Relationship between the values of blood parameters and physical status in Korean native calves with diarrhea

Blood chloride abnormalities in diarrheic neonatal calves with metabolic acidosis

The present study investigated the prevalence of blood chloride (Cl) abnormalities in diarrheic neonatal calves with metabolic acidosis and attempted to identify the most relevant electrolyte abnormality to these abnormalities. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of 157 diarrheic neonatal calves aged 10.3 ± 4.2 days old with metabolic acidosis. Hypochloremia, normochloremia, and hyperchloremia were observed in 8.9% (14/157), 43.3% (68/157), and 47.8% (68/157), respectively, of diarrheic calves with metabolic acidosis. This distribution remained similar regardless of age (under 8 days or 8 days and older). Furthermore, a multiple logistic regression analysis showed that variations in values for blood sodium [Na (regression coefficients 0.877; 95% confidence interval (CI) 13.977-134.195; P<0.01)], pH (regression coefficients -10.719; 95% CI -19.076- -2.362; P<0.05), and bicarbonate [HCO3- (regression coefficients -0.555; 95% CI -0.820- -0.290; P<0.01)] were associated with blood Cl abnormalities. The present results revealed that blood Na concentrations were more strongly associated with blood Cl concentrations than blood pH and HCO3- values. In the present study, diarrheic calves with hyperchloremia were characterized by normonatremia and extremely severe metabolic acidosis.

Chloride and lactate as prognostic indicators of calf diarrhea from eighty-nine cases

IMPORTANCE

Deaths due to neonatal calf diarrhea are still one of the most critical problems of cattle breeding worldwide. Determining the parameters that can predict diarrhea-related deaths in calves is especially important in terms of prognosis and treatment strategies for the disease.

OBJECTIVE

The primary purpose of this study was to determine mortality rates and durations, survival status, and predictive prognosis parameters based on vital signs, hematology, and blood gas analyses in neonatal diarrheic calves.

METHODS

The hospital automation system retrospectively obtained data from 89 neonatal diarrheic calves.

RESULTS

It was found that 42.7% (38/89) of the calves brought with the complaint of diarrhea died during hospitalization or after discharge. Short-term and long-term fatalities were a median of 9.25 hours and a median of 51.50 hours, respectively. When the data obtained from this study is evaluated, body temperature (°C), pH, base excess (mmol/L), and sodium bicarbonate (mmol/L) parameters were found to be lower, and hemoglobin (g/dL), hematocrit (%), lactate (mmol/L), chloride (mmol/L), sodium (mmol/L) and anion gap (mmol/L) parameters were found to be higher in dead calves compared to survivors. Accordingly, hypothermia, metabolic acidosis, and dehydration findings were seen as clinical conditions that should be considered. Logistic regression analysis showed that lactate (odds ratio, 1.429) and CI- (odds ratio, 1.232) concentration were significant risk factors associated with death in calves with diarrhea.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

According to the findings obtained from this study, the determination of lactate and Cl- levels can be used as an adjunctive supplementary test in distinguishing calves with diarrhea with a good prognosis.

Metagenomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the role of gut microbiome-associated metabolites in diarrhea calves

IMPORTANCE

Calf diarrhea is of great concern to the global dairy industry as it results in significant economic losses due to lower conception rates, reduced milk production, and early culling. Although there is evidence of an association between altered gut microbiota and diarrhea, remarkably little is known about the microbial and metabolic mechanisms underlying the link between gut microbiota dysbiosis and the occurrence of calf diarrhea. Here, we used fecal metagenomic and metabolomic analyses to demonstrate that gut microbiota-driven metabolic disorders of purine or arachidonic acid were associated with calf diarrhea. These altered gut microbiotas play vital roles in diarrhea pathogenesis and indicate that gut microbiota-targeted therapies could be useful for both prevention and treatment of diarrhea.

Comparison of blood electrolyte and biochemical parameters between single infections of rotavirus and Cryptosporidium parvum in diarrheic Hanwoo calves

BACKGROUND

Neonatal calf diarrhea is a major problem in the cattle industry worldwide. Rotavirus and Cryptosporidium parvum are the primary causative agents, especially during the first three weeks of the calf's life.

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated the differences in acid-base, electrolytes, and biochemical parameters of diarrheic calves with infection of either rotavirus or C. parvum.

METHODS

A total of 61 Korean native calves (≤ 20 days old) were divided into two groups based on rotavirus or C. parvum infections: rotavirus infection (n = 44) and C. parvum infection (n = 17). The calves with at a specific blood pH range (pH 6.92-7.25) were chosen for comparison. The acid-base, electrolyte, chemistry, and serum proteins were analyzed, Further, fecal examinations were performed.

RESULTS

Compared to C. parvum-infected calves, the rotavirus-infected calves showed lower levels of total carbon dioxide, bicarbonate (HCO₃^-), anion gap, total protein, and albumin/globulin ratio, and significantly lower levels of potassium, globulin, and α2-globulin (p < 0.05). The C. parvum-infected calves (r = 0.749) had stronger correlations between pH and HCO₃^- than the rotavirus-infected calves (r = 0.598). Compared to rotavirus-infected calves, strong correlations between globulin and α2-globulin, α2-globulin and haptoglobin were identified in C. parvum-infected calves.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first to investigate acid-base, electrolyte, and biochemical parameters in calves in response to infections of rotavirus and C. parvum. Although rotavirus and C. parvum cause malabsorptive and secretory diarrhea in similar-aged calves, blood parameters were different. This would help establish the diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Comparison of the bovine blood gas parameters produced with three types of portable blood gas analyzers

Background

A definite diagnosis should be made in the bovine practice field, however, it was difficult to perform laboratory analysis immediately. Currently, three types of portable blood gas analyzers are available in Korea.

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the correlations among these three analyzers.

Methods

Seventy-two plasma samples from Holstein-Friesian cows were used for blood gas analysis, and three instruments (EDAN i15 Vet, VETSCAN i-STAT, and EPOC) were operated simultaneously. Moreover, plasma calcium levels were compared between these portable analyzers and blood chemistry device, which is usually used in a laboratory environment. Pearson analysis was performed to confirm the correlation of each parameter produced with the three instruments and blood chemistry analyzer.

Results

As results, high correlation was observed in parameters of pH, pO₂, potassium ion, ionized calcium, and glucose (p < 0.001, r > 0.7). In addition, pCO₂ showed a moderate correlation among the three analyzers (p < 0.001, r > 0.5), and there was no correlation among all instruments for sodium ions. There was also a high correlation between ionized calcium from the three portable devices and total calcium from the biochemistry analyzer (p < 0.001, r > 0.9).

Conclusions

In conclusion, there was a high correlation between results from the three different blood gas analyzers used in the bovine clinical field in Korea. Thus, a consistent diagnosis can be made even with different equipment if the operator is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of each piece of equipment and operates it properly.

Evaluation of the optimal strong ion difference concentration of an oral electrolyte and buffering solution for the treatment of neonatal calf diarrhea

An observational study was conducted to comparatively assess the efficacy of three different oral rehydration and buffering solutions, differentiated by their strong ion difference (SID) concentration, for treatment of neonatal calves with naturally acquired diarrhea. The SID concentrations tested were 100 mM, 170 mM and 230 mM for treatments SID₁₀₀, SID₁₇₀ and SID₂₃₀, respectively. Clinical assessment and blood gas analysis were completed for 18 diarrheic calves once pre- and twice post- (6 and 24 hr after) oral administration with one of the three treatments. A repeated measure mixed model approach was used to analyze (a) the within-group efficacy of each treatment over time and (b) the between-group comparison at each timepoint. SID₂₃₀ treatment resulted in a significant increase in blood pH, HCO₃⁻, BE, SID and Na⁺ at 6 and 24 hr after treatment, and a significant decrease in AG and K⁺ by 24 hr after treatment. There were no significant changes in any of the blood gas parameters after treatment with SID₁₀₀ and SID₁₇₀. SID₂₃₀ treatment also resulted in blood gas parameter changes that were significantly different to the other two groups. These results suggest that the optimum SID concentration for the treatment of calves with diarrhea is likely to be higher than current recommendations.

Alteration of the gut microbiota in post-weaned calves following recovery from bovine coronavirus-mediated diarrhea

Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) is associated with severe diarrhea, dehydration, and depression, which result in significant economic damages in the dairy and beef cattle industries worldwide. However, differences in the gut microbiota structure and their correlations with differing physiological parameters between BCoV-infected calves with diarrhea and recovered calves are not well understood. In this study, fecal specimens were collected from 10 post-weaned calves, before and after 2 months of fluid therapy, and the samples were used for microbiota analysis. Following recovery, the alpha-diversity profiles (observed operational taxonomic units [OTUs], and Chao1, Shannon, and Simpson indices) changed significantly when compared with those of calves with diarrhea. Beta-diversity analysis exhibited significant differences in gut microbiota compositions between calves with diarrhea and those in the recovered state. The abundances of eight phyla and thirteen genera in feces changed markedly after restoration of BCoV diarrhea. In addition, our correlation study clearly revealed that increased abundances of the genera Caproiciproducens, Pseudoflavonifractor, and Oscillibacter negatively correlated with serum glucose, and phosphorus levels, but positively correlated with serum chloride in calves with diarrhea, whereas increased abundances of the genera Peptostreptococcaceae;Clostridium (Clostridium cluster XI), Intestinibacter, Cellulosilyticum, Ruminococcus, Romboutsia, Paeniclostridium, Clostridiaceae;Clostridium and Turicibacter in recovered calves showed the opposite pattern. These results suggest that structural changes of the gut microbiota after recovery from BCoV infection correlate with changes in physiological parameters. In conclusion, our data provide evidence of gut microbiota-composition changes and their correlations with the physical profiles of post-weaned calves, before and after fluid therapy for BCoV-related diarrhea.

Determining the predictive capability of a Clinical Assessment Scoring Chart to differentiate severity of the clinical consequences of neonatal calf diarrhea relative to gold-standard blood gas analysis

Neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD) is a major problem to calf health worldwide, in terms of both morbidity and mortality. A five-point ordinal scale clinical assessment scoring (CAS) chart was utilized to assess calves suffering from NCD-related clinical abnormalities (acidosis and dehydration) on commercial farms. The objective of this research was to determine the predictive capability of this CAS chart against gold standard blood gas parameters, designed to assist farmers in the accurate assessment of the clinical consequences of NCD. A total of 443 diarrheic and non-diarrheic calves were enrolled in the study. The CAS chart rated a calf’s health from no clinical signs to varying degrees of clinical severity on a 0 (clinically normal) to 4 (grave) scale, based on clinical indicators including calf demeanour, ear position, mobility, suckle reflex, desire-to-feed, and enophthalmos. Blood gas analysis was conducted for individual calves, consisting of pH, base excess, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻, glucose, total hemoglobin, bicarbonate, anion gap, and strong ion difference. Statistical evaluation was performed by comparison of the CAS score with blood gas profiles using ordinal logistic regression and a non-parametric estimation of the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC). The ROC analysis indicated that the CAS chart had acceptable specificity (>95%) with low sensitivity (<60%) in differentiating clinically normal from acidotic/dehydrated cases. Assessment of individual severity classes indicated that the chart can predict and differentiate both clinically normal and advanced cases from the other severity classes (peak estimations >80%) but had reduced accuracy in differentiating mild and moderate cases (peak estimations >50%). The chart, as presented, provides a simple tool to differentiate clinically normal from calves suffering the consequences of diarrhea, but fails to accurately differentiate severity for NCD related acidosis and dehydration. Further efforts are required to enhance the sensitivity and differential diagnostic value of this type of chart.