[Serum sialic acid concentration in healthy cattle and cattle with bronchopneumonia]

Studied was the content of sialic acid in the blood serum of cattle at different age and in the conditions of bronchopneumonia. It was found that at birth the calves showed considerably higher values of sialic acid as against the adult normal animals. At the age of 15--30 days sialic acid in calves reached the level in adult animals. In diseased animals (bronchopneumonia and arthritis) sialic acid rose dependably. It is believed that this is the result of inflammatory and destructive processes as with intensive treatment the blood level of sialic acid drops to that in normal animals. The determination of sialic acid level in the blood serum is suggested as a routine method in veterinary medicine to control the general status and the recovery of animals.