The use of the electronic nose device for the diagnosis of postpartum metritis in cows

Abstract

The study aimed to assess the possibilities of applying electronic nose device for early diagnosis of postpartum endometritis in cows using secretions. The experiment included four clinically healthy cows, four cows with endometritis. Samples of secretions were obtained on days 1,3,6,8 after analysis of their odours was carried out with MAG-8 device (Russia). As and measuring array, there were used eight sensors based on piezoelectric crystals frequency of 10,0 MHz and film sorbents on electrodes that respond to compounds of C2-C4 alcohols, linear and cyclic ketones, aldehydes, aliphatic amines, and sulfur-containing organic compounds, acids, ammonia. It was found that during the first three days after calving in cows with postpartum endometritis in comparison with healthy animals, the area of the visual response of the sensors was exceeded by 28,4% the content of alcohols, ketones of linear a structure by 5,2-6,0%, aliphatic acids were less by 14,3% and alkyl amines by 9,2%. On 6-8 days after calving, in the clinical manifestation of endometritis, an excess of the “visual imprint” by 6.1 times (p <0.001), a decrease in the content of aliphatic acids by 22.7% (p < 0.05), and an increase in the concentration of sulfur-containing organic compounds - by 4.9%. Therefore, the electronic nose system can distinguish between the composition of the volatile compounds of the cervical postpartum secretions with the normal and pathological course of the postpartum period.