Evaluation of Clinical and Hematobiochemical alterations in naturally occurring bovine respiratory disease in feedlot cattle calves in Egypt.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in the clinical and hemato-biochemical parameters of cattle calves suffering from bovine respiratory disease (BRD) compared to pen matched healthy control calves. This study was conducted on 20 calves suffered from BRD and 10 apparently healthy calves. Clinical and physical examination of BRD affected calves revealed significant (P<0.05) increase in pulse rate, body temperature, respiratory rate, anorexia, nasal discharge, coughing, dyspnoea and abnormal lung sounds. Hematological analysis showed that the BRD affected-calves revealed significant (P<0.05) decrease in red blood cells (RBCs) count, haemoglobin (Hb) content, packed cell volume (PCV %) and lymphocytes count, with significant (P<0.05) increase in white blood cells (WBCs), neutrophils, monocytes and eosinophils. Biochemical analysis showed significant (P<0.05) increase in total proteins, globulin, with significant (P<0.05) decrease in albumin and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio in diseased calves compared to healthy control. Moreover, the BRD affected calves showed significant (P<0.05) increase in liver enzymes activity and kidney function test. In conclusion, the results of this study revealed that the respiratory diseases in calves have severe impacts on several hematological and biochemical parameters.