Serum protein capillary electrophoretic pattern during the neonatal period in dairy calves

Abstract

The objective of this study was to characterize serum protein capillary electrophoretic pattern in 20 clinically healthy neonate calves. The neonates were monitored from birth up to 28 days of age. Venous blood samples were collected from the jugular vein and used for the determination of serum protein fractions using capillary electrophoresis technique. The younger calves 4–11 days old showed electrophoretic pattern composed of albumin and α1-, α2-, β1-, β2- and γ-globulins, whereas the young calves 15–28 days old showed a pattern composed of albumin and α1-, α2-, β- and γ-globulins. The mean values of the relative concentration of serum protein fraction profile (%) were 42.96 ± 6.97 for albumin, 4.53 ± 9.91 for α1-globulin, 20.96 ± 6.80 for α2-globulin, 9.64 ± 1.66 for β1-globulin, 17.38 ± 11.68 for β2-globulin, 12.53 ± 6.17 for β-globulins, 15.98 ± 11.24 for γ-globulins and 0.79 ± 0.22 for albumin/globulins ratio (A/G). Albumin and α2 and β1-globulin fractions (%) and A/G ratio decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) in the youngest calves 4–6 days old compared with the calves 15–28 days old. A highly significant decrease (P < 0.0001) in serum-[albumin] was observed in the youngest calves 4–6 days old compared with the calves 15–28 days old. The concentration of β1-globulin (g/l) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the youngest calves 4–6 days old compared with the calves 8–11 days old. The neonatal period had a significant effect on the serum protein electrophoretic pattern as a physiological adaptation to the extra-uterine environment and the nutritional status of the neonate’s calves. The data can employ for the clinical monitoring of dysproteinaemias associated with the neonatal period.