ACUTE-PHASE PROTEIN VALUES IN BLOOD OF CATTLE AS INDICATOR OF ANIMALSWITH PATHOLOGICAL PROCESSES

Values of the acute phase proteins serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglob in (Hp) were measured in blood of normal dairy cows, bovine patients w ith inflammatory processes and slaughtered cattle to evaluate their us efulness as non-specific indicator of disease-activity and quality in single animals. Of the normal cows and bovine patients standard haemat ology and clinical blood chemistry were performed as well. Of the slau ghtered cattle SAA, Hp, iron and zinc were measured in plasma. SAA-val ues appeared to be of low level in most normal animals, whereas animal s with pathological lesions showed elevated SAA-values indicative of d isease-activity. Hp had dramatically increased in most patients, a few , however, revealed unmeasurable values. This was explained as a possi ble consequence of acuteness of disease, or of haemolysis associating the disease. Sample haemolysis could be excluded: suspect samples have not been measured. Regarding both parameters, Hp appeared to be most decisive being unmeasurable in normal cattle and elevated in most anim als with lesions. The slaughterhouse subjects consisted of a group of nine normal clinically healthy slaughter animals and ten animals with a history of disease. In animals without any lesions Hp was found to b e unmeasurable. Animals with pathology had elevated SAA-values. Some h ad unmeasurable Hp-values, however. Thus, SAA was necessary to screen all patients as animals with lesions. When concerning severity classes of pathological lesions in the abattoir cases found, the correlation coefficients of Hp (r = .94), SAA (r = .85), iron (r = -.54) and zinc (r = -.47) were compared, Hp and SAA appeared to be superior to iron a nd zinc. It was concluded that acute phase proteins may be used to mon itor health of slaughter cattle. More rapid detection methods are to b e developed, and their application in a larger practical trial has to be performed. As far as usefulness in integrated quality programmes of meat and in meat inspection is concerned, it was concluded that measu rement of acute phase proteins offer good perspectives.