Evaluation of cardiac injury biomarkers in cattle with acute clinical mastitis

This study was carried out on 30 Holstein dairy cattle with acute clinical mastitis (ACM) and 30 healthy ones. After confirmation of ACM through clinical examination, venous blood samples were collected and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) was measured using chemiluminescence assay. Cardiac enzymes activities including CK-MB, AST and LDH were analyzed with special kits and spectrophotometric method. According to the findings mean heart rate (p=0.001), respiratory rate (p=0.026), and rectal temperature (p=0.030) were significantly increased in diseased group. cTnI level was 1.018 ± 0.235 ng/ml in cattle with ACM, which was significantly higher than healthy cattle (0.011±0.006 ng/ml; p=0.000). Other cardiac biomarkers were increased in diseased group, however elevation of serum activities of AST (p=0.047) and CK-MB (p=0.000) were statically significant. Although serum LDH activity in diseased group was higher than control group; but this difference was statistically non-significant (p=0.454). There were significant positive correlations between cTnI concentration with heart rate (p=0.018; r=0.853), respiratory rate (p=0.024; r=0.671), and rectal temperature (p=0.038; r=0.542). Heart rates were significantly correlated with serum activities of CK-MB (p=0.047; r=0.722) and AST (p=0.035; r=0.649). These results indicate some degree of heart damage caused by acute clinical mastitis in dairy cattle.