Blood oxygen binding in calves with naturally occurring diarrhea.
OBJECTIVE
To assess blood oxygen binding in calves with diarrhea.


METHODS
22 dairy and 26 double-muscled calves with diarrhea, 31 healthy dairy calves and 37 healthy double-muscled calves.


METHODS
Severity of disease, including the ability of affected calves to stand, was evaluated. Hydration and signs of depression were scored. Venous and arterial blood samples were collected, and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, ATP, chloride, inorganic phosphate, lactate, pyruvate, total protein, albumin, and hemoglobin concentrations, and Hct, pH, Pco2, and PO2 were determined. Oxygen equilibrium curves (OEC) were constructed under standard conditions, and oxygen extraction ratios were calculated.


RESULTS
Recumbent calves of both breed-types were more dehydrated and had more severe signs of depression than ambulatory affected calves. In both breed-types, hemoglobin oxygen affinity was increased in calves with diarrhea, compared with healthy calves, as indicated by a decrease in standard partial oxygen pressure (P50). Diarrhea induced hypocapnia and hypothermia in the most severely affected calves, which counteracted the acidosis-induced right shift in arterial and venous OEC. Arterial and venous P50 were significantly less in double-muscled calves with diarrhea than healthy calves, whereas P50 for affected dairy calves were similar to those of healthy calves. Except in the most severely affected dairy calves, oxygen extraction ratio was significantly less in calves with diarrhea, compared with healthy calves.


CONCLUSIONS
Release of oxygen from blood may be impaired in calves with diarrhea, depending on the effect of the disease on certain blood biochemical variables.
Cambie
C
C
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Belgium.
Clerbaux
T
T
Moreaux
B
B
Detry
B
B
Beerens
D
D
Frans
A
A
Gustin
P
P
D019794:2,3-Diphosphoglycerate / Q000097:blood; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000097:blood; D003681:Dehydration / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D010313:Partial Pressure; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D019289:Pyruvic Acid / Q000097:blood
D002712:Chlorides; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins; D010710:Phosphates; D019794:2,3-Diphosphoglycerate; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D019344:Lactic Acid; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D010100:Oxygen