INCREASED CONCENTRATIONS OF TRANSFERRIN IN THE URINE AND SERUM OF CATTLE WITH CARDIOMYOPATHY

Bovine cardiomyopathy affects adult cattle of the Simmental/red Holste in and Holstein-Friesian breeds and is characterised clinically by sig ns of congestive heart failure. Animals with cardiomyopathy suffered a marked renal loss of transferrin (Tf). The urinary concentration of T f discriminated very well between healthy and affected cattle, 93 per cent of the affected and 97 per cent of the healthy cows being identif ied correctly. In spite of the severe liver congestion and renal loss of Tf, cattle with cardiomyopathy had considerably higher concentratio ns of serum Tf than healthy cattle. This increase may help to compensa te for the low serum concentration of iron in the affected animals. Th e pronounced changes in the concentrations of iron and transferrin in the serum had little effect on the haemogram of the diseased animals.