The ability of biochemical and haematological tests to predict recovery in periparturient recumbent cows

Abstract

Blood samples from 433 periparturient recumbent cows submitted by veterinary practitioners to Ruakura Animal Health Laboratory during 1983 and 1984 were analysed and results related to whether cows recovered, died or were euthanased. Generally cows were sampled only once and the time varied from 15 minutes to 20 days after becoming recumbent. During 1983 serum calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, creatine phosphokinase (CK), aspartate amino transferase (AST), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) were analysed. In 1984 serum urea, creatinine, fibrinogen and haematological examination (haemoglobin, haematocrit, total and differential white cell counts) were added to the panel. Overall 39% of cows recovered, 30% died and 32% were destroyed. Precalving cows had 111% more deaths and 7% less survivors than postcalving recumbent cows (P<0.1). There was little difference (3%) in euthanasia prevalence. Tests that were most useful in predicting a lack of recovery were serum urea and muscle enzymes. Using these tests and duration of recumbency when sampled a model was produced to predict the probability of recovery from 254 cases.

Survival and prognostic indicators in downer dairy cows presented to a referring hospital: A retrospective study (1318 cases)

“…Fifty‐five percent of the downer dairy cows presented to the CHUV between 1994 and 2016 were discharged and had a positive outcome. The survival percentage observed in our study was higher than the percentages reported previously 2,6‐11 . Among those studies, only 1 hospital study 6 reported an overall survival percentage of 37%.…”

“…The cutoff of 100 bpm described in a previous study on downer cows 9 was used as well as an additional category (>120 bpm), based on clinical experience and data distribution. Muscle enzyme activities (CK and AST) were categorized using results of previous studies 11 as well as data distribution.…”

“…Also, different clinical variables and laboratory test results have been associated with survival. Muscle enzyme activities, as well as serum urea concentration, can be used to predict survival 11,12 . Parity, days in milk, duration of recumbency, and the extent of secondary muscle damage have been shown to affect survival 7,8,10,13 .…”

Value of measurements of the serum activities of creatine phosphokinase, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase for predicting whether recumbent dairy cows will recover

“…Clark and others (1987) studied 433 recumbent dairy cows and suggested critical activities of CPK and AST for a 5 per cent probability of recovery. For CPK these levels were 18,600, 16,300, 14,000 and 10,900 U/litre on days 1, 2, 3 and 4 of recumbency, respectively, and for AST the level was 890 U/litre.…”

Pathological changes in the myocardium of hypocalcaemic parturient cows

“…The marked increases in plasma inorganic phosphorus and serum urea nitrogen in case 3 on the day before it was slaughtered were unusual and may have been related to renal infarction. Shock resulting from tissue necrosis, sepsis, endotoxaemia, and dehydration have been considered to contribute to the hyperphosphataemia and prerenal azotaemia observed in recumbent periparturient cows which do not recover (Clark and others 1987). The uterine prolapse observed in this case may have been the origin of the embolic disease responsible for the renal pathology and sepsis.…”