title: Fecal occult blood tests in cattle.
abstract: Three methods for fecal occult blood detection were evaluated in mature cows. Bovine blood (heparinized) was infused directly into the abomasum of mature nonlactating rumen-fistulated cows. After administration of the blood, feces from the cows were periodically collected, tested, stored, and retested. Sensitivity for two of the three methods was optimal at 2 days of storage, regardless of temperature at storage. A dilute alcoholic solution of guaiac was the most sensitive and reproducible method. In vitro tests demonstrated that guaiac solution could detect a quantity of blood comparable with a daily blood loss of 69 to 75 ml. In addition, the minimal transit time of blood from abomasum to rectum was measured and ranged from 7 to 19 hours.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D008722:Methods; D009780:Occult Blood; D013997:Time Factors