Cardiac isoenzymes in healthy Holstein calves and calves with experimentally induced endotoxemia

This paper describes a controlled study designed to establish normal values for cardiac troponins I and T (cTnI and cTnT) and CK-MB mass in healthy newborn Holstein calves, and to compare values for cTnI, cTnT, CK-MB and total creatine kinase (CK) with age-matched calves experiencing experimentally induced endotoxemia. Nineteen healthy Holstein bull calves, 48 to 72 h of age were used. Baseline cTnI, cTnT, CK-MB and total CK measurements were obtained from control (n = 9) and experimental (n = 10) calves. Controls then received physiological saline and experimental calves received endotoxin (O55:B5 Escherichia coli LPS) intravenously after which cardiac biomarkers and total CK were measured at 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h post-initiation of infusion. Measured values were analyzed and compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA) by repeated measure design, with statistical significance set at P < 0.05. The cardiac biomarker cTnT was not detected in any calf at any time point, and CK-MB was only detected in 5 of 95 samples. The cTnI was significantly increased compared to baseline and controls, 3 h post lipopolysaccharide (LPS) infusion. Total CK was significantly increased in LPS administered calves at 18 and 24 h post infusion. The mean, standard deviation, and range for cTnI in healthy controls were 0.023 ng/mL (s = 0.01), and 0.01 to 0.05 ng/mL, respectively. In conclusion, LPS administration was associated with rapid and significant increases in cTnI but CK-MB and cTnT were not detected in the plasma of healthy calves. Total CK values increased significantly following LPS administration. Biochemical evidence of myocardial injury occurs within 3 h following LPS administration to neonatal Holstein calves.     

Study on diarrhea in young calves. 2. Pathomorphological studies in clinically healthy calves and in calves with diarrhea

Pathological-anatomical and histological investigations were performed in 49 calves aged from 1 to 18 days, 26 of them being affected by diarrhoea, 23 being without clinical signs. In both the groups above all rhinitis, gastritis and typhlocolitis could be observed, thus the affection could be characterized as rhinogastrocolitis. Significant differences only existed between diarrhoea affected and clinical incospicuous calves concerning the macroscopic signs of the colon, periportal infiltrates of the liver and thymus in involution. The peak of inflammatory reaction is in general reached at the 7. to 10. day of life. In concordance with bacteriological findings the results refer to an affection not due to coli infection. Virus etiology may not be excluded and has to be examined in further studies.     

Blood oxygen binding in double-muscled calves and dairy calves with conventional muscle conformation

OBJECTIVE: To assess in vivo blood oxygen binding in double-muscled calves and dairy calves with conventional muscle conformation. ANIMALS: 58 dairy and 48 double-muscled calves. PROCEDURE: Calves were classified as neonatal (24 hours old) or older calves (2 to 26 days old). Venous and arterial blood samples were collected, and hemoglobin concentration, pH, PCO2, and PO2 were determined. Blood oxygen equilibrium curves (OEC) under standard conditions were constructed, and the oxygen exchange fraction (OEF) and the amount of oxygen released at the tissue level by 100 ml of blood (OEF Vol%) were calculated. RESULTS: In each breed, partial pressure of oxygen at 50% saturation of hemoglobin (P50) under standard conditions was significantly higher in older than in neonatal calves, indicating a right shift in OEC with age. Venous P50 was significantly lower in neonatal double-muscled calves than in neonatal dairy calves, but arterial and venous P50 were significantly higher in older double-muscled calves than in older dairy calves. In double-muscled, but not in dairy, calves, OEF was significantly higher in older than in neonatal calves. In neonatal calves, OEF Vol% was not significantly different between breeds, but OEF Vol% was significantly higher in older double-muscled calves than in older dairy calves. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The lower OEF in neonatal double-muscled calves, compared with dairy calves, could contribute to the higher sensitivity of double-muscled calves to hypoxia. Blood oxygen affinity decreased with age, but OEF and OEF Vol% were unchanged with age in dairy calves, whereas they increased with age in double-muscled calves.     

Milk feeding and utilization of nutrients in clinically healthy calves and in calves with diarrhea

Digestibility of nutrients was determined in healthy calves and in those with diarrhoea at the age of two and three weeks. The total collection of feces and indigestible marker methods (with Cr2O3) were used. High equality of results and statistically non-significant differences between the method of a total collection of feces and indigestible marker one in the suckling calves (Tab. II) confirm the suitability of using these two methods to determine digestibility. Based on the composition and commercially recommended feeding guide of milk replacer, it is clear that it has lower digestible energy, Zn and Fe intake. Slightly higher digestible crude protein and Mg intake, optimum Ca and P intake, all these values were calculated for 1 kg of live weight (Tab. I). Nutrient contents is responsible for nutrient ratio which is unbalanced and for low contents of digestible energy (76.5 KJ per g of digestible crude protein) instead of recommended values of 100-110 KJ per of digestible crude protein in milk replacer in suckling calves. In six clinically healthy calves fed with milk replacer Laktavit twice a day, an apparent digestibility of organic matter was found to be 95.7 +/- 1.8%, crude protein 93.5 +/- 1.8%, fat 94.5 +/- 1.4%, carbohydrates 97.2 +/- 1.5%, Ca absorption was 86.5 +/- 2.8%, P 95.3 +/- 2.9%. There was a depressed absorption for Mg 43.4 +/- 6.8%, Fe 24.2 +/- 4.3% and Zn 36.8 +/- 3.5% (Tab. III).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Anencephaly in calves

Anencephaly occurred in four calves and was characterized by cranioschisis, absence of the diencephalon with the cerebral hemispheres and rostral midbrain, various forms of eye defects, and relatively normal development of caudal brain stem, cerebellum and spinal cord. Amorphous dysplastic vestiges of the cerebral tissue protruded into the cranial defects. Morphologic features varied but were essentially similar. The cerebellum was absent in one case. Anencephaly in calves at least those we observed and defined in this study is localized defect confined to the brain, eye and skull. No spinal defect was observed in the calves.     

Lysozyme in calves

Relatively high lysozyme concentrations, depending on age, were recorded from intestinal content, spleen, liver, kidney, lung, lymph nodes, and mucosa of calves. Yet, only minor quantities of lysozyme were found in blood serum or plasma and in granulocytes. Physicochemical characterisation, precipitation, using polyclonal antisera, and crosswise neutralisation of lysis reaction were likely to suggest occurrence of immunological relationship reactions as well as differences between organ lysozymes, on the one hand, and intestinal lysozymes, on the other.     

Salmonellosis in calves

Despite the efforts of both physicians and veterinarians, the number of cases of salmonellosis per year has held steady or risen. The ability of the organism to live in many different animal species and under inhospitable environmental conditions is likely responsible for Salmonella's prevalence today. Diverse clinical signs occur in salmonellosis; they range from unthriftiness to explosive, necrotizing diarrheas with high mortality. Secondary complications of pneumonia, bone and joint infections, and meningoencephalitis can result from calfhood infections. Treatment of enteric salmonellosis is chiefly aimed at maintaining fluid, acid-base, and electrolyte balance. Bacteremic or septicemic calves also require systemic antibiotics. The control measures for salmonellosis are based on sanitation and management. Individual calf hutches or pens provide adequate isolation if sufficient spacing and good sanitation are maintained. The Salmonella vaccines presently available provide limited protection; however, live vaccines made from auxotrophic strains of Salmonella appear to be more efficacious.     

Preconditioning of calves

A high frequency of diseases in the veal industry is caused by diseases which are induced by several factors which are caused or at least influenced by errors of management. In order to comply with the political goal of a diminution of the use of antimicrobials in the veal industry (ban of growth promoters), errors of housing and of nutrition, damaging influences of the microclimate and hazardous commercial substances should be eliminated. Further measures of prophylaxis are discussed.