RUMINANT DIAGNOSTIC MEDICINE

CONTENTS
Preface xi
Robert J. Callan
Evaluation of the Ruminant Complete Blood Cell Count 377
Meredyth L. Jones and Robin W. Allison
The complete blood cell count can provide valuable diagnostic and
prognostic information when coupled with a thorough physical
examination. This article addresses proper sample handling,
storage, and interpretation of the erythron, serum iron indices,
leukon, and acute-phase proteins for cattle, sheep, and goats.
Evaluation of the Ruminant Serum Chemistry Prole 403
Karen E. Russell and Allen J. Roussel
In general, laboratory tests provide useful information about a
patient and aid in making a diagnosis, determining a prognosis,
formulating a treatment plan, and monitoring response. The serum
chemistry prole, composed of a battery of tests, is readily
available to clinicians through in-house testing or veterinary
reference and diagnostic laboratories. A chemistry prole allows
for evaluation of several body systems and assessment of
metabolic, acid-base, or electrolyte disturbances. The rst sections
of this article introduce concepts important to all laboratory tests,
such as sample collection and handling, reference intervals, and
quality control. The remainder of the article discusses each of the
analytes found on a typical clinical chemistry prole and the
interpretation of abnormal results.
Field Chemistry Analysis 427
Linda M. Vap and M. Glade Weiser
Typical manual and automated technologies used in eld
chemistry testing are reviewed, along with associated advantages
and disadvantages. A brief overview of metabolic disease
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monitoring is included. Guidelines for evaluating and achieving
success are provided, including criteria for system evaluation and
expectations for comparative performance evaluations. The more
common problems and limitations associated with eld chemistry
diagnostics and how to best prevent them are also discussed.
Cytology in Food Animal Practice 443
Andrea A. Bohn and Robert J. Callan
Diagnostic cytology can greatly aid the clinician in determining a
more rened diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment plan to serve the
client and patient better. Sample collection is not difcult and can
be done in the eld as well as in a hospital setting. The collection
and sample handling procedures described in this article can help
the clinician to obtain diagnostically valuable samples. In many
cases, preliminary cytologic evaluation can be performed by the
general practitioner. Additional diagnostic evaluation and inter-
pretation are readily available from trained pathologists at
diagnostic laboratories.
Molecular Diagnostics for the Food Animal Practitioner 481
Paul J. Plummer
Molecular diagnostics are becoming widely used as routine
diagnostic tests performed by food animal practitioners. This
article discusses the variations of several commonly performed
molecular assays with regard to their molecular basis and the
appropriate interpretation of the results. Applications of these
methods are discussed in the context of infectious disease testing
and genetic testing of food animal species.
Performing the Field Necropsy Examination 503
Gary L. Mason and Dennis J. Madden
This article is designed to aid the practitioner by maximizing the
effectiveness of eld postmortem diagnostic investigations. Con-
tents include an outline of the procedure for eld necropsy of
ruminants, recommended tools and supplies, and guidelines for
sample collection and submission.
Diagnostic Considerations for Evaluating Nutritional
Problems in Cattle 527
John Maas
The advances in testing methodology and in our understanding of
the normal nutritional physiology of cattle have given veterinar-
ians valuable tools to assess the nutritional status of cattle. By
taking a representative number of appropriate samples, it is now
vi CONTENTS
relatively easy and inexpensive to determine the nutritional status
of an individual or a group of animals. Also, the effectiveness of
supplementation programs can be measured over time as part of
an overall preventive medicine program.
Diagnostic Ultrasonography in Ruminants 541
Robert N. Streeter and D.L. Step
The use of diagnostic ultrasound equipment is becoming wide-
spread within various sectors of veterinary practice. Ultrasono-
graphic examination has several advantages over other imaging
modalities and it can be applied in hospital and ambulatory
settings. It has the potential for widespread use in the diagnosis of
disorders of several body systems in food animal species. This
article describes its application to gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary,
cardiothoracic, urogenital, and umbilical disorders. Normal and
abnormal ndings are portrayed and discussed. Accurate and
timely use of this diagnostic modality requires a modest amount of
training and practice, but it allows for relatively rapid, inexpensive,
and noninvasive acquisition of clinically relevant data.
Pulmonary Arterial Pressure Testing for High Mountain
Disease in Cattle 575
Timothy N. Holt and Robert J. Callan
High mountain or brisket disease is an economically costly disease
of cattle raised at elevations greater than 1500 m (5000 ft). It
appears that no one breed is resistant to the effects of high-altitude
hypoxia. Some breeds, and pedigrees within breeds, appear to be
more naturally resistant to the effects of high altitude. Multiple
factors contribute to the variance in pulmonary arterial pressure in
cattle, including breed, gender, body condition, concurrent illness,
environmental conditions, elevation, and genetics. Pulmonary
arterial pressure testing is an effective diagnostic and management
tool used to identify clinically affected and high-risk animals. The
procedure can be performed in the eld and is an economically
valuable method for the selection and breeding management of
beef cattle raised at high altitude.
Index 597
CONTENTS vii