Application of the metabolic profile test in the prediction and diagnosis of fatty liver in Holstein cows

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the possibility of using results of metabolic profile test in the prediction and diagnosis of fatty liver in Holstein cows. Forty dry cows, 5 to 7 days before calving, were chosen from the commercial dairy herd and included in the study. Four blood samples were taken by jugular venipuncture from each animal: 5 to 7 days before expected calving (dry period), as well as on day 12, 30 and 60 of lactation. Concentrations of glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), total protein, albumin, urea, total bilirubin, calcium and phosphorus concentrations were measured in all blood samples. On day 12 after calving, liver percutaneous biopsies were obtained using a biopsy instrument. Liver tissue lipid content was determined by pathohistological determination. Cows were divided into two groups of equal size based on the degree of lipid accumulation in the liver: healthy cows (0.00 fat, n = 20) and cows with fatty liver syndrome (>20% fat, n = 20). Milking was measured each day from day 7 to day 60 of lactation. Results showed that 5 to 7 days before calving, as well as 12 days after calving, BHBA concentrations were significantly higher (p lt 0.001, respectively) in diseased cows than in healthy cows. Additionally, the concentration of glucose was significantly lower (p lt 0.01) and the concentration of total bilirubin significantly higher (p lt 0.001) in diseased compared to healthy cows, at day 12 of lactation. Thirty days after calving, concentrations of albumin, glucose, BHBA and Ca were significantly lower in diseased compared to healthy cows (p lt 0.05, p lt 0.01, p lt 0.01 and p lt 0.001, respectively). At day 60 after calving, concentrations of biochemical parameters did not differ between diseased and healthy cows. The lactation curve differed in diseased compared to healthy cows, starting from day 26 of lactation. Starting form that day until day 60 of lactation average daily milk production was significantly higher in healthy than in diseased cows, except on day 32 of lactation when the difference was not significant. Based on these results it can be concluded that the metabolic profile test may be a reliable tool for the prediction and diagnosis of fatty liver in Holstein cows.

Cilj ovog rada je bio da se ispita mogućnost korišćenja rezultata dobijenih određivanjem metaboličkog profila u predviđanju i dijagnostikovanju sindroma masne jetre kod krava holštajn rase. U ogled je bilo uključeno 40 krava holštajn rase u periodu zasušenja, odnosno 5 do 7 dana pre očekivanog termina teljenja. Kravama su uzorci krvi uzeti punkcijom vene jugularis 4 puta i to 5 do 7 dana pre očekivanog termina teljenja, kao i 12., 30. i 60. dana laktacije. U uzorcima krvi određivane su koncentracije ukupnih proteina, albumina, uree, glukoze, BHBA, ukupnog bilirubina, kalcijuma i fosfora. Dvanaest dana nakon teljenja perkutanom biopsijom uzet je uzorak jetre u kome je, patohistološkim pregledom, određen sadržaj ukupnih lipida. Nakon pregleda tkiva jetre krave su podeljene u dve jednake grupe. Krave kod kojih je stepen zamašćenje jetre bio veći od 20% (obolele krave, n = 20) i krave bez prisustva masnih kapljica u uzorcima jetre (zdrave krave, n = 20). Mlečnost je praćena svakodnevno od sedmog do 60. dana laktacije. Dobijeni rezultati su ukazali da je 5 do 7 dana pre očekivanog termina teljenja kao i 12. dana laktacije koncentracija BHBA bila značajno viša (p lt 0.001, pojedinačno) kod obolelih nego kod zdravih krava. Takođe, 12 dana nakon teljenja, koncentracija glukoze (p lt 0.01) je bila značajno niža, a koncentracija bilirubina značajno viša (p lt 0.001) kod obolelih nego zdravih krava. Tridesetog dana nakon teljenja koncentracija albumina, glukoze, BHBA i Ca je bila značajno niža kod obolelih u odnosu na zdrave krave (p lt 0,05; p lt 0,01; p lt 0,01 i p lt 0,001, pojedinač no). Šezdesetog dana nakon teljenja koncentracije ispitivanih parametara se nisu značajno razlikovale između obolelih i zdravih krava. Laktaciona kriva je imala različiti trend kod zdravih i bolesnih krava počevši od 26. dana nakon teljenja. Od tog dana pa do 60. dana laktacije prosečna dnevna mlečnost je bila značajno viša kod zdravih nego obolelih krava, izuzev 32. dana laktacije kada ta razlika nije bila značajna. Na osnovu dobijenih rezultata može se zaključiti da se metabolički profil može sa visokom pouzdanošću koristiti u predviđanju i dijagnostici zamašćenja jetre kod krava Holštajn rase.