Evaluation of blood gases in calves with Cryptosporidiosis

Abstract

Neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD) is a widespread disease in calves all over the world. NCD has multifactorial etiology and is mainly caused by aetiological agents by E. coli, Cryptosporidium spp., Rotavirus, and Coronavirus. Among these agents, Cryptosporidiosis and rotaviruses are the most common entero-pathogens in our region and all over the world. Cryptosporidiosis is protozoal enteritis caused by Cryptosporidium spp., that a coccidial parasite belonging to the Cryptosporidium genus. Cryptosporidiosis causes malabsorptive and secretory diarrhea in the small intestine. In neonatal calves with diarrhea, fluid losses during diarrhea and electrolyte imbalances may cause meabolic acidosis. Blood gas analysis is assessed the degree of severity of metabolic acidosis. It is aimed to this research that, to investigate the effect of cryptosporidiosis on calf metabolic status and compare it with healthy calves. The material of the study consisted of 16 Holstein calves with natural affected by only cryptosporidiosis were classified as the diseased group. 9 healthy calves with no diarrhea or other problem were classified as the control group. Clinical examination, fecal rapid tests and fecal microscopic examinations were performed in all calves at the beginning of study. Calves which had fecal rapid tests were positive only cryptosporidiosis and had Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts at infection level were selected as diseased group. Blood gas analyses were performed for both groups. Fecal analysis revealed that 16 calves were infected with Cryptosporidium spp. In the diseased group, there was a significant decrease in pH, cHCO3, cBase(B)c, and ctCo2(B)c (p < 0.001) compared to the healthy group. while a significant increase in cHc, PH, and cHCO3. and Anion Gap(K)c were statistically significantly (p˂0.001) differed from healthy group. It was determined that anion gap metabolic acidosis may occur in calves infected with cryptosporidiosis, although the clinical findings of diarrhea and the degree of dehydration were not very severe. It can be said that parenteral bicarbonate administration will provide significant support to the treatment in order to compensate for the acid-base balance in diarrheal calves with cryptosporidiosis