title: The association between indicators of inflammation and liver variables during the transition period in high-yielding dairy cows: an observational study.
abstract: During the transition period, cows are confronted with infectious and inflammatory challenges leading to an acute phase response (APR) marked by increased hepatic synthesis of positive acute phase reactants (+AP) and a decrease in negative acute phase reactants (-AP). The aim of this study was to quantify the APR in 21 high-yielding dairy cows studied from 9 days before until 42 days after calving, and to assess the association between the APR, disease incidence and indicators of liver function. Repeated blood samples were analyzed for -AP (retinol, albumin, cholesterol), +AP (haptoglobin, caeruloplasmin), paraoxonase, and liver-associated variables (aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transferase, bilirubin). All cows displayed postpartum decreases in -AP and paraoxonase, and increases in +AP and liver variables. When retrospectively categorized, cows presenting a stronger -AP decline displayed higher +AP and liver variables, and a higher disease incidence compared to cows with a milder decline. Altogether, typical changes in -AP and +AP identify the transition period as a time of increased inflammatory load. Group differences in liver variables suggest that a more severe APR may be associated with altered liver function. However, no causal relationship can be proven based on this observational dataset, and results should be interpreted cautiously.
authors: Laboratory for Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk B-2610, Belgium. Philippe.Bossaert@ua.ac.be
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Bossaert
authors: Erminio
authors: E
authors: Trevisi
authors: Geert
authors: G
authors: Opsomer
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Bertoni
authors: Sarne
authors: S
authors: De Vliegher
authors: Jo L M R
authors: JL
authors: Leroy
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000032:analysis; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D058725:Peripartum Period / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin; D013997:Time Factors; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D006242:Haptoglobins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014801:Vitamin A; D002784:Cholesterol; D002570:Ceruloplasmin; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase; D001663:Bilirubin