Inter-Rater Reliability of Scoring Systems for Abomasal Lesions in Quebec Veal Calves

The objective of this study was to determine the inter-rater reliability of current scoring systems used to detect abomasal lesions in veal calves. In addition, macroscopic lesions were compared with corresponding histological lesions. For this, 76 abomasa were retrieved from veal calves in a slaugh...

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Main Authors: Laura Van Driessche, Gilles Fecteau, Julie Arsenault, Léa Miana, Younes Chorfi, Marianne Villettaz-Robichaud, Pierre Hélie, Sébastien Buczinski
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-05-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/10/1664
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author Laura Van Driessche
Gilles Fecteau
Julie Arsenault
Léa Miana
Younes Chorfi
Marianne Villettaz-Robichaud
Pierre Hélie
Sébastien Buczinski
author_facet Laura Van Driessche
Gilles Fecteau
Julie Arsenault
Léa Miana
Younes Chorfi
Marianne Villettaz-Robichaud
Pierre Hélie
Sébastien Buczinski
author_sort Laura Van Driessche
collection DOAJ
description The objective of this study was to determine the inter-rater reliability of current scoring systems used to detect abomasal lesions in veal calves. In addition, macroscopic lesions were compared with corresponding histological lesions. For this, 76 abomasa were retrieved from veal calves in a slaughterhouse in Quebec and scored by four independent raters using current scoring systems. The localisations of the lesions were separated into pyloric, fundic, or torus pyloricus areas. Lesions were classified into three different types, i.e., erosions, ulcers, and scars. To estimate the inter-rater reliability, the coefficient type 1 of Gwet’s agreement and Fleiss <i>κ</i> were used for the presence or absence of a lesion, and the intra-class correlation coefficient was used for the number of lesions. All veal calves had at least one abomasal lesion detected. Most lesions were erosions, and most of them were located in the pyloric area. Overall, a poor to very good inter-rater agreement was seen for the pyloric area and the torus pyloricus regarding the presence or absence of a lesion (Fleiss <i>κ</i>: 0.00–0.34; Gwet’s AC1: 0.12–0.83), although a higher agreement was observed when combining all lesions in the pyloric area (Fleiss <i>κ</i>: 0.09–0.12; Gwet’s AC1: 0.43–0.93). For the fundic area, a poor to very good agreement was also observed (Fleiss <i>κ</i>: 0.17–0.70; Gwet’s AC1: 0.90–0.97). Regarding the inter-rater agreement for the number of lesions, a poor to moderate agreement was found (ICC: 0.11–0.73). When using the scoring system developed in the European Welfare Quality Protocol, a poor single random rater agreement (ICC: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.31–0.56) but acceptable average random rater agreement (ICC: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.64–0.83) was determined. Microscopic scar lesions were often mistaken as ulcers macroscopically. These results show that the scoring of abomasal lesions is challenging and highlight the need for a reliable scoring system. A fast, simple, and reliable scoring system would allow for large scale studies which investigate possible risk factors and hopefully help to prevent these lesions, which can compromise veal calves’ health and welfare.
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spelling doaj.art-adaca7ced15141bd8d24c2dcfd475ab82023-11-18T00:10:26ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-05-011310166410.3390/ani13101664Inter-Rater Reliability of Scoring Systems for Abomasal Lesions in Quebec Veal CalvesLaura Van Driessche0Gilles Fecteau1Julie Arsenault2Léa Miana3Younes Chorfi4Marianne Villettaz-Robichaud5Pierre Hélie6Sébastien Buczinski7Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, CanadaDepartment of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, CanadaDepartment of Veterinary Biomedicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, CanadaÉcole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse (ENVT), 31076 Toulouse, FranceDepartment of Veterinary Biomedicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, CanadaDepartment of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, CanadaDepartment of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, CanadaDepartment of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, CanadaThe objective of this study was to determine the inter-rater reliability of current scoring systems used to detect abomasal lesions in veal calves. In addition, macroscopic lesions were compared with corresponding histological lesions. For this, 76 abomasa were retrieved from veal calves in a slaughterhouse in Quebec and scored by four independent raters using current scoring systems. The localisations of the lesions were separated into pyloric, fundic, or torus pyloricus areas. Lesions were classified into three different types, i.e., erosions, ulcers, and scars. To estimate the inter-rater reliability, the coefficient type 1 of Gwet’s agreement and Fleiss <i>κ</i> were used for the presence or absence of a lesion, and the intra-class correlation coefficient was used for the number of lesions. All veal calves had at least one abomasal lesion detected. Most lesions were erosions, and most of them were located in the pyloric area. Overall, a poor to very good inter-rater agreement was seen for the pyloric area and the torus pyloricus regarding the presence or absence of a lesion (Fleiss <i>κ</i>: 0.00–0.34; Gwet’s AC1: 0.12–0.83), although a higher agreement was observed when combining all lesions in the pyloric area (Fleiss <i>κ</i>: 0.09–0.12; Gwet’s AC1: 0.43–0.93). For the fundic area, a poor to very good agreement was also observed (Fleiss <i>κ</i>: 0.17–0.70; Gwet’s AC1: 0.90–0.97). Regarding the inter-rater agreement for the number of lesions, a poor to moderate agreement was found (ICC: 0.11–0.73). When using the scoring system developed in the European Welfare Quality Protocol, a poor single random rater agreement (ICC: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.31–0.56) but acceptable average random rater agreement (ICC: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.64–0.83) was determined. Microscopic scar lesions were often mistaken as ulcers macroscopically. These results show that the scoring of abomasal lesions is challenging and highlight the need for a reliable scoring system. A fast, simple, and reliable scoring system would allow for large scale studies which investigate possible risk factors and hopefully help to prevent these lesions, which can compromise veal calves’ health and welfare.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/10/1664abomasal lesionsveal calvesscoring systemreliability
spellingShingle Laura Van Driessche
Gilles Fecteau
Julie Arsenault
Léa Miana
Younes Chorfi
Marianne Villettaz-Robichaud
Pierre Hélie
Sébastien Buczinski
Inter-Rater Reliability of Scoring Systems for Abomasal Lesions in Quebec Veal Calves
Animals
abomasal lesions
veal calves
scoring system
reliability
title Inter-Rater Reliability of Scoring Systems for Abomasal Lesions in Quebec Veal Calves
title_full Inter-Rater Reliability of Scoring Systems for Abomasal Lesions in Quebec Veal Calves
title_fullStr Inter-Rater Reliability of Scoring Systems for Abomasal Lesions in Quebec Veal Calves
title_full_unstemmed Inter-Rater Reliability of Scoring Systems for Abomasal Lesions in Quebec Veal Calves
title_short Inter-Rater Reliability of Scoring Systems for Abomasal Lesions in Quebec Veal Calves
title_sort inter rater reliability of scoring systems for abomasal lesions in quebec veal calves
topic abomasal lesions
veal calves
scoring system
reliability
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/10/1664
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