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ABSTRACT:The aim of this study was to determine the effect of colostrum quality and composition on passive calf immunity in primiparous and multiparous dairy cows. Twenty-four primiparous and 24 multiparous dairy cows were used in this study. Calves born from primiparous dairy cows comprised the first group and calves born from multiparous dairy cows constituted the second group. After birth, colostrum samples were immediately taken from dairy cows. Venous blood samples were collected from the calves before the first colostrum intake and on the 2 nd , 7 th , 14 th and 28 th days after the first colostrum intake. Blood and colostrum samples were analysed for biochemical parameters, immunoglobulin and mineral levels. Fat and crude protein levels in colostrum were determined using the Gerber and Kjeldahl methods, respectively. Immunoglobulin levels in the colostrum of multiparous cows were significantly (P < 0.05) higher compared to primiparous cows while fat ratio, LDH activity, Ca, Mg, P and K levels were lower. There was a positive correlation among colostrum immunoglobulin, gamma-glutamyltransferase, crude protein and total protein. Serum immunoglobulin, total protein, globulin and gamma-glutamyltransferase activity in all calves were increased following the colostrum feeding. However, the serum immunoglobulin, total protein, globulin and gamma-glutamyltransferase levels in the second group of calves were higher than those of the first group of calves. There was a positive correlation among serum immunoglobulin, gamma-glutamyltransferase, globulin and total protein. Fe concentrations in all calves decreased over the course of 14 days and were lower in the second group of calves compared to the first group. In conclusion, the results of this study show that the colostrum quality of multiparous cows was better than that of primiparous cows. Colostrum crude protein, total protein, gamma-glutamyltransferase along with colostrum immunoglobulin might be used to determine colostrum quality. Serum immunoglobulin, total protein, globulin and gamma-glutamyltransferase activities could be used to determine the passive transfer status of calves.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is the presence of gastric contents proximal to the stomach. Pathologic consequences secondary to GER are termed gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of GER and GERD in premature calves by endoscopic examination.Animals: Ten healthy and 51 premature calves were included in the study. All premature calves also had respiratory distress syndrome.Methods: Esophagoscopy of premature calves was conducted by fiber optic endoscopy. Abnormalities such as increased saliva, hyperemia, hemorrhage, petechiae, presence of abomasal content in the esophagus, and relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) were evaluated by endoscopy.Results: The prevalence of GERD and GER in the premature calves was 55 and 67%, respectively. Hyperemia and hyperemia with hemorrhage or petechiation of the esophageal mucosa were determined by endoscopic examination. Hyperemia was commonly observed in the distal esophageal mucosa, although a few hyperemic areas also were observed in other portions of the esophagus. In addition to these abnormalities, LES relaxation, abomasal fluid in the distal esophagus, abomasal content in the esophagus, and increased saliva also were observed in premature calves with GER.Conclusions: The prevalence of both GER (67%) and GERD (55%) in premature calves was high in the study. Endoscopy provides a practical, rapid, noninvasive, and reasonably accurate method for determining the presence of GER and GERD in premature calves.

The aim of this study was to determine the clinical relevance of cardiac biomarkers [troponin I and T, creatine kinase-MB fraction (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)] in premature calves with respiratory distress syndrome. Seventy premature calves were admitted to the clinic within 24 h after birth. Respiratory distress syndrome was diagnosed in premature calves by clinical examination and venous blood gas analysis. Ten healthy calves, aged 5 days, were used as control. Cardiac troponin I and T were analysed using ELISA and ELFA, respectively. Serum CK-MB and LDH were also analysed in an automatic analyser. The calves had low venous pH, pO 2 , O 2 saturation and high pCO 2 values consistent with dyspnoea, hypoxaemia, and inadequate oxygen delivery. Mean serum troponin I, troponin T, CK-MB and LDH levels were increased in the premature calves compared to the control group. In conclusion, the results in this study demonstrated that serum CK-MB, troponin I and troponin T concentrations could be used for evaluating myocardial injury in premature calves with respiratory distress syndrome.

SummaryThe aim of the study was to evaluate acute phase response via Haptoglobin and serum amyloid-A concentrations in dairy cows naturally infected with Anaplasma marginale. The second aim of the study was to determine the changes in clinical, hematological and biochemical parameters in dairy cows naturally infected Anaplasma marginale. A total of 40 dairy cattle suffering from bovine anaplasmosis were included to the study from a dairy cattle herd. A total of 10 healthy dairy cattle were selected for control group. Analysis of acute phase proteins, hematologic analysis and biochemical analysis was performed in this study. Serum haptoglobin and serum amyloid-A concentrations significantly increased in cattle infected with Anaplasma marginale compared to healthy cattle. All cattle in infected group demonstrated clinical signs of anaplasmosis. Significantly decreased red blood cell count, packed cell volume, and hemoglobin concentration were observed in infected cattle compared to the control group. Serum aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine and bilirubin concentrations were significantly increased in infected cattle compared with the control group. In conclusion, the changes of biochemical and hematological parameters may be indicate of anemia and tissue damage in cattle with anaplasmosis. Serum haptoglobin and serum amyloid-A concentrations could be usefull in evaluate of acute phase response in cattle infected with Anaplasma marginale.

IntroductionIntestinal obstruction such as atresia coli causes pathophysiological changes in gastrointestinal tissue due to the rise of intra-abdominal pressure. The aim of this study is to determine the intestinal damage with intestinal biomarkers in calves with atresia coli.Material and MethodsThe study was conducted on 40 Holstein calves diagnosed with atresia coli with mild to moderate abdominal distention and 10 healthy Holstein calves which served as the control. Blood samples were collected from all calves, and then serum concentrations of intestinal biomarkers were estimated, namely intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IFABP), liver fatty acid binding protein (LFABP), trefoil factor 3 (TFF3), and intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), using commercially available specific bovine ELISA kits. An automatic blood gas analyser was employed for determining the lactate concentration.ResultsThe concentrations of serum LFABP (P < 0.01), IFABP, TFF3, IAP, and blood lactate (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in calves with atresia coli than in healthy calves.ConclusionThe calves affected with atresia coli exhibited severe intestinal damage, and IFABP, LFABP, and TFF3 have significant diagnostic importance and play a useful role in determining the intestinal damage due to intestinal obstruction. High levels of IAP and lactate may serve as a signal for the development of intestinal injury.

Hyperlactatemia, hypercapnia, low pH and low oxygen saturation (SatO) are commonly observed in premature calves. These clinical indicators are associated with increased mortality in preterm human newborns with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic importance of venous pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO) and lactate level and which parameters are related with mortality in premature calves with RDS. All premature calves (52 male/58 female) were admitted to clinic within 12-24 hours after birth and blood samples were also taken into heparinised plastic syringes from the jugular vein within 30 minutes following admission. Diagnosis of RDS was made by both clinical signs and blood gas results. For the evaluation of independent samples, t test was used to compare the venous blood gas indicators of surviving and non-surviving premature calves. Receiver operating characteristics curves were used to determine a cut-off value in terms of lactate and pCO measurements among non-surviving and surviving calves. Venous pH, pCO, SatO, base deficit, bicarbonate (HCO) and lactate levels showed a significant variance between surviving and non-surviving calves. Mean venous pH, pCO, SatO, lactate levels in non-surviving premature calves was 7.05, 78.9 mm Hg, 16.1 per cent and 9.50 mmol/l, respectively. Mean pH, pCO, SatO and lactate levels in surviving premature calves were 7.29, 56.3 mm Hg, 25.5 per cent and 5.1 mmol/l, respectively. The cut-off values for lactate and pCO were 7.5 mmol/l and 63.5 mm Hg, respectively. In conclusion, the results of the study show that venous blood lactate and pCO have prognostic importance in premature calves with RDS.

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