Biomarkers of ketosis in dairy cows at postparturient period: acute phase proteins and pro-inflammatory cytokines

Searching for new or additional biomarkers is an essential step toward the control of metabolic diseases such as ketosis. Acute phase proteins (APP) and pro-inflammatory cytokines were used successfully as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers for many animal diseases. However, their use in the diagnosis of ketosis in dairy cows in the postparturient period has not been completely elucidated. Therefore, 25 cows suffering from ketosis in the postparturient period were used in the current study, together with 20 healthy cows who served as a control. Blood samples were collected from both diseased and healthy animals, and the harvested serum was used for determination of APP and proinflammatory cytokines. The obtained results indicated that there was a significant (P <= 0.05) increase in the levels of beta-Hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), APP, namely: haptoglobin (HP), Serum Amyloid A (SAA), Fibrinogen (Fb), ceruloplasmin (Cp), alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (alpha 1-AG), and proinflammatory cytokines, namely:, interleukins IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12), Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) in dairy cows affected with ketosis compared to the control. A positive correlation was observed among traditional biomarkers (BHBA, NEFA) and suggested biomarkers (APP and cytokines) in cows affected with ketosis. Conclusively, APP and pro-inflammatory cytokines could be used as promising biomarkers for ketosis in dairy cows in the postparturient period.