of the entire liver. Scientists in Lubbock, Texas and university collaborators evaluated using ultrasound to detect liver abscesses in beef cattle. Results found liver abscess detection using ultrasound was less in heavier than lightweight beef steers. Even with modern equipment, liver abscesses remain difficult to detect in live cattle. These data will be of interest to scientists studying liver abscesses and beef producers.

Technical Abstract: Our objective was to evaluate the use of ultrasonography to identify liver abscesses in beef and beef × dairy steers. Finishing steers (n = 160, mean BW 649 kg) were used in Exp. 1. Liver abscess images were obtained 24 h before harvest by either the Clarius C3VET HD3 or Ibex Evo II ultrasound probes. Steers in Exp. 2 and 3, were beef × dairy steers used in a study to induce liver abscesses. Both experiments included 40 steers (mean final BW of 168 kg and 159 kg, for Exp. 2 and 3 respectively). Real-time ultrasound imaging of the liver was conducted on the day of harvest. In Exp. 1, the sensitivity of ultrasonography for detection of liver abscesses in finishing beef steers was 14.6%. In the smaller light weight beef × dairy steers, sensitivity was 50% in Exp. 2 and 41.1% in Exp 3. Ultrasound accuracy ranged from 70 to 75% within all 3 experiments. Specificity of ultrasonography ranged from 84.6 to 100% among all experiments. The low sensitivity in all experiments indicates ultrasonography has limited value for detecting liver abscesses in live cattle. Nonetheless, the greater specificity observed indicates that ultrasonography is effective at diagnosing a steer without a liver abscess as negative through ultrasound. Even with modern ultrasound equipment, liver abscesses remain difficult to detect in live cattle, but sensitivity seems to be improved in lighter vs. heavier weight cattle.