Investigation of plasma pepsinogen level in calves with abomasal distention.

The aims of the present study was to determine whether or not abomasal damages occurs in calves with abdominal distention using by plasma pepsinogen levels and the positivity of the fecal occult blood test (FOBT). In the study, 30 calves with abdominal distention (experimental group) and 15 clinically healthy calves (control group), aged between 1-90 days, were used. Plasma samples were used to determine plasma pepsinogen levels, using bovine specific ELISA. Fresh stool samples used to determine occult blood in the samples. Melena and occult blood were detected in 11 and 19 of the stool samples, respectively. The plasma pepsinogen levels of calves with abdominal distention (18.06±7.78 ng/ml) were significatly high compared to those of control group (6.70±2.08 ng/ml), (p<0.001). In addition, plasma pepsinogen levels were higher in melena (+) animals than both FOBT (+) animals and control animals (p<0.001). It is suggestive that plasma pepsinogen levels could be used to determine abomasal damage in calves, especially with abdominal distention. It can be also useful biomarker to determine the severity of abomasal damage in calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]