Use of Ultrasonography for the Evaluation of Lung Lesions in Lambs with Respiratory Complex

The ovine respiratory complex significantly affects lamb welfare and production efficiency, necessitating accurate diagnostic methods for pulmonary lesions. This study explores the relationship between clinical scoring, auscultation, ultrasonography, and macroscopic post-mortem evaluation to assess respiratory disease in 111 lambs. A standardized clinical scoring system, adapted from bovine models, evaluated ocular and nasal discharge, head tilt, cough, and rectal temperature. Auscultation categorized pulmonary sounds, while ultrasonography identified lung abnormalities, including B-lines, consolidations, pleural effusion, and abscesses. Macroscopic post-mortem examinations confirmed lesion extent. Kendall-Tau-B correlation coefficient analysis revealed significant associations between the methods (<i>p</i> < 0.01), with a high correlation between auscultation and clinical scoring <i>τ</i> of 0.634 (95% CI: 0.489 to 0.765), auscultation and ultrasonography <i>τ</i> of 0.611 (95% CI: 0.500 to 0.710), and ultrasonography and post-mortem findings <i>τ</i> 0.608 (95% CI: 0.460 to 0.731). While auscultation and clinical scoring provided useful insights, ultrasonography exhibited superior sensitivity in detecting subclinical and early-stage lesions, aligning closely with post-mortem evaluations. These findings emphasize ultrasonography as an effective tool for diagnosing respiratory disease in lambs, improving diagnostic accuracy and enabling timely interventions to mitigate disease impact and reduce antimicrobial use.