Ultrasonographic aspects of umbilical components of Holstein calves during the physiological involution process

ABSTRACT Umbilical diseases of calves happen during neonatal period and may lead to severe complications. The diagnosis is usually through abdominal palpation although it is not very accurate, thus ultrasound provides a valuable complementary exam to establish a precise diagnosis of location and extent of intra-abdominal umbilical diseases. Given those facts and the lack of established standards for umbilical ultrasound imaging the present study proposal was to standardize the physiological aspects of umbilical components during involution. Ultrasound images were obtained for 23 Holstein calves, from birth until 30 days of life. Iodine tincture of different concentrations was used for umbilical region antisepsis. Results show that umbilical vein and arteries lose their vessel characteristics, becoming similar to ligament, due to the proliferation of fibrous tissue. The growth pattern of the fibrous tissue was from the vessel walls growing toward vascular lumen. The involution process begins at the most distant part and did not vary with antiseptic concentrations. To obtain a reliable ultrasound exam it’s important to know the aspects of imaging patterns according to each phase of umbilical involution, thus leading to an accurate diagnosis of structural variations and umbilical diseases.