Changes in blood acid-base balance parameters and coagulation profile during diarrhea in calves

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate possible alterations in acid-base balance parameters and the coagulation profile in neonatal diarrheic calves. Twenty neonatal diarrheic and 20 clinically healthy neonatal calves aged between 1 week to 10 days were used. All blood samples were taken on the third day from the onset of diarrhea symptom. Venous blood samples were collected from each animal to determine platelet numbers, pH, pCO 2 , pO 2 , HCO 3-, BE, O 2 SAT, ctCO 2 and electrolytes (K + , Na + and Cl -). Plasma samples were collected from each animal for the measurement of prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), the concentrations of fibrinogen, D-dimer and the activity of antithrombin III (AT III). Blood pH (7.19), BE (-10.6 mmol/l), HCO 3 -(25.15 mmol/l), pO 2 (3.33 kPa), O 2 SAT (24.12 %) were significantly lower and serum concentration of K + (6.55 mmol/l) was significantly higher in diarrheic calves. These changes indicate the state of uncompensated metabolic acidosis with accompanying hyperkalemia. TT (32.05s) and APTT (39.9s) values were more prolonged in calves with diarrhea than in the control group. D-dimer (587.25 μg/l) concentrations were significantly increased while a visible drop in AT III (103.75%) activity and platelets counts (598 x10 9 /l) were observed in diarrheic group of calves. The results suggest that a consumptive type of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) developed in diarrheic calves.

The diagnostic importance of coagulation parameters in cattle having natural theileriosis

“…High levels in D-dimer in sick animals most probably resulted from the activation of intravascular fibrinolysis. Other coagulation parameters obtained from healthy cattle such as fibrinogen (216.50 ± 10.55 mg/dl); TT (24.80 ± 1.77 sec); PT (27.53 ± 1.55 sec) and aPTT (27.43 ± 3.35 g/dL) were concomitant with the results of earlier studies (Gentry et al 1979, Sobiech et al 2013, Karakurum et al 2009). Although different analysers have been used in the above studies, these results were very close to each other and reinforced the accuracy of the data obtained from the present study.…”

“…Radwyńska (2010) found that D-dimer concentrations in BVD-MD infected cows were higher (1180.47 ± 62.81 μg/L) than those of non-infected cows (159.27 ± 26.81 μg/L). Blood concentrations of D-dimer and some coagulation parameters have been described as accurate indicators of cattle with left displacement of abomasum (688.07 ± 168.26 μg/l) and diarrhoeic calves (587.25 μg/l) (Sobiech et al 2013, Radwinska 2010. Wittek et al (2010) also stated that peritoneal fluid D-dimer was most accurate in diagnosis of cattle with peritonitis compared to the other some parameters.…”

Impact of a Ration Negative in Dietary Cation–Anion Difference and Varying Calcium Supply Fed before Calving on Colostrum Quality of the Dams and Health Status and Growth Performance of the Calves

“…This could be indicative of compensation of metabolic acidosis as well as an inflammation of the GI tract and loss of buffer through feces. Hyperkalemia is a common electrolyte disturbance in diarrheic calves [57][58][59] and blood pH, base excess, and HCO 3 − were lower, whereas serum K and Na were elevated in diarrheic calves compared to clinical healthy calves [60]. Trefz et al [61] reported that serum potassium concentrations >5.8 mmol/L were more closely associated with dehydration and diarrhea than with decreases in base excess or venous blood pH.…”

Alterations in lipid profile in neonatal calves affected by diarrhea

“…The diarrheic calf becomes dehydrated and suffers from electrolyte loss and acidosis. In addition to its effects on gastrointestinal system, it also effects other systems or organ functions such as lungs, kidneys, and liver [ 25 ].…”