Clinical, hematological, serum biochemical, and acute phase protein indices in pulmonary affected calves

Abstract

This study was performed on 24 calves aged about 30-100 days old, fourteen calves were suffering from signs of pulmonary affections including fever, bilateral muco-purulent nasal discharge, cough and abnormal lung sounds upon auscultation and these calves were enrolled as pulmonary affected group. The other ten calves were apparently clinically healthy as proved by clinical examination and were used as a control healthy group. Blood and serum samples were collected from healthy and diseased calves (before and after treatment). Hematological analysis of diseased calves before treatment showed a significant decrease in the value of RBCs and Hb, with no significant changes in the value of PCV between healthy and diseased calves before and after treatment. The total leucocytic count showed a significant increase in its value in diseased calves with significant increase in neutrophils and lymphocyte (%) as compared with healthy ones. Serum biochemical analysis of pulmonary affected calves showed hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, hypochloremia and hyperkalemia as compared with healthy control calves. Activities of serum AST, ALT showed significant elevations in pulmonary affected calves with no significant changes in levels of total and direct bilirubin as compared with healthy calves. Analysis of acute phase protein of diseased calves before treatment showed a significant increase in values of Haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid A (SAA), Ceruloplasmin (Cp) and C - reactive protein (CRP) as compared with their levels after treatment and in healthy calves.