The aim of this study was to assess the value of ultrasonography as an
imaging technique for the assessment of respiratory diseases in calve
s, Postmortem findings were used as a 'gold standard', Eighteen calves
aged up to five months which suffered from pneumonia or bronchopneumo
nia were used. Ultrasonographic and postmortem findings were recorded
in eight segments of the lungs of each animal and compared. Ultrasonog
raphy of healthy pulmonary tissue yielded only the pleural reflective
band and repetitive artefacts. Pulmonary tissue with bronchopneumonia
was detected as a basic echogenic pattern containing hyperechogenic zo
nes. The sensitivity and specificity of the technique for the detectio
n of bronchopneumonia were calculated to be 0.85 and 0.98, respectivel
y.