Hormonal, Hematological, and Oxidant / Antioxidant Disturbances in Aborted Cows

Abstract

Background: Cattle abortion, increasingly occurred in Iraq in last decades due to unknown causes, associates with various postpartum disturbances and/or complications which might affect markedly of the reproductive performance.  

Aims: To estimate the possible changes in hormonal, hematological and antioxidant/oxidant profiles in aborted cows due to undiagnosed causes.

Materials and methods: A total of 80 adult cows; 40 naturally calving cows as a healthy control in addition to 40 recently aborted cows, were selected from different areas in Al-Qadisiyah province during March-November (2023), and subjected for draining the jugular venous blood that kept into with and without anticoagulant tubes.

Results: In aborted group, the findings of hematology were showed a significant decrease in values of total erythrocytes and hemoglobin, and significant elevation in values of MCV when compared to those of healthy group. However, insignificant variations (P>0.05) between values of both study groups were showed in hematocrit, MCH, MCHC, total leaukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes. For hormones, the findings of aborted cows revealed a significant reduction in values of prolactin and a significant elevation in values of insulin. In cows of aborted group, the findings of antioxidants (catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) were significantly higher; while, malondialdehyde was significantly lower than seen in cows of healthy groups. Although the findings of glucose and magnesium were differed insignificantly, the concentration of calcium was reduced significantly in cows of healthy group when compared to those of aborted group.

Conclusion: To date, abortion in cattle due to unknown causes and their complications remain an actual problem without control. This might represent the first study in Iraq compare between the markers of aborted cows and naturally calving cows; therefore, additional studies appear very important to know all bodily changes after abortion and the methods for decreasing or preventing their negative effects.