Comparative evaluation of clinical, ultrasonographic and specific serum biomarkers of traumatic reticuloperitonitis and traumatic pericarditis in cattle.

This study was carried out on 65 native breed cows (1st group (n:15): apparently healthy control cows, 2nd group (n:18): traumatic reticuloperitonitis “TRP” affected cows and 3rd group (n:32): traumatic pericarditis “TP” affected cows) from private farms belonging to EL-BEHIRA governorate, Egypt. A compatible case history with a complete thorough clinical examination, pain tests and metal detection were applied on all cows under investigation. The reticulum and heart were fully examined by ultrasonography. Cows were further evaluated by haemato-biochemical analysis including complete blood picture (CBC) with full differential leukocytic count. Moreover, liver function parameters (Total proteins, albumin, total globulins, AST, ALT, ALP, and GGT), different cardiac biomarkers (cardiac troponin (CTn); (CTn-I and CTn-T), CK-MB, and LDH), acute phase proteins” APPS”: (Haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA)), renal function parameters (BUN and serum creatinine), and total serum Calcium (Ca+2), all were completely analyzed. Our obtained data revealed that ultrasonography is a fast accurate reliable diagnostic tool along with potent clinical profile for describing inflammatory changes related to reticulum and pericardium with a full differentiation between various sequelae of TRP (acute localized TRP, chronic localized TRP) and TP (suppurative or fibrinous form) depending on characterization of peritoneal or pericardial effusions, in addition to visualization of perforating foreign bodies as a hyperechoic structures with distal acoustic shadowing or comet tail artifact. Hemogram offered many significant confirmatory biomarkers that were also helpful in comparative diagnosis and differentiating between TRP and TP including total and differential leukocytic count along with serum total proteins. Additionally, Hp was a remarkable positive APP for documenting the inflammatory process with TRP and TP rather than SAA in cattle While, CTn-I, CTn-T were the most reliable indicators of cardiac injury of TP affected cows. Finally, we can conclude that ultrasonography not only considered as easy, fast and accurate diagnostic aid of TRP and TP in adult cows but also is considered a good decision tool along with specific serum biomarkers.