Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of racecadotril in the treatment of neonatal calves with infectious diarrhea.

Racecadotril, used as an antidiarrheal drug in humans and some animals such as the dog, inhibits peripheral enkephalinase, which degrades enkephalins and enkephalinase inhibition induces a selective increase in chloride absorption from the intestines. The study material consisted of 46 calves with infectious diarrhea and 14 healthy calves in the age 2-20 days. The calves were divided into eight groups; healthy calves (HG), healthy calves administered racecadotril (HRG), calves with E.coli-associated diarrhea (ECG), calves with E.coli-associated diarrhea administered racecadotril (ECRG), calves with bovine Rotavirus/Coronavirus-associated diarrhea (VG), calves with bovine Rotavirus/Coronavirus-associated diarrhea administered racecadotril (VRG), calves with C. parvum-associated diarrhea (CG) and calves with C. parvum-associated diarrhea administered racecadotril (CRG). Calves in the racecadotril groups received oral racecadotril at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg twice a day for 3 days. A routine clinical examination of all calves was performed. Hemogram and blood gas measurements were made from the blood samples. Standard diarrhea treatment was applied to the HG, ECG, CG, and VG groups. Clinical score parameters such as appetite, feces quality, dehydration, standing and death and some blood gas and hemogram parameters were evaluated to determine the clinical efficacy of racecadotril. Clinical score parameters were determined observationally. Blood gas measurements were performed using a blood gas analyzer. The hemogram was performed using an automated hematologic analyzer. Statistically significant differences were determined in the blood pH, bicarbonate, base deficit, lactate, and total leukocyte count in calves with diarrhea compared to healthy calves. After the treatments, these parameters were found to be within normal limits. At the end of treatment, 42 of the 46 diarrheal calves recovered, while 4 died. We found that racecadotril was effective in improving both clinical recovery and feces consistency in neonatal calves with diarrhea caused by E. coli. As a result, it can be stated that racecadotril, which has an antisecretory effect, is beneficial in the treatment of bacterial diarrhea caused by such as E. coli.

Serum sRAGE and sE-selectin levels are useful biomarkers of lung injury and prediction of mortality in calves with perinatal asphyxia.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the biomarkers specific to lung endothelial and epithelial damage in the determination of lung injury and its severity in calves with perinatal asphyxia and to evaluate their prognostic importance among survivors and non-survivor calves. Ten healthy calves and 20 calves with perinatal asphyxia were enrolled in the study. Clinical examination and laboratory analysis were performed at admission. Serum concentrations of soluble advanced glycation end-product receptor (sRAGE), soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin), clara cell secretory protein (CC16), and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) were measured to assess lung injury. Venous pH, sO2, HCO3, and BE of calves with perinatal asphyxia were significantly lower than the healthy calves. sRAGE, sE-selectin, pCO2, and lactate were significantly high in calves with asphyxia. ROC analysis showed that sRAGE, sE-selectin, pCO2, lactate, and respiratory rate were higher while HCO3 and BE were lower in the nonsurvivor calves than survivors. In conclusion, serum sRAGE and sE-selectin concentrations highlight the utility of these biomarkers in determining lung injury in calves with asphyxia. Also, pH, pCO2, lactate, HCO3, BE, and respiratory rate along with serum sRAGE and sE-selectin were useful indicators in the prediction of mortality.

Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in premature calves.

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is the presence of gastric contents proximal to the stomach. Pathologic consequences secondary to GER are termed gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of GER and GERD in premature calves by endoscopic examination. ANIMALS: Ten healthy and 51 premature calves were included in the study. All premature calves also had respiratory distress syndrome. METHODS: Esophagoscopy of premature calves was conducted by fiber optic endoscopy. Abnormalities such as increased saliva, hyperemia, hemorrhage, petechiae, presence of abomasal content in the esophagus, and relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) were evaluated by endoscopy. RESULTS: The prevalence of GERD and GER in the premature calves was 55 and 67%, respectively. Hyperemia and hyperemia with hemorrhage or petechiation of the esophageal mucosa were determined by endoscopic examination. Hyperemia was commonly observed in the distal esophageal mucosa, although a few hyperemic areas also were observed in other portions of the esophagus. In addition to these abnormalities, LES relaxation, abomasal fluid in the distal esophagus, abomasal content in the esophagus, and increased saliva also were observed in premature calves with GER. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of both GER (67%) and GERD (55%) in premature calves was high in the study. Endoscopy provides a practical, rapid, noninvasive, and reasonably accurate method for determining the presence of GER and GERD in premature calves.

Serum amyloid A and haptoglobin concentrations and liver fat percentage in lactating dairy cows with abomasal displacement.

BACKGROUND: There has been increased interest in measuring the serum concentration of acute phase reactants such as serum amyloid A [SAA] and haptoglobin [haptoglobin] in periparturient cattle in order to provide a method for detecting the presence of inflammation or bacterial infection. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether [SAA] and [haptoglobin] are increased in cows with displaced abomasum as compared with healthy dairy cows. ANIMALS: Fifty-four adult dairy cows in early lactation that had left displaced abomasum (LDA, n = 34), right displaced abomasum or abomasal volvulus (RDA/AV, n = 11), or were healthy on physical examination (control, n = 9). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Inflammatory diseases or bacterial infections such as mastitis, metritis, or pneumonia were not clinically apparent in any animal. Jugular venous blood was obtained from all cows and analyzed. Liver samples were obtained by biopsy in cattle with abomasal displacement. RESULTS: [SAA] and [haptoglobin] concentrations were increased in cows with LDA or RDA/AV as compared with healthy controls. Cows with displaced abomasum had mild to moderate hepatic lipidosis, based on liver fat percentages of 9.3 +/- 5.3% (mean +/- SD, LDA) and 10.8 +/- 7.7% (RDA/AV). [SAA] and [haptoglobin] were most strongly associated with liver fat percentage, r(s) = +0.55 (P < .0001) and r(s) = +0.42 (P = .0041), respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: An increase in [SAA] or [haptoglobin] in postparturient dairy cows with LDA or RDA/AV is not specific for inflammation or bacterial infection. An increase in [SAA] or [haptoglobin] may indicate the presence of hepatic lipidosis in cattle with abomasal displacement.

The level of serum ionised calcium, aspartate aminotransferase, insulin, glucose, betahydroxybutyrate concentrations and blood gas parameters in cows with left displacement of abomasum.

The purpose of this study was to determine concentrations of serum glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), insulin, beta-hydroxybutyrate (BOH) and ionised calcium (Ica) in dairy cows with left displaced abomasum (LDA) and to compare these parameters before and after surgical correction of LDA. Eighteen Swiss-Holstein dairy cows with LDA were used in this study. Clinically healthy post parturient cows (n: 10) from a local dairy farm were used as control group. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein from all the cows. Surgery was performed in cows with LDA. Blood samples from cows with LDA were collected 24 hours after surgery. The abomasum was repositioned followed by an omentopexy. Six of the 18 cows with LDA had clinical ketosis as detected with urine dipstick. The mean concentrations of insulin, BOH, glucose and AST in cows with LDA at admission time were increased compared with the healthy cows. But the mean concentration of ICa at admission time was slightly decreased compared with healthy cows. The mean BOH concentration was decreased 24 hours following surgery compared with values on admission time. However, the mean serum AST levels were increased both at admission time and 24 hours after surgery compared with healthy cows. The levels of blood gas parameters in cows with LDA were not significantly different in comparison with healthy cows, although hyperbasemia in six of 18 cows with LDA was determined. In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that serum insulin, glucose, AST and BOH levels were increased in dairy cows with LDA. Serum BOH and ICa levels were decreased 24 hours after surgery compared with values on admission time. All cows with LDA used in this study had subclinical/clinical ketosis. We could say that ketosis might be a risk factor for the displacement of the abomasum.