Describing and Characterizing the Literature Regarding Umbilical Health in Intensively Raised Cattle: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The objective of this scoping review was to describe and characterize the existing literature regarding umbilical health and identify gaps in knowledge. Six databases were searched for studies examining umbilical health in an intensively raised cattle population. There were 4249 articles initially identified; from these, 723 full text articles were then screened, with 150 articles included in the review. Studies were conducted in the USA (n = 41), Brazil (n = 24), Canada (n = 13), UK (n = 10), and 37 additional countries. Seventeen were classified as descriptive, 24 were clinical trials, and 109 were analytical observational studies. Umbilical outcomes evaluated in descriptive studies were infection (n = 11), parasitic infection (n = 5), and hernias (n = 2). Of the clinical trials, only one examined treatment of navel infections; the remainder evaluated preventative management factors for navel health outcomes (including infections (n = 17), myiasis (n = 3), measurements (n = 5), hernias (n = 1), and edema (n = 1)). Analytical observational studies examined risk factors for umbilical health (n = 60) and umbilical health as a risk factor (n = 60). Studies examining risk factors for umbilical health included navel health outcomes of infections (n = 28; 11 of which were not further defined), hernias (n = 8), scoring the navel sheath/flap size (n = 16), myiasis (n = 2), and measurements (n = 6). Studies examining umbilical health as a risk factor defined these risk factors as infection (n = 39; of which 13 were not further defined), hernias (n = 8; of which 4 were not further defined), navel dipping (n = 12), navel/sheath scores as part of conformation classification for breeding (n = 2), measurements (n = 3), and umbilical cord drying times (n = 2). This review highlights the areas in need of future umbilical health research such as clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of different treatments for umbilical infection. It also emphasizes the importance for future studies to clearly define umbilical health outcomes of interest, and consider standardization of these measures, including time at risk.

Keywords: cattle; morbidity; navel; omphalitis; umbilicus.

Figure 1

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews 827 and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) flow diagram [35] describing the identification, screening, and inclusion of articles in a scoping review characterizing the literature on umbilical health.* A total of 109 observational articles were included in this review, however, 11 articles contained observational information regarding risk factors for umbilical health and umbilical health as a risk factor and were thus included in both counts and recorded in the tables below, respectively. † Articles that solely contained descriptive statistics were included in this count. Clinical trials or analytical observational studies that contained descriptive information were not included in both counts and represented separately in the tables below.

Figure 2

Map of the articles included in the scoping review characterizing umbilical health in intensively raised cattle (1931–2020). The studies (n = 109) were completed in the USA (n = 41), Brazil (n = 23), Canada (n = 13), UK (n = 10), Australia (n = 9), and 36 additional countries that are further described within this review. Larger dots indicate a greater quantity of studies.

Figure 3

Time at risk (days) for development of outcomes in clinical trials (n = 24) included in the scoping review of literature surrounding umbilical health in intensively raised bovines.

Figure 4

Time at risk (days) for development of outcomes in observational studies examining risk factors for umbilical health (n = 60) included in the scoping review of literature surrounding umbilical health in intensively raised bovines.

Figure 5

Time at risk (days) for development of outcomes in observational studies examining umbilical health as a risk factor (n = 60) included in the scoping review of literature surrounding umbilical health in intensively raised bovines.