A retrospective study of 29 cases of otitis media/interna in dairy calves

Can Vet J. 2012 Sep;53(9):957-62.

Abstract

Epidemiological data, clinical findings, laboratory data, medical imaging, and outcomes were reviewed in 29 dairy calves with otitis media/interna. Age at admission ranged from 1 to 24 wk. The majority of calves were referred during winter. Clinical signs included drooping ear, ptosis, head tilt, abnormal nystagmus, strabismus, dysphagia, regurgitation, stiff neck, opisthotonos, facial hyperesthesia, and purulent aural discharge. Intranasal endoscopic examination of 5 animals revealed nasopharyngeal collapse in 4. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was abnormal in all of 7 cases. Mycoplasma bovis was cultured from all but 1 case with external ear or tympanic bullae samples (n = 12), and Mycoplasma arginini was cultured from the remaining ear sample. Radiographs of the tympanic bullae were performed in 24 calves, tomodensitometry (CT) in 3 calves and ultrasound in 4 calves. According to medical imaging techniques or necropsy, 69% of the cases were classified as chronic. Mean duration of treatment was 23.3 d. The rate of clinical recovery was 75%.

Epidemiological data, clinical findings, laboratory data, medical imaging, and outcomes were reviewed in 29 dairy calves with otitis media/interna. Age at admission ranged from 1 to 24 wk. The majority of calves were referred during winter. Clinical signs included drooping ear, ptosis, head tilt, abnormal nystagmus, strabismus, dysphagia, regurgitation, stiff neck, opisthotonos, facial hyperesthesia, and purulent aural discharge. Intranasal endoscopic examination of 5 animals revealed nasopharyngeal collapse in 4. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was abnormal in all of 7 cases. Mycoplasma bovis was cultured from all but 1 case with external ear or tympanic bullae samples (n = 12), and Mycoplasma arginini was cultured from the remaining ear sample. Radiographs of the tympanic bullae were performed in 24 calves, tomodensitometry (CT) in 3 calves and ultrasound in 4 calves. According to medical imaging techniques or necropsy, 69% of the cases were classified as chronic. Mean duration of treatment was 23.3 d. The rate of clinical recovery was 75%.

RésuméÉtude rétrospective de 29 cas d’otite moyenne/interne chez les veaux laitiers. Les données épidémiologiques, les signes cliniques, les résultats de laboratoire et d’imagerie médicale et l’évolution de 29 veaux atteints d’otite moyenne/interne sont présentés. L’âge à la présentation variait de 1 à 24 semaines. La majorité des veaux ont été admis en hiver. Les signes cliniques incluaient une oreille tombante, une ptose de la paupière, une tête penchée, un nystagmus pathologique, un strabisme, de la dysphagie, des régurgitations, une raideur cervicale, de l’opisthotonos, de l’hyperesthésie faciale et une écoulements purulente de l’oreille. L’endoscopie des voies respiratoires supérieures a révélé un collapse du nasopharynx dans 4 cas sur 5. L’analyse du liquide céphalo-rachidien était anormale chez 7 veaux. Mycoplasma bovis a été isolé de tous les cas à partir d’échantillons d’oreille externe ou de bulle tympanique sauf 1 (n = 12) où Mycoplasma arginini a été isolé. La radiographie des bulles tympaniques a été réalisée sur 24 cas, la tomodensitométrie sur 3 cas et l’échographie sur 4 cas. Selon les techniques d’imagerie médicale ou la nécropsie, 69 % des cas étaient chroniques. La durée moyenne du traitement était de 23,3 jours. Le pronostic était de 75 %.(Traduit par les auteurs).

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cattle
  • Cattle Diseases / diagnosis
  • Cattle Diseases / drug therapy
  • Cattle Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Ear, Middle / microbiology
  • Ear, Middle / pathology
  • Female
  • Labyrinthitis / diagnosis
  • Labyrinthitis / epidemiology
  • Labyrinthitis / veterinary*
  • Mycoplasma / isolation & purification
  • Mycoplasma Infections / diagnosis
  • Mycoplasma Infections / drug therapy
  • Mycoplasma Infections / epidemiology
  • Mycoplasma Infections / veterinary*
  • Otitis Media / diagnosis
  • Otitis Media / epidemiology
  • Otitis Media / veterinary*
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents