Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation in Cattle with Abomasal Displacement

Acute-phase proteins, oxidative stress and enzyme activities of blood serum and peritoneal fluid in cattle with abomasal displacement

BACKGROUND

Blood serum and peritoneal fluid acute-phase proteins, oxidative stress indicators, and some enzymes could be used for evaluation of abomasal tissue damage because of displacement in displaced abomasum (DA) cases.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the concentrations of acute-phase proteins, oxidative stress indicators, and activities of enzymes in blood serum and peritoneal fluid in cattle with right displaced abomasum (RDA) and left displaced abomasum (LDA) and in healthy cows.

ANIMALS

A total of 60 Holstein Friesian cows in early lactation were used, 31 with left and 9 with right displaced abomasum without volvulus diagnosis and no other postpartum disease, and 20 healthy cows as a control.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

DA diagnosis in dairy cows consisted of physical examination, laboratory, and specific DA tests. Acute-phase proteins, oxidative stress indicators, and enzyme activities were measured in blood serum and peritoneal fluid.

RESULTS

In the RDA group, serum haptoglobin (HPG), serum amyloid A (SAA), malondialdehyde (MDA), adenosine deaminase (ADA), myeleperoxidase (MPO), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK, creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity increased significantly, and serum HPG, MDA, ADA, and AST concentrations increased significantly in the LDA group (P < .05). Peritoneal fluid HPG, MDA, ADA, MPO, ALP, GGT, and LDH concentrations increased significantly, whereas NO concentrations reduced significantly in the RDA group, and HPG, MDA, ADA, and TP concentrations increased significantly, whereas concentrations of NO reduced significantly in the LDA group (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

There are acute-phase responses, oxidative stress, and abomasal tissue damage because of displacement in DA cases. Especially, HPG, MDA, ADA, and MPO concentrations can provide specific information to help in understanding these changes.

Peritoneal fluid analysis in dairy cows with left displaced abomasum and abomasal volvulus

Peritoneal fluid (PF) was evaluated in 40 cows with left displaced abomasum (LDA) and 15 cows with abomasal volvulus (AV). PF was obtained by abdominocentesis at the right ventral abdomen at admission. Simultaneously, a blood sample was taken from the jugular vein. Biochemical and cytological variables in blood and PF specific for ischaemia, inflammation and cell damage were compared. Total protein, albumin, glucose and cholesterol were normal in PF of cows with LDA and AV. Although L-lactate increased in both groups, cows with AV had significantly higher values (LDA: 1.47/0.69/2.68 mmol/l; AV: 6.45/4.55/12.89 mmol/l (median/1. quartile/3. quartile)). D-dimer (LDA: 0.50/0.22/0.88 mg/l; AV: 1.11/0.40/1.85 mg/l) and LDH (LDA: 663/437/943 U/l; AV: 1099/750/1439 U/l) were only increased in PF of cows with AV. The number of leucocytes was normal; however, significantly more peritoneal neutrophils appeared necrotic or apoptotic after AV. PF of cows with abomasal displacement showed distinctive features of ischaemia and inflammation. Characteristics of haemostatic dysfunction and cell damage were mainly evident in PF of cows with AV. The results suggest that anti-inflammatory therapy is indicated in each cow with abomasal displacement. Additionally, medical treatment should be directed to prevent complications of ischaemia and reperfusion in cows with AV.

Animal models of DIC and their relevance to human DIC: a systematic review

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a severe clinical condition with activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis. Its diagnosis is based on the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) scoring system of DIC. Animal models of DIC, used to investigate pathophysiology and evaluate treatments, have not been developed in a standardized way, which impedes comparison between models and translation to the human setting. In the current review of animal models of DIC an overview of species, inducers, and dosing regimens is provided. Diagnostic approaches are compared in the light of the ISTH score and treatments tested in animal models of DIC are summarized. Systematic analysis revealed that the rat is by far the preferred species amongst animal models of DIC and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) the preferred inducer of DIC. An overview of the reporting of ISTH DIC score parameters elucidated that only about 25% of the studies measure all of the four parameters necessary for the implementation the ISTH scoring system. Furthermore, most therapeutic interventions tested in animal models of DIC are administered prophylactically, which may be irrelevant to the clinical setting and could explain why compounds effective in preclinical animal models often fail in clinical trials. It is concluded that Implementation of a scoring system in animal models of DIC may increase the ability to compare DIC amongst animal models and improve the translational aspect of treatment effect.

Crosstalk between coagulation and inflammation in mastitis and metritis in dairy cows

Coagulation and inflammation are closely related as part of the mechanisms of host defence during a severe infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between thrombin as a factor in both the coagulative and inflammatory processes and neutrophil secretory function on the basis of lactoferrin (LF), elastase and myeloperoxidase release in the course of mastitis and metritis in cows. Thrombin generation was measured on the basis of hydrolysis of SAR-PRO-ARG-pNA and lactoferrin concentration was estimated by an ELISA method. The greatest thrombin generation was observed in the metritis group (1.18 +/- 0.62 IU). The level of LF was the highest in the group of cows with mastitis (0.74 +/- 0.55 mg/ml) in the first phase of the disease. In the second phase of the diseases the level of serum LF in cows with mastitis diminished to the value of 0.41 +/- 0.16 mg/ml, whereas in cows with metritis the level of LF increased to 0.51 +/- 0.17 mg/ml. This study reveals that the excessive production of thrombin not only causes hypercoagulatory disorders but also exaggerates neutrophil function by the release of some enzymes which may play a destructive role during disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). These enzymes also inhibit anticoagulative systems, thus potentially worsening the course of the disease.