Total serum bile acid concentrations in dairy cows with fatty liver and liver failure

In forty-five Holstein Frisian dairy cows (1-6 weeks post partum; mean age: 5.1 +/- 1.2 years) the serum total bile acid concentrations (SBA) were mea sured enzymatically. In all cows a left sided abomasal displacement was cor rected surgically by right side laparotomy and omentopexy three days before investigation. The liver fat content was determined in all cows histologic ally. Liver failure was assumed if typical clinical signs (ataxia, general depression, recumbency or coma), an increased venous plasma ammonia level ( > 35 mu mol/l) and a decreased plasma amino acid index (< 4.0) were found. Cows without liver failure (N = 29) were grouped according to the liver fat content as cows with mild (N = 5), moderate (N = 19) or severe hepatosteat osis (N = 5). Histological examination of liver biopsies in cows with liver failure (N = 16) revealed in twelve cases a severe fatty liver and in four cases a hydropic degeneration of the liver tissue. Although in cows withou t liver failure mean SEA concentrations were higher in the group with moder ate (47.3 +/- 30.9 mu mol/l) or severe fatty liver (32.9 +/- 21.7 mu mol/l) than in that with mild lipidosis (18.0 ( 16.8 mu mol/l), differences were not significant. The mean SEA concentration in cows with liver failure (70. 5 +/- 49.5 mu mol/l) was only significantly (p < 0.05) increased compared t o cows with uncomplicated mild hepatic lipidosis. In conclusion, the determ ination of SEA concentrations is of little value in the recognition of fatt y liver or even liver failure due to the considerable variance of SEA conce ntrations in dairy cows.