Preliminary investigation of cardiac troponin i concentration in cows with common production diseases

Abstract

Background: Increased cTnI concentrations are associated with adverse outcomes in humans and animals. Limited information is available on the prognostic value of cTnI in cows. Objective: To measure cTnI in cows with noncardiac diseases and evaluate the association of cTnI concentration with adverse outcomes such as death or early removal from the herd. Animals: Thirty control and 53 diseased cows. Methods: Serum cTnI concentrations were determined with a point-of-care immunoassay. Cows were diagnosed ante- or postmortem with metritis (n = 6), mastitis (n = 4), peritonitis (n = 6), LDA (n = 14), LDA and metritis (n = 4), pneumonia (n = 6), dystocia requiring cesarean section (n = 5), and downer cow syndrome (n = 8). Animal survival was determined for up to 2 months after presentation. Results: The immunoassay showed reliability for the detection of bovine cTnI. Cows with LDA and metritis (P < .05), peritonitis (P < .05), LDA (P < .001), dystocia requiring cesarean section (P < .01), and downer cow syndrome (P