A comparative study of the hemato-biochemical parameters between clinically healthy cows and cows with displacement of the abomasum

Abstract

Veterinary faculty, Ljubljana, Slovenia (Received 8. June, 2003) The objective of this study was to evaluate hemato-biochemical parameters in cows with left- and right- sided displacement of the abo- masum. Comparison of a group of cows with displacement of the abo- masum (n=73) and a control group of cows (n=43) of the same breed, age, physiological period and management showed statistically signifi- cant (p<0.05) deviations of the following hematological and biochemi- cal parameters: increased hematocrit (Ht), white blood cell count (WBCC), neutrophils, total bilirubin (Bil-T), glucose, ˜-hydroxybutyrate, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), serum enzymatic activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), -glutamyl transferase (GGT) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), together with decreased calcium (Ca), so- dium (Na), potassium (K) and chloride (Cl) concentration. Blood analy- ses in cows with displacement of the abomasum clearly indicated asso- ciation of the disease with postpartum disease syndromes such as hy- pocalcaemia, hepatic lipidosis and endotoxemia. Thus, hemoconcen- tration, leukocytosis with neutrophilia, hypocalcaemia, lipemia, ketone- mia, hyperglycemia, slight hypernatremia, hypokalemia, hypochlore- mia and increased activity of liver enzymes (AST, GGT, GLDH) in blood serum were observed in these cows in comparison to the control group. All established irregularities cause complicated pathophysio- logical metabolic reactions, which are often clinically manifested as displacement of the abomasum during the periparturient period. Key words: dairy cows, hemato-biochemical parameters, abo- masal displacement, periparturient period