Clinico-biochemical alternation in bovine ketosis

Abstract

The study was aimed to study clinico-biochemical profile of bovine ketosis in Kashmir valley. During the study, 309 milk-cows of mixed population were screened for suspected ketosis out of which 28 were positive for clinical ketosis and 81 for subclinical ketosis and 08 animals were kept as healthy control. The body temperature, respiration rate and heart rate in affected animal was within the normal range, however rumen motility was decreased. The most consistent clinical signs were sudden drop in milk yield (100.00%) and selective feeding (75.00%). Wasting (35.71%), complete anorexia (25.00%), acetone smell in breath/milk (17.85%), depression (39.28%), constipation (14.28%), dry and scant faeces (21.42%), disinclination to move (3.57%) and nervous signs (3.57%) were observed in less than 50% of cases. The multi-diagnostic strip reaction (Siemens) in ketotic cows showed (+++) in eight cases, (++) in four cases and (+) in nine cases. Whereas urobilinogen, blood, specific gravity, bilirubin, nitrites and glucose were normal in all cases of ketosis in cattle, although presence of leucocytes (7/28), proteinurea (6/28) and lowered urine pH were seen in four cases. There was a significant decrease in blood glucose level in clinical ketosis compared to control group. The plasma NEFA and BHBA levels were significantly increased in both clinical and subclinical ketosis.