title: Using serum amyloid A to screen dairy cows for sub-clinical inflammation.
abstract: In this study, 232 lactating dairy cows from six herds were observed for clinical signs of inflammation and simultaneously had blood samples drawn to determine whether or not Serum Amyloid A (SAA) was present. Serum protein electrophoresis and white blood cell differential count revealed inflammation in SAA+ samples but not in SAA-samples. Using positive SAA test results as the standard for presence of inflammation, clinical findings consistent with inflammation concurred with positive SAA results only 26% of the time (p<.001) while the lack of clinical signs consistent with inflammation concurred with negative SAA results 95% of the time (p<.001). There was also a significant difference (p<.005) in management styles in that cows permanently fed on wilted/cured forages and kept inside had a 26% prevalence of positive SAA blood samples whereas the overall prevalence of SAA+ samples was 16%. These findings indicate that whole herd screening using SAA can be of value to the veterinarian in helping to identify cows with inflammatory diseases. From a public health perspective, SAA testing of cows going to market can help differentiate those not needing intensive inspection from those that do.
authors.affiliation: Penn Dutch Cow Care, Sadsburyville, PA 19369, USA.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Karreman
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Wentink
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wensing
mesh_terms: D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein