Assessment of the diagnostic value of lung ultrasonography for respiratory pathologies in Majorera goats

Abstract

Goat farming plays a crucial role in the agricultural economy of the Canary Islands, where respiratory illnesses continue to be a significant factor in economic loss and diminished animal welfare. Conventional diagnostic methods, including auscultation and clinical assessment, are helpful but frequently inadequate for identifying early or subclinical lung lesions. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic effectiveness of thoracic ultrasound for detecting respiratory diseases in Majorera goat kids in field conditions. A total of 25 goat kids from two farms in Gran Canaria were evaluated through clinical examination and thoracic ultrasound evaluations. Farms differed in infrastructure and environmental conditions, with Farm A providing enclosed housing and Farm B offering more ventilated, open spaces. Every animal underwent a clinical evaluation for temperature, body condition score (BCS), and respiratory symptoms including nasal discharge, coughing, tachypnea, and diarrhea. Ultrasonography was conducted with a 5–8 MHz linear probe, without sedation or shaving, concentrating on the caudodorsal, middle, and cranioventral lung areas on both sides of the thorax. Lesions were categorized as B-lines or consolidations and assessed by their depth. A moderate association was identified between nasal secretions and B-lines (rs=0.527; p=0.007), as well as between cough and B-lines (rs=0.428; p=0.033). Consolidations occurred more often in animals from Farm A, probably because of variations in ventilation and environmental stress factors. Thoracic ultrasound proved to be a reliable, non-invasive method for detecting lung lesions, offering benefits in early identification, monitoring of lesion progression, and support for treatment decisions. Despite existing limitations, like decreased sensitivity for lesions smaller than 1 cm, ultrasound demonstrates potential as an effective diagnostic instrument in field environments. Further studies are recommended to validate its diagnostic accuracy and correlate findings with laboratory results and necropsy data.