Predictive Value of Plasma Parameters in the Risk of Postpartum Ketosis in Dairy Cows

Abstract

Introduction: The predictive value of selected parameters in the risk of ketosis and fatty liver in dairy cows was determined.

Material and methods: In total, 21 control and 17 ketotic Holstein Friesian cows with a β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentration of 1.20 mmol/L as a cut-off point were selected. The risk prediction thresholds for ketosis were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results: In the ketosis group, paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) activity and concentration of PON-1 and glucose (GLU) were decreased, and aminotransferase (AST) activity as well as BHBA and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) contents were increased. The plasma activity and concentration of PON-1 were significantly positively correlated with the level of plasma GLU. The plasma activity and concentration of PON-1 were significantly negatively correlated with the levels of AST and BHBA. According to ROC curve analysis, warning indexes of ketosis were: plasma PON-1 concentration of 46.79 nmol/L, GLU concentration of 3.04 mmol/L, AST concentration of 100 U/L, and NEFA concentration of 0.82 mmol/L.

Conclusion: This study showed that the levels of PON-1, GLU, AST, and NEFA could be used as indicators to predict the risk of ketosis in dairy cows.

Keywords: dairy cow; ketosis; plasma parameters; predictive value.

Fig 1

ROC Curve Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) plots for PON-1, AST, BHBA, NEFA, and GLU for diagnosis of ketosis (PON1 – paraoxonase-1; AST – aspartate aminotransferase; BHBA – β-hydroxybutyric acid; NEFA – non-esterified fatty acid; GLU – glucose)