F. Lomba

Methods for estimating areas under receiver-operating characteristic curves: illustration with somatic-cell scores in subclinical intramammary infections

The aim of this study was to demonstrate receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) methodology in the context of bovine intramammary infection (IMI). Quarter somatic cell scores (SCS) were available to evaluate quarter IMI, and the final IMI diagnosis was made from milk bacteriologic cultures. Data consisted of 11,453 quarter-milk samples collected on 2084 clinically healthy cows located in 154 Belgian herds. Bacteriological analyses showed 16.2%, 7.2%, and 11.9% of quarters infected with coagulase-positive Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus agalactiae, and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp., respectively. The ROC curve indicated all the combinations of sensitivity and specificity that quarter SCS was able to provide as a test to identify quarter IMI. Among parametric, semi-parametric, and non-parametric methods to estimate area under ROC curves, the parametric method seemed the least appropriate for analyzing SCS in this study. With the non-parametric method, the total area under the ROC curves showed quarter SCS could identify quarter IMI with an overall accuracy of 69%, 76%, and 59% for coagulase-positive Staphylococcus spp., S. agalactiae, and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp., respectively. Parametric and non-parametric statistical tests showed that overall SCS diagnostic capability was significantly (p<0.01) different from chance and was different (p<0.01) across the three bacteria. However, the SCS thresholds yielding the highest percentage of quarters correctly classified as infected (for the observed prevalence and for equal costs assigned to false-positive and false-negative results) were so high that they had no practical value. The major advantage of ROC analysis is the comprehensive description of the discrimination capacity of SCS for all possible choices of critical values. The major disadvantage is the dependency upon the gold standard used for the final diagnosis--but recent improvements of the methodology will correct the problem.

Oxygen transport properties of blood in two different bovine breeds

1. The whole oxygen dissociation curve of oxyhemoglobin has been determined in double-muscled cattle of the Belgian White Blue breed and in Friesian cattle of different body weight. 2. In calves, P50 values are low and DPG level is high (4-20 mumol/g Hb). 3. P50 values of 25 +/- 1.4 mm Hg (mean +/- SD) and a level of DPG less than 1.5 mumol/g Hb have been found in animals weighing more than 80 kg. 4. Effects of temperature and pH on the oxygen dissociation curve have been measured at all levels of saturation. The temperature coefficient (dlog P50/dT) and the Bohr effect expressed as dlog P50/dpH were 0.017 and -0.40, respectively. 5. Hematocrit, hemoglobin concentrations and oxygen capacity of hemoglobin have been measured. 6. No difference between both breeds has been observed. 7. These data can be used to correct measured values of oxygen tension for temperature and pH and to measure oxygen content of blood in cattle.

Cardio-pulmonary function values in double-muscled cattle during muscular exercise

Eleven double-muscled calves of the Belgian White and Blue breed and eleven Friesian calves have been investigated at rest, during exercise on a treadmill (11% incline; speed 1.3 m.sec-1) and 10 and 30 minutes after the end of this exercise. Blood gases and acid-base status were determined in mixed venous and arterial blood sampled from the pulmonary and the carotid artery respectively. Expired gases were collected in a balloon. The time of collection, volume of expired gases and fractional O2 and CO2 concentrations in expired gases were measured.In double-muscled calves, inadequate oxygen intake and carbon dioxide elimination were demonstrated by the increase in the carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) and in the hydrogen ion concentration [H+]a and the decrease in the oxygen tension (PaO2) in arterial blood during exercise. In Friesian calves, an adequate increase in oxygen intake occurred and no acidosis was recorded. A metabolic acidosis explained by only a 1.5-fold increase in the cardiac output and by the small increase in haemoglobin concentration was recorded in double-muscled calves.It was concluded that some aspects of the cardio-pulmonary and metabolic responses to exercise in double-muscled calves can be related to their inability to greatly increase their O2 consumption.

Partitioning of upper airway resistance in Friesian and double-muscled calves.

Respiratory resistance in calves was partitioned in two components: upper airway resistance and pulmonary resistance. The former one was divided into naso-pharyngeal and laryngeal resistance. A comparison between seven healthy unsedated double-muscled calves of the Belgian White and Blue breed (BWB) and five healthy unsedated Friesian (F) calves was performed. Respiratory resistance was significantly greater in the BWB calves, due to the significantly higher values of the naso-pharyngeal and the laryngeal resistances. This finding might be related to the higher prevalence of laryngitis in this breed.

A comparison of pO2, pCO2, pH and bicarbonate in blood from the carotid and coccygeal arteries of calves

A technique is described for the subcutaneous deviation of the carotid artery into the jugular groove of calves weighing between 90 and 200 kg. This makes sampling arterial blood or chronic cannulation for further experimentation very easy. Values of oxygen tension, carbon dioxide tension, pH and bicarbonate concentration in blood sampled from the ventral coccygeal artery were compared with the values obtained in blood from carotid artery puncture. The high correlations observed indicate that blood samples from the ventral coccygeal artery can be used for measurement of blood gases and pH in calves.

Respiratory and Pulmonary Haemodynamic Changes During Experimental Organophosphate Poisoning in Goats

Five French Alpine goats received 2 mg kg−1 of dichlorvos (DDVP) by intravenous injection and 0.15 mg kg−1 of atropine sulphate 5–10 min later. Ventilatory mechanics, gas exchanges, pulmonary haemodynamics and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) were measured before treatment, 5 min after DDVP injection and 5 min after atropine injection.Within 2 min of DDVP administration, all the goats showed acute respiratory distress, excitation and slight muscle fasciculations. A post-inspiratory pause was recorded in 3 goats. Hypersecretion of saliva or nasal discharge was not observed. Dynamic compliance and heart rate decreased significantly and total pulmonary resistance, pulmonary artery and wedge pressures increased significantly. On the other hand, minute ventilation, arterial oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions were not significantly altered by DDVP.Atropine treatment reversed all the clinical and functional parameters, with the exception of the central nervous and muscular signs, which disappeared within 12 h.It was concluded that experimental DDVP toxicosis induced changes in the mechanics of breathing and pulmonary haemodynamics associated with diffuse bronchoconstriction and cardiac insufficiency respectively.

Growth-related changes in the pulmonary function of goats

Growth-related changes in pulmonary function values were investigated in 20 healthy French Alpine goats, aged between 20 and 550 days, weighing 7–55 kg. Pulmonary ventilation, mechanics of breathing and arterial oxyten tension were measured using standardized techniques and methods adapted for goats of different body sizes. The Ppl values and the tI/tTOT ratio showed no significant changes with age and body size. The ventilation values (Vt, Ve, mVI and mVE) increased linearly with growth. There was a significant correlation of age and body weight with dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn), total pulmonary resistance (RL), viscous work of breathing (Wvis tot) and minute viscous work (Wvis min) throughout the age range studied. Cdyn, Wvis tot and Wvis min increased and RL decreased with age and body weight. Arterial blood gases (PaO2 and PaCO2) did not show significant changes over the age range studied. Regression equations for each pulmonary function parameter are given with body weight as the independent variable. Data for the mechanics of breathing were compared with those elsewhere for cattle, horses, man and dogs.

The topographical distribution of the inhalation-to-perfusion ratio in double-muscled and Friesian calves

Five healthy Friesian calves and five double-muscled Belgian White and Blue calves were studied, using a 99m Technetium (99mTc) aerosol inhalation combined with a 99mTc macroaggregate injection and collimated scintillation counters. The inhalation-to-perfusion ratio (I/P) was calculated for both left and right sides of the thorax at four sites situated at three different levels in the auscultatory area on the same vertical axis and at a more anterior site just behind the scapulohumeral joint.I/P was higher in the left than in the right hemithorax. In both breeds, a vertical and a horizontal gradient were observed. I/P was higher in the lower and in the more cranial zones of the lungs. However the vertical gradient was more pronounced in Friesian calves while the horizontal one was greater in Belgian White and Blue animals.It was concluded that the factors affecting the topographical distribution of pulmonary ventilation and perfusion seem to be different in calves as compared to other species.