Search

This study was aimed at the evaluation of the electrophoretic pattern of serum proteins in dogs naturally infected withBabesia canis. Blood samples were collected from 37 dogs infected withB. canisand showing clinical signs consistent with the disease. The sick animals were classified as dogs with physiologic and decreased red blood cell (RBC) values. Twenty-five healthy dogs formed the control group. The concentrations of total proteins and protein fractions were measured in blood serum. The values of total proteins, albumin and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio in dogs with babesiosis were significantly lower than in healthy ones (P< 0.001). In the globulin fractions, significantly higher relative concentrations of α1-, β1- and β2-globulins (P< 0.01), and non-significantly higher values of α2- and γ-globulins were found in dogs with babesiosis with a double α2-zone in six out of 37 animals. Marked differences were observed also between the two groups of sick animals, with significantly lower values of albumin and A/G ratio (P< 0.05), and significantly higher values of α1- and β1-globulins in dogs with decreased RBC (P< 0.05 andP< 0.01, respectively). Presented results indicate marked alterations in the electrophoretic pattern of serum proteins in dogs with babesiosis suggesting its usefulness for the evaluation of pathophysiological changes caused by the disease and for diagnostic of disease severity.

Determination of the physiological electrophoretic patterns in animals is very useful for clinicians in diagnosing healthy and sick animals. The objective of this study was to investigate the serum protein electrophoretic pattern in cows, sheep, and goats in order to evaluate the differences in the size and number of protein fractions between the evaluated ruminant species. Ten adult multiparous high-yielding dairy cows, 10 adult female sheep and 10 adult female goats were included in this study. All the evaluated animals were clinically healthy. Serum was analyzed for total serum protein concentrations, and for the relative and absolute values of protein fractions with calculation of albumin/globulin ratios. Serum protein fractions were separated by zone electrophoresis on buffered agarose gel. Serum protein electrophoresis identified 6 distinct bands, comprising albumin, alpha1- (α1), alpha2- (α2), beta1- (β1), beta2- (β2), and gamma- (γ) globulins in cows. In sheep, serum proteins exhibited 6 fractions: albumin, α1-, α2-, β-, γ1- and γ2-globulins. In goats, serum proteins were separated into 5 fractions: albumin, α1-, α2-, β- and γ-globulins. Significant differences in the relative as well as absolute means were found for the albumin/globulin ratio and most of the protein fractions, except γ-globulins. No significant differences were found in the concentration of total proteins. These results describe the marked species differences in most of serum protein fractions between the evaluated groups of animals, and contribute to the current knowledge about the physiological electrophoretic pattern of serum proteins in ruminants, which can be used for diagnostic purposes.

Acute phase proteins are used as markers of inflammation and sub-clinical disease, and are considered potential biomarkers for animal health and welfare. The objective of this study was to analyse haptoglobin as the main positive acute phase protein in the mouflon. A total of 30 clinically healthy mouflon of different age and sex, reared in a game reserve, were used for this study. Haptoglobin was determined in blood serum by colorimetric assay with a commercially accessible kit. The mean value of haptoglobin in the herd was 0.215 ± 0.068 mg/ml. There was no significant difference between animals divided by sex: male 0.228 ± 0.073 mg/ml, female 0.202 ± 0.062 mg/ml. The mean value in young animals was higher than the mean value in the adults 0.260 ± 0.081 mg/ml and 0.201 ± 0.059 mg/ml, respectively (P < 0.05). This work was designed to identify the baseline concentration of haptoglobin in a clinically healthy population, thus allowing the comparison of welfare and general health status of the herds or different structured groups within the game reserve. This is the first similar study of haptoglobin as a biomarker in the mouflon.

Studies of the changes in serum protein pattern in the neonatal period in animals are still limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in the concentrations of serum protein fractions in 7 clinically healthy merino lambs (4 males, 3 females) during their first month of life. The first blood sampling was performed before the colostrum intake and then at 1, 2, 7, 14 and 30 days of age. Blood serum was analysed for total serum protein concentrations and for the relative and absolute values of serum protein fractions - albumin, alpha1- (α1), alpha2- (α2), beta- (β), and gamma- (γ) globulins. The results showed a significant effect of age on the serum total protein concentrations and for all the protein fractions. The concentrations of total proteins and γ-globulins increased significantly 1 day after the colostrum intake (P< 0.001); then decreased gradually till the end of the 1st month. An opposite trend was observed in the concentrations of albumin. A significant decrease of values was found 1 day after the intake of colostrum (P< 0.001) with a subsequent progressive increase of values till the end of the evaluated period. The relative concentrations of α1-globulins significantly decreased during the first month of life (P< 0.001). On the other hand, the relative values of α2- and β-globulins increased significantly from birth till the end of the monitored period (P< 0.001). Our results suggest that the serum protein electrophoretic pattern in growing lambs is significantly influenced by the age of the evaluated animal, and this should be taken into consideration when interpreting the serum protein profile. Our findings extend existing knowledge about significant changes in the protein profile associated with the physiological adaptation process in the neonatal period in young animals.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of clinical and sub-clinical mastitis on the concentrations of mammary associated isotype of serum amyloid A (M-SAA) in milk samples, as well as on the concentrations of haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA), and some other biochemical variables in blood serum of dairy cows (n = 41). The concentrations of aforementioned variables were measured in 4 groups of cows divided according to the results of the clinical examination of the udder and to the results of California Mastitis Test (CMT): group 1 – cows without clinical changes on the mammary gland and with negative CMT, group 2 – cows without clinical changes on the mammary gland and with weakly positive CMT, group 3 – cows without clinical changes on the mammary gland and with strongly positive CMT and group 4 – cows with clinical changes on the mammary gland and changes in milk appearance. The concentrations of M-SAA were analyzed also in 145 quarter’s milk samples which were categorized according to the same criteria as cows used in the study. By the evaluation of M-SAA concentrations in composite milk samples we found significantly the highest mean value in cows with clinical signs of mastitis. Similar findings were recorded in the M-SAA concentrations in quarter’s milk samples. Moreover, higher concentrations of M-SAA were found also in samples from mammary quarters without clinical changes and positive CMT. The analyses of Hp and SAA concentrations showed a trend of higher values in cows with clinical mastitis. The lowest mean concentration of albumin we found in cows with clinical signs of mastitis. Our results indicate elevated production of M-SAA in cows with clinical changes on mammary gland, and suggest the usefulness of this indicator also in the diagnosing of sub-clinical mastitis. Acute phase proteins, mammary gland, dairy cattle, biochemical variables

The objective of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of selected acute phase proteins – haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA), and selected variables of energy metabolism in blood serum of dairy cows during different stages of the pre- and postpartal period. The analyses were performed in dairy cows of the Slovak spotted breed and its crossbreeds (n = 57). The cows were divided into 9 groups according to the evaluated part of reproduction cycle – from 4 weeks before parturition to 10 weeks after parturition. Significant differences were found in mean Hp and SAA concentrations during the monitored period (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). Cows during the early postparturient period had significantly higher Hp and SAA concentrations compared to cows in later postparturient period (P < 0.05). Significant differences throughout the period under study was found also in means of total cholesterol (P < 0.01), triglycerides (P < 0.001), and non-esterified fatty acids (P < 0.001). Concentrations of Hp during this period were positively correlated with SAA (R = 0.919; P < 0.001). Moreover, significant correlations were found between Hp and non-esterified fatty acids, Hp and β-hydroxybutyrate, as well as between SAA and non-esterified fatty acids. Our results indicate that the acute phase response occurs in cows around parturition, and suggest that there are relationships between mediators of immune response and several indices of energy metabolism. Our results also suggest that in cows with higher concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids, indicating a certain degree of lipid mobilisation, higher values of acute phase proteins may be found.