Acute-phase response in dairy cows with surgically-treated abdominal disorders

Ninety-seven dairy cows suffering from traumatic reticuloperitonitis, abomasal displacement, and other gastrointestinal disorders or dystocia were referred for abdominal surgery. Plasma protein concentrations, including plasma fibrinogen and haptoglobin, and conventional haematological variables were determined both pre- and postoperatively. The examined variables were not of value in predicting the outcome of the abdominal disorders in general, but fibrinogen concentrations may be helpful in postoperative monitoring of infectious complications, such as peritonitis. Fifty-five per cent of the cows had increased haptoglobin concentrations preoperatively and abdominal surgery led to an additional haptoglobin increase for a further 2-3 days. It is recommended that pre- and postoperative haptoglobin values should be compared when monitoring infectious complications. Non-parametric receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis suggested that plasma haptoglobin concentration was the most accurate parameter for differentiating traumatic reticuloperitonitis from other gastrointestinal disorders, but plasma fibrinogen and globulin concentrations were also of value in this respect.