Evaluation of serum Fe concentration as an alternative biomarker for inflammation in cattle

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the relationship between acute phase protein (APP) concentrations and serum Fe concentrations to determine whether serum iron (Fe) can be clinically applied as a substitute for APPs in cattle. One hundred and five Holstein-Friesian breed dairy cows were enrolled in this study. The cows were divided into forty-three healthy cows and sixty-two cows with inflammatory diseases. The plasma haptoglobin (HPT), alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP), serum amyloid A (SAA), serum Fe levels, and other biochemical parameters in the cows were measured. From the results, HPT and AGP were significantly higher in inflammatory disease cattle compared with the control group, but no odds ratios were determined in the binomial analysis. Significant differences in SAA and serum Fe concentrations were observed between the inflammatory disease and control groups and odds ratios were determined in the binomial analysis. In addition, the cutoff value of Fe could be used to diagnose the inflammatory disease to the same degree as the cutoff value of SAA. The results suggested that serum Fe can be used as a substitute for APPs in the production of animal medicine.