The aim of this study is to assess serum natural antibody (NAb) bindings keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) titer and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, two of the most important elements of the natural defense system in the uterus. The study was conducted on 77 Brown Swiss cows (3-7 years of age) with body condition scores (BCS) of 2.6±0.1. The diagnosis of endometritis in cows on day 30-32 postpartum was made by rectal examination, vaginoscopy, ultrasonography and cytobrush technique. Blood samples were collected immediately after the examinations to measure serum NAb titer and CRP concentrations. NAb binding KLH titers were determined using the indirect ELISA method and the CRP level by using the bovine CRP ELISA kit. Mean NAb titers were 5.36±0. 16, 7.43±0.15, 8.55±0.19 and 9.64±0.27 respectively in healthy cows (Control, n = 29), cows with mild endometritis (ME, n = 21), cows with moderate endometritis (E, n = 17) and cows with severe endometritis (SE, n = 10). Mean serum CRP concentrations were 48.88±3.92 µg/mL, 82.86±4.28 µg/mL, 98.86±8.2 µg/ mL and 122.34±12.72 µg/mL respectively in groups control, ME, E and SE. NAb binding KLH titer and CRP levels increased significantly in cows with endometritis (P<0.001). BCS did not change serum NAb titer and CRP level (P>0.05). Parity did not cause a significant difference in serum NAb titer and CRP levels (P>0.05), but serum NAb level were higher in multiparous cows with ME (P<0.05). In conclusion, it is thought that serum NAb titer and CRP level can be used effectively as an indicator to determine uterus infections.
Keywords: Cow, Endometritis, NAb, CRP
Endometritisli İneklerde Serum C-Reaktif Protein ve Doğal Antikor Düzeylerinin Değerlendirilmesi
ÖzetSunulan çalışmada uterusun doğal savunma sisteminin en önemli bileşenlerinden olan keyhole limpet hemosiyanine (KLH) serum doğal antikor (NAb) titresi ve C-reaktif protein (CRP) düzeyinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışma 3-7 yaşlı, ortalama vücut kondisyon skoru (BCS) 2.6±0.1 olan 77 İsviçre Esmeri inekte yapıldı. Postpartum 30-32. günlerde bulunan ineklerde endometritis teşhisi; rektal, vaginoskopik, ultrasonografik muayene yöntemleri ve cytobrush tekniğiyle yapıldı. Muayenelerden hemen sonra KLH bağlı NAb titresi ve CRP konsantrasyonlarının belirlenmesi için kan örnekleri alındı. Serum NAb titresi indirekt ELISA yöntemiyle, CRP düzeyi ise bovine CRP ELISA kiti kullanılarak belirlendi. Serum NAb titresi sağlıklı (Kontrol, n = 29), hafif endometritis (ME, n = 21), orta derecede endometritis (E, n = 17) ve şiddetli endometritisli (SE, n=10) ineklerde sırasıyla ortalama 5. 36±0.16, 7.43±0.15, 8.55±0.19