The Diagnostic Value of Acute phase proteins in Barki Ewes with Pregnancy Toxemia

Abstract

Pregnancy toxemia is a fatal metabolic disease resulting in high mortalities. The silent nature of the disease and lack of diagnostic tools decrease the chance of prediction and curing. In this paper we tried to find out the benefits of APPs, cytokines, and iron profile in diagnosis and prediction of the disease and their relation with other disease metabolic changes. Blood samples were collected from sixty barki ewes housed in Mattroh Research Station and were divided into 3groups; control, healthy late pregnant ewes, and pregnant toxemic ewes group. Biochemical analysis such as BHB, NEFA, Fb, Cp, Hp, SAA, Tf, Serum ferritin concentrations, Cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6,IL10, TNF-α) were measured and all the data were analyzed statically. The results confirmed that APPs and cytokines are valuable markers for pregnancy toxemia as they have a sensitivity and NPV as100% and high values of specificity, LR, PPV and accuracy rate. But APPs have higher percentages of increase than cytokines, especially Hp. Moreover, both of APPs and cytokines correlate well with other metabolic changes of the disease. Regarding the iron status, there was a significant decrease in mean concentrations of serum iron, ferritin, TF sat. % and a significant elevation in TIBC, UBIC and serum transferrin concentrationsin late pregnant ewes in comparison to control healthy group. On the other hand, the pregnancy toxemic ewes demonstrated a significant rise in the mean concentrations of serum iron, ferritin, TF sat. % and a significant drop in TIBC, UBIC and serum transferrin concentrations relative to the late pregnant group.