Determination of selected acute phase proteins during the treatment of limb diseases in dairy cows

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of fibrinogen, haptoglobin, and serum amyloid A determination in the monitoring of the treatment of limb diseases in dairy cows. Fourteen lame cows were examined, while 10 clinically healthy cows constituted the control group. Blood samples from the ill animals were collected on three occasions: (1) upon arrival at the clinic, (2) between the third and sixth day after arriving, and (3) upon return to the owner. Blood samples from the control cows were collected once. Plasma levels of fibrinogen, haptoglobin, serum amyloid A, and total serum protein and its fractions (albumin, α-, β-, γ-globulins) were measured. Significantly higher fibrinogen, haptoglobin, and serum amyloid A levels were observed in the affected cows upon arrival at the clinic than in the control cows. Based on the changes in fibrinogen, haptoglobin, and serum amyloid A concentrations, the cows were divided into those with a systematic decrease in acute-phase protein levels during treatment (Group I, n = 6) and those which showed an increase in one or more acute-phase proteins despite treatment (Group II, n = 8). A stepwise decrease in the examined acute-phase proteins was observed in the first group and indicated an uncomplicated course of treatment; however, treatment of the second group did not appear to be wholly successful. A majority of the cows under treatment (n = 13) exhibited abnormal levels of the examined acute-phase proteins upon return to the owner. This indicates that these patients did not recover completely. The monitoring of plasma acute-phase protein concentrations can be a valuable complement to the clinical assessment of the treatment course and in the early detection of disease complications.

Acute phase proteins and their use in the diagnosis of diseases in ruminants: a review

“…In contrast, treatment did not affect the concentrations of Hp in animals with pododermatitis circumscripta. Jawor et al (2008) evaluated the concentrations of APPs at selected time points during the treatment of cows with limb diseases as a tool to monitor treatment and as an early predictive marker of possible complications. The highest concentrations of Hp, SAA and Fbg were recorded at the beginning of the treatment.…”

Differences in leukocyte profile, gene expression, and metabolite status of dairy cows with or without sole ulcers

“…They also had a higher cortisol:DHEA ratio, which is often used as an indicator of inflammation. Moreover the acute phase protein, haptoglobin, is elevated in lame cows (Jawor et al, 2008;Tadich et al, 2013), which in turn could drive up total serum protein levels (Jawor et al, 2008). Contrarily, serum urea is lower in sheep and beef cattle that have been exposed to acute stressors (Galyean et al, 1981;Apple et al, 1993).…”

The serum protein electrophoretic pattern and acute phase protein concentrations in calves with chronic respiratory diseases

“…According to Carapeto et al (2006), acute inflammatory diseases usually lead to an increase in some of the proteins from the α 1 -globulin fraction. Jawor et al (2008) reported that serious inflammatory conditions are associated with higher concentrations of α-globulins, and that this increase is caused by the fact that the majority of acute phase proteins (haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, α 1 -acid glycoprotein, α 1 -antitrypsin) occur in this fraction. Our results suggest that not only acute inflammatory diseases, but also chronic infections may be associated with changes in the globulin fractions, as we found in the calves suffering from chronic respiratory diseases significantly higher concentrations of α 1 -, β-and γ-globulins compared to the clinically healthy animals.…”