Diagnostic and prognostic value of hematology and clinical chemistry in bovine peritonitis associated with advanced pregnancy

Abstract

The present study was conducted on 16 advanced pregnant animals (10 buffaloes and 6 cows) suffering from peritonitis. Seven buffaloes and five cows served as the control. Clinical signs included anorexia, reduced water intake, fever, recurrent and persistent tympany, depression, congested or anaemic mucous membranes and dehydration, loss of defecation or reduced faecal output. Out of 16 cases, septic peritonitis was seen in nine cases and seven had non-septic peritonitis. In general, peritoneal fluid changes were increased volume, altered colour, increased total protein, albumin and lactate concentrations and presence of degenerated neutrophils, fibrin, bacteria and gut contents and based upon the predominance of cells and other constituents, the peritonitis was further classified into fibrinous, fibrinopurulent, frank suppurative and adhesive peritonitis. Fibrinous peritonitis was diagnosed in four, fibrinopurulent in five, frank suppurative peritonitis in two and adhesive peritonitis in five cases. Hematology revealed neutrophilic leukocytosis with reversal of lymphocyte to neutrophil ratio, left shift and toxic changes in neutrophils, in majority of animals. Clinical chemistry revealed increase in globulin, aspartate amino transferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin, lactate and creatine phosphokinase (CK) and decrease in albumin, indicating chronic hepatitis. The present investigation was done to determine the value of hematology and clinical chemistry in the diagnosis and prognosis of peritonitis in bovines associated with advanced pregnancy, besides the utility of peritoneal fluid analysis in classifying peritonitis.