Background Approaches to the evaluation of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in premature calves by using lung-specific epithelial and endothelial biomarkers are needed. Objective To investigate the evaluation of PAH in premature calves with and without respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) by using lung-specific epithelial and endothelial biomarkers and determine the prognostic value of these markers in premature calves. Animals Fifty premature calves with RDS, 20 non-RDS premature calves, and 10 healthy term calves. Methods Hypoxia, hypercapnia, and tachypnea were considered criteria for RDS. Arterial blood gases (PaO₂, PaCO₂, oxygen saturation [SO₂], base excess [BE], and serum lactate concentration) were measured to assess hypoxia. Serum concentrations of lung-specific growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), endothelin-1 (ET-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and surfactant protein D (SP-D) were measured to assess PAH. Results Arterial blood pH, PaO₂, SO₂, and BE of premature calves with RDS were significantly lower and PaCO₂ and lactate concentrations higher compared to non-RDS premature and healthy calves. The ADMA and SP-D concentrations of premature calves with RDS were lower and serum ET-1 concentrations higher than those of non-RDS premature and healthy calves. No statistical differences for GDF-15 and VEGF were found among groups. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Significant increases in serum ET-1 concentrations and decreases in ADMA and SP-D concentrations highlight the utility of these markers in the diagnosis of PAH in premature calves with RDS. Also, we found that ET-1 was a reliable diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for PAH and predicting mortality in premature calves.

The purpose of the present study was to determine hypoxic brain damage in calves with perinatal asphyxia using brain-specific damage biomarkers. Ten healthy and 25 calves with perinatal asphyxia were enrolled in the study. Clinical examination, neurological status score, and laboratory analysis were performed at admission, 24, 48, and 72 h. Serum concentrations of ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolysis 1 (UCHL1), calcium-binding protein B (S100B), adrenomodullin (ADM), activitin A (ACTA), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and creatine kinase-brain (CK-B) were measured. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations of the brain tissue were performed in 13 nonsurvivor calves. The neurological status score of the calves with asphyxia was significantly (p < 0.05) lower. Mix metabolic-respiratory acidosis and hypoxemia were detected in calves with asphyxia. Serum UCHL1 and S100B were significantly (p < 0.05) increased, and NSE, ACTA, ADM, and CK-B were decreased (p < 0.05) in calves with asphyxia. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations confirmed the development of mild to severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. In conclusion, asphyxia and hypoxemia caused hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in perinatal calves. UCHL1 and S100B concentrations were found to be useful markers for the determination of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in calves with perinatal asphyxia. Neurological status scores and some blood gas parameters were helpful in mortality prediction.

The purpose of the present study was to establish the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) and evaluate the usefulness of kidney-specific biomarkers in diagnosing AKI in premature calves with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Ten-term healthy and 70 premature calves with RDS were enrolled. Clinical examination, blood gases, and chemical analysis were performed at admission and 72 h. Serum concentrations of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cre), phosphorus (P), cystatin-C (Cys-C), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), uromodulin (UMOD), and liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) were measured to evaluate kidney injury. Our findings showed that 38.5% of the premature calves with RDS developed AKI. The RDS-AKI group had a 4-fold higher mortality risk than the RDS-non-AKI group. Cys-C, with 90% and 89% specificity, and NGAL, with 100% sensitivity and 85% specificity, were the most reliable biomarkers to determine AKI in premature calves. The usefulness of any biomarker to predict mortality was not found to be convincing. In conclusion, AKI can develop as a consequence of hypoxia in premature calves and may increase the risk of mortality. In addition, serum Cys-C and NGAL concentrations may be useful in the diagnosis of AKI in premature calves with RDS.

Background: Displaced abomasum (DA) is one of the most important metabolic disorders of dairy cattle. In DA, ischaemic damage may occur as a result of impaired perfusion due to abomasal displacement, which may result in gastrointestinal mucosal damage.Objective: Investigation of gastrointestinal tissue damage in cattle with right displacement of the abomasum (RDA) and left displacement of the abomasum (LDA) using intestinal‐related biomarkers.Methods: Forty‐eight DA (24 LDA, 24 RDA) and 15 healthy Holstein dairy cows were enrolled between March 2021 and July 2022. Serum biomarkers including gamma‐enteric smooth muscle actin (ACTG‐2), liver‐fatty acid binding proteins (L‐FABP), platelet activating factor (PAF), trefoil factor‐3 (TFF‐3), leptin, claudin‐3 and interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) concentrations were measured from venous blood samples.Results: L‐FABP concentrations in the LDA group and TFF‐3 concentrations in the RDA group were lower than in the control group. The leptin concentration of the RDA group was higher than that of the other groups. There was a negative correlation between lactate, leptin and IL‐8 concentrations. There was a negative correlation between lactate and TFF‐3, whereas leptin and lactate were positively correlated. Leptin was the more reliable biomarker for discriminating between RDA and LDA cases.Conclusion: Changes in serum L‐FABP, TFF‐3 and leptin concentrations in cattle with DA may reflect acute intestinal injury and the subsequent repair phase. However, these biomarkers had poor diagnostic performance in discriminating between healthy and cattle with DA, while leptin emerged as the most useful marker in differentiating LDA from RDA cases.

Amaç: Bu çalışmada, farklı etiyolojik etkenlere bağlı gelişen neonatal buzağı ishalinde hemogram parametrelerinin mortalite ile ilişkisinin ortaya konulması amaçlandı. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmaya 50 ishalli buzağı dahil edildi. Buzağılar hayatta kalma durumlarına göre iyileşen ve ölen buzağılar olarak 2 gruba ayrıldı. Ayrıca dışkı hızlı test kitinde ishale neden olan etiyolojik etken temelinde bakteriyel (E. coli), viral (rotavirüs ve koronavirüs) ve paraziter (Cryptosporidium parvum) olmak üzere 3 alt gruba ayrıldı. Total lökosit (WBC), lenfosit (Lym), monosit (Mon), granülosit (Gra), eritrosit (RBC), ortalama eritrosit hacmi (MCV), hematokrit (HCT), ortalama eritrosit hemoglobini (MCH), ortalama eritrosit hemoglobin konsantrasyonu (MCHC), eritrosit dağılım genişliği (RDW), hemoglobin (Hb) ve trombosit (PLT) düzeyleri ölçüldü. Bulgular: Etiyolojiden bağımsız olarak, ölen buzağıların MCHC düzeyleri hayatta kalan buzağılardan daha düşüktü (cut-off: 32.15 g/dL, 68% sensitive, 62% spesifite, p = 0.041). Ayrıca, viral etyolojiye sahip, ölen buzağıların MCHC düzeyleri, hayatta kalan buzağılardan daha düşüktü (cut-off: 31.75 g/dL, 85% sensitive, 75% spesifite, p = 0.029). E. coli etiyolojisine sahip ölen buzağıların RBC düzeyleri, hayatta kalan buzağılardan daha düşüktü (cut-off: 9.27 ×103 cells/mL, 83% sensitive, 84% spesifite, p = 0.024). C. parvum ile enfekte buzağıların hemogram parametrelerinde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılık yoktu. Öneriler: MCHC ve RBC düzeyleri, yenidoğan buzağı ishalinde mortalite tahmininde istatistiksel olarak anlamlıydı. Hemogram parametrelerinin diğer kan parametreleri (kan gazı vb.) ile birlikte değerlendirilmesi mortalite tahmininde daha faydalı olabilir.

In calves with diarrhea, it is critical to accurately determine the severity of dehydration and provide adequate fluid therapy. However, objective criteria are still limited. The aim of this study, a prospective cohort diagnostic study, is to compare caudal vena cava maximum diameter with expiration (CVCmax), caudal vena cava minimum diameter with inspiration (CVCmin), and caudal vena cava collapsibility index (CVC-CI) measurements before and after fluid therapy and to establish cut-off values for distinguishing between moderately and severely dehydrated calves. Twenty-four calves, with their degree of dehydration assessed based on enophthalmos and skin elasticity duration, were divided into two equal groups. Group I: consisted of 12 calves with an estimated degree of dehydration of 8–10% and were considered moderately dehydrated (degree of enophthalmos 4–6 mm, skin elasticity duration (s) 2–5). Group II: consisted of 12 calves with an estimated degree of dehydration 10–12% and were considered severely dehydrated (degree of enophthalmos 6–8 mm, skin elasticity duration (s) 5–10). Clinical examination, complete blood count and blood gas analysis, hemodynamic parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate, capillary refill time (CRT), L-lactate, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP)) and ultrasonographic examinations were performed for 48 h: before treatment (hour 0), immediately after the first fluid bolus, and at hours 8, 24, and 48 after the first fluid bolus. The Friedman test was used for within-group comparisons over time, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for between-group comparisons at different time points. Categorical data were analysed using the chi-squared test, and Fisher’s exact test was used when expected cell counts were less than 5. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and cut-off (lower limit) of CVC diameter and CVC-CI (%) compared with selected parameters (SBP, DBP, MAP, and L-lactate) to discriminate between moderate and severe dehydration. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. CVCmax and CVCmin increased significantly after treatment in diarrheic calves (P < 0.05). Additionally, a significant decrease in CVC-CI (%) was observed in the treated diarrheic calves. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of CVCmax was 0.885 (95% CI: 0.823–0.946; P < 0.001), with 82% sensitivity and 85% specificity at the intercept point of 1.05, the AUC of CVCmin was 0.913 (95% CI: 0.861–0.964; P < 0.001), with 89% sensitivity and 84% specificity at the intercept point of 0.66, and were the most reliable parameters in differentiating between moderate and severe dehydration. A significant increase in CVCmax and CVCmin diameters, along with a significant decrease in CVC-CI, was observed with fluid therapy. The CVCmax and CVCmin diameters can provide valuable information for distinguishing between moderately and severely dehydrated calves.