HAPTOGLOBIN CONCENTRATIONS IN BLOOD OF DAIRY COWS WITH INFLAMMATORY DISEASES

Haptoglobin is an acute phase protein produced primarily in the liver in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines. The objective of this field study was to determine if common inflammatory diseases like mastitis and claw inflammatory disorders are associated with increased serum haptoglobin. Moreover, the sensitivity and specificity of haptoglobin levels were tested. 237 Holstein dairy cows were included in the study; farm feeding management was based on TMR and the dairy cows were housed in free stalls with cubicles. Health condition of mammary gland and claws was examined in the crush. The subclinical mastitis was diagnosed by using California mastitis test. Blood samples were obtained from the jugular vein at the time of the clinical examination and treatment. Serum haptoglobin concentration was measured by colorimetric assay (Tridelta Development, Ireland). Statistical analysis was done by two-way ANOVA. The threshold level of haptoglobin for calculation of sensitivity and specificity was 0.05 g/L. Clinical mastitis, subclinical mastitis, and inflammatory claw disorders, including digital dermatitis, inter digital dermatitis, pododermatitis, interdigital hyperplasia, and subclinical laminitis were found in 204 dairy cows (INFLA). 33 dairy cows were found to be free of inflammatory changes (CONTROL). Cows with inflammation had higherserum haptoglobin than controls: INFLA — 0.21 g/L; CONTROL — 0.06 g/L (P<0.01). The sensitivity de tecting dairy cows with inflammatory disorders by serum haptoglobin levels was 84 %, whereas the specificity in the control group of 33 clinically unsuspicious cows was 68 %. Results of the study show that the inflammatory dis orders in dairy cows are associated with increased concentrations of the serum haptoglobin. However, sensitivity and specificity of the serum haptoglobin are rather low for detection of inflammatory processes in dairy cows.


Materials and methods
237 Holstein dairy cows were included in the study; farm feeding management was based on TMR and the dairy cows were housed in free stalls with cubicles. Health condition of mammary gland and claws were examined in the crush. The subclinical mastitis was diagnosed by using гаптоглобіну в сироватці крові. Однак чутливість та специфічність сироваткового гаптоглобіну надто низькі для діагностики запальних процесів у молочних корів. Ключевые слова: МОЛОЧНЫЕ КОРОВЫ, ГАПТОГЛОБИН, МАСТИТ, ВОСПАЛЕ-НИЕ КОПЫТ California mastitis test. Blood samples were obtained from the jugular vein at the time of the clinical examination and treatment. Serum haptoglobin concentration was measured by colorimetric assay (Tridelta Development, Ireland). Statistical analysis was done by two way ANOVA. The threshold level of haptoglobin for calculation of sensitivity and specificity was 0.05 g/L.

Results and discussion
Clinical mastitis, subclinical mastitis, and inflammatory claw disorders, including digital dermatitis, interdigital dermatitis, pododermatitis, interdigital hyperplasia, and subclinical laminitis were found in 204 dairy cows (INFLA). 33 dairy cows were found to be free of inflammatory processes. Cows with inflammation had higher serum haptoglobin (0.21 g/L) than those without inflammation (0.06 g/L), respectively (P<0.01). The sensitivity detecting dairy cows with inflammatory disorders and claw inflammation by serum haptoglobin levels was 84 % and 90 %, respectively. The specificity in the control group of 33 clinically unsuspicious cows was 68 % (table).
In numerous studies it was found that the serum haptoglobin increased in infectious and inflammatory processes such as mastitis, metritis, pyometra, traumatic reticulitis and bacterial infections [10]. The haptoglobin can react very strongly in an acute inflammation and 20-1000 fold increase can be then measured in serum [6].
A significantly higher serum concentrations of haptoglobin and amyloid alpha were found in dairy cows with clinical mastitis compared to healthy ones [4]. Dairy cows with claw inflammation had usually higher serum haptoglobin levels than healthy cows. Several studies demonstrated that the painful claw inflammations were mostly associated with elevated serum haptoglobin [5,9].
The recent study demonstrated that metabolic stress, indicated as subclinical ketosis as well as calving disorders and RFM in multiparous cows, is associated with haptoglobin concentration, thus, reduced sensitivity and specificity in the detection of inflammations can be expected for haptoglobin measurements during the first week after calving [7].

Conclusion
Results of the present study show that the inflammatory disorders in dairy cows are associated with increased concentrations of the serum haptoglobin. However, sensitivity and specificity of the serum haptoglobin are rather low for de-tection of inflammatory processes in dairy cows. Therefore, a use of serum haptoglobin for monitoring of inflammatory diseases on the dairy farm level can be recommended only with limitation.