Open Access
Research (Published online: 26-03-2022)
26. Comparison of two diagnostic methods through blood and urine sample analyses for the detection of ketosis in cattle
Karla Verónica Borja, Andrés Miguel Amador, Silvana Hipatia Santander Parra, Cristian Fernando Cárdenas and Luis Fabian Núñez
Veterinary World, 15(3): 737-742

Karla Verónica Borja: Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Carrera de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia; Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador, Antigua Vía a Nayón S/N, Quito EC 170124.
Andrés Miguel Amador: Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Carrera de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia; Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador, Antigua Vía a Nayón S/N, Quito EC 170124.
Silvana Hipatia Santander Parra: Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Carrera de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia; Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador, Antigua Vía a Nayón S/N, Quito EC 170124.
Cristian Fernando Cárdenas: Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Carrera de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia; Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador, Antigua Vía a Nayón S/N, Quito EC 170124.
Luis Fabian Núñez: Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Carrera de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, One Health Research Group; Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador, Antigua Vía a Nayón S/N, Quito EC 170124.

doi: www.doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2022.737-742

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Article history: Received: 29-08-2021, Accepted: 09-02-2022, Published online: 26-03-2022

Corresponding author: Luis Fabian Núñez

E-mail: fabiann7@yahoo.es

Citation: Borja KV, Amador AM, Parra SHS, Cárdenas CF, Núñez LF (2022) Comparison of two diagnostic methods through blood and urine sample analyses for the detection of ketosis in cattle, Veterinary World, 15(3): 737-742.
Abstract

Background and Aim: Several Ecuadorian farms use human test strips (cheaper than veterinary strips) to diagnose bovine ketosis; however, their reliability is unknown. This study aimed to determine the confidence level of human strips for the detection of ketosis in bovines by comparing two diagnostic methods for ketosis: one used in bovines (gold standard) to analyze blood samples and the other used in humans to analyze urine samples.

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on an Ecuadorian farm using 50 animals, ten from each of five categories: heifers, 4 months pregnant (4MP), 15 days prepartum (15DPRE), 15 days postpartum (15DPOST), and 42 days postpartum (42DPOST). Blood samples were collected through coccygeal venipuncture and urine samples were collected during spontaneous urination. BHBCheck™ assay was used to measure β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in the blood, whereas Combur10Test® was used to measure acetoacetate (AcAc) in urine for the determination of ketosis.

Results: BHB was detected in all animals. Based on a ketosis cutoff point of 0.8-1.2 mmol/L, 13 animals from the 15DPOST and 42DPOST categories had ketosis; AcAc was detected in the urine from nine animals originated from the two same categories. Metabolites, either BHB or AcAc, were not detected in heifers, 4MP, or 15DPRE individuals. Finally, the BHBCheck™ assay had better efficiency in detecting ketosis in animals (p<0.05) than the Combur10Test®.

Conclusion: Combur10Test® urine strips reached 92% reliability for the detection of ketosis in dairy cattle, compared to BHBCheck™ assays.

Keywords: acetoacetates, cattle, hydroxybutyrates, ketosis, postpartum period.