The aim of the study was to determine the influence of hypomagnesaemia on the haematological status and predictive values of haematological tests in the diagnosis of magnesium (Mg) deficiency in ...dairy cow herds. The study was carried out on 100 dairy HF cows, divided into two experimental groups and a control one.The two experimental groups (I - clinical form of hypomagnesaemia, II - chronic form of hypomagnesaemia) consisted of 40 cows and the control group consisted of 20 healthy cows. Blood samples were collected twice: before the commencement of the therapy and after three months. In both hypomagnesaemic groups, low erythrocyte count, haemoglobin (Hgb) concentration and hematocrit (Ht) index values were observed. The indirect parameters of the erythrocyte system were within the standard reference range, with the exception of the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) index, which, in approx. 45% of animals, was below the lower limit of the normal range. Haemolytic normocytic normochromic anaemia was detected through the hypomagnesaemia of the cows. In the first and second group, at the first blood sampling an increase in the eosinophil count was observed, which was statistically significant in relation to the second sampling. In the blood smear test, a variety of erythrocyte sizes (anisocytosis), polychromasia and Howell-Jolly bodies were detected in the affected cows. After supplementation with magnesium, the concentration of Mg in the serum of the treated animals returned to normal more rapidly than the haematological parameters. The authors assumed that these in the haematological parameters may be helpful in indicating the need for Mg supplementation.
This study reviewed a case series of 11 Holstein‐Friesian (HF) cows with postpartum hemoglobinuria (PPH) from one dairy herd. The first clinical signs of PPH appeared in the animals during the second ...or third lactation, between 21 and 30 days after calving. The clinical signs, including depression, diminished appetite, a dark red to brown color in the urine, pale mucous membranes, and a decrease in milk yields were observed in these 11 animals. Three of the cows developed jaundice of the mucous membranes and five had dry, parched feces. PPH was confirmed on laboratory test results of blood and urine samples. Anemia, serum hypophosphatemia (Pi = 0.79 mmoL/L), and increased liver function analytes (total bilirubin, total protein, and urea concentrations) were observed in all animals. Animals were treated with intravenous phosphorus supplementations for the first 2 days after clinical signs were noted, and then oral supplementations were administered. After the clinical signs resolved and the treatments were discontinued, the animals still had mild anemia; however, the phosphorus concentration increased to 1.40 mmoL/L. Gamma‐glutamyltransferase activity increased compared with activities measured before treatments and total bilirubin concentrations decreased slightly; however, the concentrations were still more than twice the upper limit of the normal RI. These animals were diagnosed with liver damage that had developed over the course of PPH, indicating the need for the further monitoring and treatment of cows during the postparturient period, even if clinical signs are no longer present.
The aim of the research was to evaluate the occurrence of arrhythmias and heart rate variability during diving in recreational divers. Continuous electrocardiographic (ECG) Holter monitoring was ...conducted in a group of 50 divers (age 36,8 ± 8,7). The recorded data included the duration of the dive, including a period of 60 minutes before the dive and 60 minutes after the dive. Moreover, divers filled in a questionnaire that had been prepared for the purpose of the study and the psychological tests State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The ECG recordings were synchronised with dive computers to correlate the ECG changes with diving events and analysed for the heart rate, arrhythmias and conduction disorders. The average heart rate was the highest (M=107.34 beats/minute) before diving, and the lowest after diving (M = 102.00 beats/minute). Supraventricular arrhythmias were recorded in nineteen (38%) of the participants of the study. The number of arrhythmias during diving (M = 14,45) is significantly higher than before (M = 9,93, p < 0,01) and after dive (M = 6,02, p < 0,05). All results were obtained from the continuous ECG Holter monitoring. It seems that using continuous ECG monitoring in conditions similar to diving (physical and psychological stress), brings more benefits than traditional, resting electrocardiogram.
The aim of this review was to analyse the health problem of lameness in dairy cows by assessing the health and economic losses. This review also presents in detail the etiopathogenesis of lameness in ...dairy cattle and examples of its treatment and prevention. This work is based on a review of available publications. In selecting articles for the manuscript, the authors focused on issues observed in cattle herds during their clinical work. Lameness in dairy cattle is a serious health and economic problem around the world. Production losses result from reduced milk yield, reduced feed intake, reproductive disorders, treatment costs, and costs associated with early culling. A significant difficulty in the control and treatment of lameness is the multifactorial nature of the disease; causes may be individual or species-specific and may be associated with the environment, nutrition, or the presence of concomitant diseases. An important role is ascribed to infectious agents of both systemic and local infections, which can cause problems with movement in animals. It is also worth noting the long treatment process, which can last up to several months, thus significantly affecting yield and production. Given the high economic losses resulting from lameness in dairy cows, reaching even >40% (depending on the scale of production), there seems to be a need to implement extensive preventive measures to reduce the occurrence of limb infections in animals. The most important effective preventive measures to reduce the occurrence of limb diseases with symptoms of lameness are periodic hoof examinations and correction, nutritional control, and bathing with disinfectants. A clean and dry environment for cows should also be a priority.
The aim of the study was a comparative analysis of uterine horn diameter, calcium and magnesium concentrations in blood serum and uterine washings in cows both with and without endometritis. The ...study was performed on 28 cows at 5, 22 and 42 DP (day post partum), of which 14 cows had been diagnosed with endometritis and the other 14 had no endometritis. The animals were selected based on clinical symptoms and cytological examination. Uterine horn diameter was determined in both examined groups of cows using an ultrasonographic device. The level of calcium and magnesium in the blood serum and uterine washings, and protein in uterine washings was determined using a BS-160 Mindray analyzer. Uterus diameter was similar in both examined groups of cows only at 5 DP, and on subsequent days of examination this parameter was higher in the endometritis group compared to the control (P<0.001). Calcium levels in the blood serum of cows with endometritis were lower than in cows without endometritis, both at 22 DP (P<0.001) and at 42 DP (P=0.004). The levels of calcium, magnesium and total proteins in uterine washings were higher in cows with endometritis compared to the group without endometritis, both at 22 and at 42 DPP (P<0.001). The results of this study confirm that the process of uterine involution is slower in cows with endometritis compared to cows without endometritis, and the myometrium of inflamed uterus does not utilize sufficient amounts of calcium and magnesium, which means that the concentrations of these elements in uterine fluid are higher than in cows without endometritis.