Hematologic and serum biochemical changes in Salmonella ser Typhimurium-infected calves.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate hematologic and serum biochemical changes in Salmonella ser Typhimurium-infected calves.


METHODS
16 male 3- to 4-week-old dairy calves.


METHODS
13 calves were experimentally infected with S Typhimurium (strains IR715 and CS401, which are derivatives of ATCC 14028), and 3 calves were uninfected controls. Several hematologic and serum biochemical parameters were measured.


RESULTS
Hematologic changes included increases in PCV, RBC count, and hemoglobin concentration, associated with a transitory leukopenia characterized by neutropenia and lymphopenia. Biochemical findings included hypoglycemia, increased BUN, creatinine, and fibrinogen concentrations, and decreased sodium, total CO2, calcium, total protein, and albumin concentrations. Increased total bilirubin concentration associated with decreased conjugated bilirubin concentration was also observed. No significant changes in aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, and creatinine kinase activities were detected.


CONCLUSIONS
Experimental salmonellosis of calves results in marked to severe dehydration, accompanied by metabolic acidosis, hypoglycemia, and an acute inflammatory response associated with increased fibrinogen concentrations and severe neutropenia immediately after inoculation.
Santos
Renato L
RL
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-4467, USA.
Tsolis
Renée M
RM
Bäumler
Andreas J
AJ
Adams
L Garry
LG
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology*; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D004906:Erythrocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000662:veterinary; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D006454:Hemoglobins; D005340:Fibrinogen; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase