Ultrasonographic appearance of edema caused by injections in the mammary gland attachments of dairy cows.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the ultrasonographic appearance and detectability of edema induced by SC injection of mild silver protein suspension in the mammary gland attachments of dairy cows.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
6 lactating cows.


METHODS
In each cow, the number of quarters that received injections was randomly assigned. A mild silver protein susoension was injected SC into cranial and caudal mammary gland attachment sites. The number of injections and volume injected were determined on the basis of the appearance of the mammary gland and the desired subjective visual effect. Seventeen sites were chosen for injection and 7 sites did not receive injections. Ultrasonographic images were obtained 1 day prior and 6 days after injections were started. Cows received injections 1, 3, and 5 days after initial sonography. The sonographer was unaware of which sites received injections.


RESULTS
Ultrasonography revealed alternating hypoechoic and hyperechoic bands at injection sites. Certain injections caused the intimal surface of the subcutaneous abdominal vein to develop a corrugated appearance. All injection sites were correctly identified ultrasonographically (100% sensitivity, 100% specificity) with a positive and negative predictive value of 1.0.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that mild silver protein suspension injected SC to enhance the appearance of the mammary glands of dairy cows can be readily detected by ultrasonography. Detection of injection sites should be made on the basis of the distribution and ultrasonographic appearance of edema.
O'Brien
Robert T
RT
Department of Surgical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706, USA.
Waller
Kenneth R
KR
Matheson
Jodi S
JS
D000818:Animals; D002268:Carboxypeptidases / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D004989:Ethics; D005260:Female; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011506:Proteins; D011897:Random Allocation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000662:veterinary*
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011506:Proteins; D002268:Carboxypeptidases; C094315:metallocarboxypeptidase D