Evaluation of ornithine carbamoyl transferase and other serum and liver-derived analytes in diagnosis of fatty liver and postsurgical outcome of left-displaced abomasum in dairy cows.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate postsurgical outcome in dairy cows with left-displaced abomasum (LDA) with regard to severity of fatty liver and assess the usefulness of preoperative determination of serum ornithine carbamoyl transferase (OCT) activity, bile acids concentration, and other variables for evaluating liver function during the postsurgical convalescence period.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
68 Holstein cows.


METHODS
Blood and liver biopsy specimens were obtained during standing LDA surgery. Liver tissue was examined histologically and classified by severity of fatty change. Serum activities of liver-derived enzymes and concentrations of total lipids, triglycerides, bile acids, glucose, beta-hydroxybutyric acid, bilirubin, and nonesterified fatty acids were determined.


RESULTS
Most cows with LDA and cows with severe fatty liver were detected within the first month after calving. Postsurgical outcome was related to severity of fatty liver. All cows that died had severe fatty liver. Serum activities of OCT, aspartate aminotransferase, and glutamate dehydrogenase and serum total bilirubin concentration were sensitive indicators of fatty liver. Serum bile acids concentration was not an accurate indicator of fatty liver.


CONCLUSIONS
Postsurgical outcome of cows undergoing surgery to correct LDA was related to fatty liver severity. Assessment of serum activities of OCT, aspartate aminotransferase, and glutamate dehydrogenase and serum total bilirubin concentration is recommended for diagnosis of fatty liver in dairy cows with LDA, whereas determination of bile acids concentration is not. The strong correlation between OCT activity and degree of hepatocellular damage supports use of this enzyme for assessing severity of fatty liver and predicting postsurgical outcome in cows with LDA.
Kalaitzakis
Emmanouil
E
Clinic of Farm Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece.
Roubies
Nikolaos
N
Panousis
Nikolaos
N
Pourliotis
Konstantinos
K
Kaldrymidou
Eleni
E
Karatzias
Harilaos
H
D000018:Abomasum / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005969:Glutamate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D009954:Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D005969:Glutamate Dehydrogenase; D009954:Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D001663:Bilirubin