SERUM NEOPTERIN, PROCALCITONIN, ENDOTHELIN-1 AND HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN COWS WITH TRAUMATIC RETICULOPERITONITIS AND TRAUMATIC PERICARDITIS

Traumatic reticuloperitonitis (TRP) and traumatic pericarditis (TP) are disorders that occur because of cows swallowing metal foreign bodies due to malnutrition or different etiological reasons. Foreign bodies cause serious complications by piercing the peritoneum or sinking into the pericardium. This study analyzed the levels of neopterin, procalcitonin, and endothelin-1 and various hematological parameters in blood samples of cows with TRP and TP. This study included 2–7-year-old Simmental cows with TRP (n=35) or TP (n=35) and healthy controls (n=20). Glutaraldehyde tests were used to assess inflammation levels, and radiography confirmed the diagnoses. Total leukocyte count was found to be significantly higher in the TP and TRP groups compared to the control. In addition, while lymphocyte, monocyte and granulocyte counts were found to be higher in the TP group compared to other groups, erythrocyte and hematocrit levels were significantly lower. TP cows had higher neopterin levels than those of TRP and control cows. TRP cows had higher procalcitonin and endothelin-1 levels than those of TP and control cows. These increased levels were diagnostically important. Procalcitonin had the highest sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing between TRP and TP cases. As a result, neopterin, procalcitonin and endothelin-1 levels in cows with TRP and TP were found to be important in confirming the diagnosis and determining the severity of the disease.