Investigation of the occurrence of liver abscesses in lactating and dry Holstein cows and its effect on some blood parameters and histology of hepatocytes

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the incidence of liver abscess in lactating and dry Holstein cows and its effect on some blood parameters and histology of hepatocytes. The liver of 577 lactating and dry Holstein cows at the time of slaughter in two abattoirs in Iran were examined. Blood collection from cows was carried out at the time of slaughter. Sixty healthy cows, i.e., the same number of cows with liver abscesses (which had no problem in terms of autopsy and splanchnic checking), were considered as control group according to herd and number of gestation. Immediately after slaughter, the livers of the cows was divided into 4 groups of liver without abscess score 0, liver with one or two small abscesses or scars; score A, liver with two to four well-organized abscesses; score A, and liver with one or more large open abscesses, with or without adhesions; score A. The slaughterhouse survey showed that, 10.4% (60 cows) had liver abscesses (25, 31.7 and 43.3 % for A-, A and A). Data from histological studies showed that in livers with abscesses in compare to healthy livers, natural form of hepatocytes close to sinusoids in liver with abscesses had changed, parts of the affected tissue showed necrosis and the numbers of Kupffer cells were increased. The concentration of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) in the blood serum of cattle with liver abscesses with A, A and A scores were higher than that of healthy cows (P≤0.01), while the concentration of creatine kinase (CK) in the cows affected by the abscess was lower than the healthy group (P≤0.01). Cows with liver abscesses with scores A-, A and A had lower concentrations of albumin and serum cholesterol than healthy cows (P≤0.01). The results of this study showed that the higher concentrations of liver enzymes and low blood concentrations of albumin and cholestrol in cows with liver abscesses may be due to the destruction of liver cells and inflammation. In conclusion, some blood parameters can be used as an indicator for assessing the status of liver abscess.