Changes in serum biomarkers of inflammation in bovine besnoitiosis

Abstract

Background Acute and chronic besnoitiosis in extensive natural-service herds can have relevant effects in the health of bulls and negative consequences in their productive performance. Recent progress has been made in order to elucidate the pathogenesis of this disease. In this context, the study of biomarkers of inflammation in serum would contribute to gaining knowledge about the physiopathology of bovine besnoitiosis. Serological biomarkers could help in early diagnosis and prognosis, as seropositive bulls may have mild or severe testicular lesions. Methods Herein, we have investigated the diagnostic and/or prognostic value of a panel of serum (serological) biomarkers related to inflammation, including total protein, globulin and albumin, haptoglobin (Hp), adenosine deaminase (ADA) paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in naturally and experimentally B. besnoiti-infected males classified according to different clinical phases of the disease (acute, chronic and subclinical besnoitiosis). Results Results showed a similar response pattern in these biomarkers for naturally and experimentally infected cattle, with a few relevant variations. Most significant changes occurred during the acute phase of infection, although significant changes in a few biomarkers were also observed during the chronic infection. Haptoglobin, albumin, PON-1 and ADA were identified as the biomarkers that showed changes of higher magnitude in the acute phase of the infection, whereas high total protein and globulin values were found in chronically infected cattle. We have described the changes of a panel of inflammatory biomarkers of acute and chronic bovine besnoitiosis. Conclusions In summary, several biomarkers with promising diagnostic value have been identified. The biomarkers associated with acute infection are related to previously reported molecular biomarkers in testicular parenchyma of infected bulls and could help in the diagnosis of early infections and complement results from specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) detection. Graphical abstract

Clinical Significance of Some Acute Phase Proteins in Cattle

“…Measurement of APP levels gives accurate and clear results in the diagnosis of inflammatory diseases in ruminants compared with hematological findings. It has been reported that it can be a helpful parameter in the diagnosis in the diseases such as neonatal diarrhea [25][26][27], omphalitis [28,29], pneumonia [30], ascaridiosis [31], besnoitiosis [32], Trypanosoma evansi [33], anaplasmosis [34][35][36], hypodermosis [37], in the bacterial and viral diseases such as brucellosis [38], tuberculosis [39], reticuloperitonitis traumatica [40,41], foot-and-mouth disease [42], as well as in fatty liver [43] including dystocia [44] and subclinical ketosis (Table 1) [45,46]. In addition, in another study conducted in cattle with endometritis, it has been reported that haptoglobin and TNF-α levels decreased significantly after the treatment compared to the pre-treatment values [47] and that progesterone-releasing intravaginal device (PRID) administration increases haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin levels, but decreases albumin levels in another study conducted by Kuru et al [48] in cattle.…”