EXPERIMENTAL PAROXYSMAL HEMOGLOBINURIA IN CALVES AND SELECTED BIOCHEMICAL INDEXES IN THE BLOOD AND URINE

When examining diseased calves, sporadically pronounced haemoglobinuri a with dark red urine can be observed. In serious cases the clinical p icture may be manifold but peculiar; in easy cases, however, when ther e are no distinct clinical symptoms, a larger scale of examinations is needed to aid differential diagnosis. Eight roughage-fed bulls aged t wo months, weighing 55 - 71 kg were used in this experiment. Selected biochemical indices of the mineral, enzymatic, hepatic, energetic and urinary profile were determined in the blood serum and urine of the an imals. After the administration of cold water at an amount representin g 12 % of the animal's body weight, ionogram values were determined. I n all indices a positive correlation with hydraemia and a decrease in Na, Cl, Ca, Mg and P levels were observed. Correction of the above lev els occurred within 24 hours, with the exception of Na and P concentra tions that did not reach starting values. As to the enzymatic profile (AST, ALT, GGT), no pronounced disturbances could be observed. The mos t profound changes were seen in AST activity that increased in the 5th hour of the experiment. A slight tendency towards hypoproteinaemia wa s observed to continue even in 24 hours. Hypoglobulinaemia reached its starting value in the 24th hour while simultaneously albumin levels s lightly increased. The increasing bilirubin levels reached their maxim um in the 5th and 6th hour; correction of the former occurred within 2 4 hours. The urinary profile revealed polyuria, aciduria, aquaeous uri ne and haemoglobinuria, the latter reaching its peak between hours 1 a nd 3 following water administration. The values we succeeded to determ ine for a wide spectrum of indices suggest that the latter may be used to confirm or exclude the diagnosis of suspect paroxysmal haemoglobin uria in calves within 3 - 6 hours following the onset of the disease.