Evaluation of blood gases in calves with cryptosporidiosis

Abstract

Neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD) is a widespread disease in calves worldwide. 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., 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 metabolic acidosis. Blood gas analysis assesses the degree of severity of metabolic acidosis. The aim of this research, 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 naturally affected by cryptosporidiosis, which were classified as the diseased group. 9 healthy calves with no diarrhea or other problems were classified as the control group. Clinical examination, fecal rapid tests, and fecal microscopic examinations were performed in all calves at the beginning of the study. Calves which were positive only for cryptosporidiosis and had Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts at the infection level were selected as the diseased group. Blood gas analyses were performed for both groups. 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 with a significant increase in cHc. Additionally, a statistically significantly increased Anion Gap (K)c (p 0.001) was detected in the diseased group compared to the healthy group. It was determined that anion gap metabolic acidosis may occur in calves with cryptosporidiosis, although the clinical findings of diarrhea and the degree of dehydration were not very severe. It can be thought that parenteral bicarbonate administration will contribute to the treatment success by compensating for acidbase balance in calves with cryptosporidiosis.