Serum vitamin D3 (25-OH vit D3) concentrations and hemogram changes in calves with enzootic pneumonia

BACKGROUND

Enzootic pneumonia is an important disease complex associated with insufficient colostrum intake after birth, adverse environmental conditions, and stress. Vitamin D deficiency may be an important predisposing factor for this disease.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate in calves with enzootic pneumonia.

METHODS

A total of 30 calves, aged 3-5 months, under the same care and feeding conditions were used. Groups were formed according to Clinical Respiratory Scoring as the group with mild/moderate enzootic pneumonia (n = 10), the group with severe enzootic pneumonia (n = 10), and the healthy control group (n = 10) without any disease. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of animals in all groups on Day 0; a complete blood count was performed, and serum vitamin D levels were measured using the Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method.

RESULTS

Although no statistical differences were observed in total leukocyte, lymphocyte, eosinophil, basophil, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels between groups, statistically significant differences in blood neutrophil, monocyte, and erythrocyte counts were found between the groups. Monocyte counts were statistically decreased in the mild/moderate group compared with the control group. Neutrophil counts were significantly higher in the mild/moderate and severe groups than in the control group. Erythrocyte counts were increased in the mild/moderate and severe groups compared with the control group. Vitamin D concentrations were statistically lower in the mild/moderate and severe groups than in the control group. However, no statistical differences in Vitamin D concentrations were observed between the mild/moderate and severe groups. There was a negative and significant correlation between erythrocyte counts and vitamin D concentrations (r = -0.64, P < .0001). While erythrocyte counts increased in the severe group compared with the mild/moderate group, vitamin D concentrations decreased. Also, a negative and significant correlation was observed between platelet counts and vitamin D concentrations (r = -0.74, P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study determined that serum vitamin D concentrations in calves with pneumonia were lower than those in healthy calves. Detailed studies on the etiologic and prognostic importance of low vitamin D levels in calves with enzootic pneumonia may provide valuable data for prevention and treatment.

Comparing the effect of ammonium molybdate versus ammonium molybdate and menbutone on hepatic functions of sheep with subclinical copper poisoning

This study aimed to investigate the effect of using menbutone in addition to ammonium molybdate on liver enzymes in sheep naturally poisoned with copper. Merino lambs (n = 30), naturally poisoned with copper and which also had high liver enzyme levels, were divided into two groups, each with 15 lambs. The AM + MEN group received ammonium molybdate and menbutone and the AM group received only ammonium molybdate solution. Both groups received 1.7% ammonium molybdate solution (1 mL per 10 kg body weight [BW]) subcutaneously on 0, 2nd and 4th days of the study. Menbutone (Genabil®, Boehringer Ingelheim, Germany) was administered intramuscularly at a dose of 10 mg/kg BW on days 0 and 2, in addition to ammonium molybdate in the AM + MEN group. Blood samples were collected on days 0 and 7, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) and creatinine levels were evaluated. Over 7 days, AST levels decreased from 351.04 ± 63.50 IU/L to 286.40 ± 55.68 IU/L in the AM group (P > 0.05) and from 425.00 ± 119.25 IU/L to 240.83 ± 29.62 IU/L in the AM + MEN group (P ≤ 0.05). GGT levels decreased from 121.16 ± 15.88 IU/L to 110.39 ± 10.13 IU/L in the AM group (P > 0.05) and 124.52 ± 15.50 to 98.60 ± 9.08 IU/L in the AM + MEN group (P ≤ 0.05). Based on these findings, the use of menbutone, in addition to ammonium molybdate, has significantly reduced the level of liver enzymes.

Comparison of four semi-quantitative tests for evaluation of colostrum quality in Saanen goats

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of Brix refractometry and to compare the Brix value with semi-quantitative indicators such as total protein (TP), total protein in whey (TPw), glutaraldehyde coagulation time (GCT) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) enzyme activity for determining the quality of colostrum. Colostrum samples were collected from 38 Saanen goats just after parturition and on the first day (24 ± 4 hours) and second day (48 ± 4) after parturition. The Brix value, TP and TPw levels were measured with optic refractometers. The level of GCT was determined with a 10% glutaraldehyde solution. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations were measured with a goat IgG ELISA. All measurements decreased significantly after parturition. The IgG and Brix values on the day of parturition were 4719.28 ±107.94 mg/dL and 20.55 ± 0.71, respectively. The TPw levels were lower than TP on all three days and a significant difference was detected on day 2. The IgG concentration was higher in the first-parity and second-parity goats compared with those older does. However, no differences were observed in the other characteristics of the colostrum. Litter size did not affect IgG or the other semi-quantitative tests. Correlation coefficients were higher than 0.8 Tp with TPw, and for the Brix value with both TP and TPw. Brix refractometry could be used to evaluate colostrum quality in Saanen goats and TPw is a more reliable indicator than TP.