Investigations on the importance of blood electrolytes (Na, K, CI, Ca, İnor. P and Mg) and electrocardiogram findings in diagnosis and prognosis of some forestomach diseases in cattle

134 7. SUMMARY Relationship between blood electrolyte ( Na+, K+ CI", Ca++, inorganic P and Mg"*4- ) concentrations and EKG parameters obtained from cows with forestomach diseases ( RPT, vagal and simple indigestion, ruminal acidosis and abomasal displacement ) was examined. Significance of these parameters in the diagnosis and prognosis of the forestomach diseases were also investigated. The study was conducted on 73 cows brought to Internal Disease Polyclinics of Veterinary Faculty, Fırat University, between October 1995 - July 1997. Systematic clinical examinations and laboratory analysis were made in all the cattle and EKG of these cows were examined using BA derivation. Hematologic and biochemical examinations were conducted in ruminal fluid and blood. In the examination of ruminal fluid; physical features of ruminal fluid were investigated, toplam number of infusoria were counted by Boyne method and CI" concentrations were measured by Schales schales method. In the hematological examination; hematocrit values ( PCV ) were measured by microhematocrit method, toplam leucocyte counts were detected using Thoma microslides, leucocyte formulae were determined in blood froties which were stained using Giemsa. In the biochemical examinations; CI" concentrations by Schales schales method, Na+ ve K+ concentrations by flame fotometry, inorganic P concentrations by Wayner diagnosis kits, Ca++ and Mg++ concentrations by Atomic absorbtion spectrophotometry, veneous blood gases by blood gas analyser apparatus were determined. K+, Na+, CI", Ca++, inorganic P and Mg++ values in cows with acute RPT were found to be 3.99, 143.42 and 102.67 mEq/L, 8.81, 4.31 and 2.18 mg/dl, respectively, whereas these values were 4.12, 141.85 and 100.06 mEq/L, 8.88, 4.18 and 2.29 mg/dl in cows with chronic RPT; 3.49, 139.41 and 82.07 mEq/L, 8.15, 5.26 and 2.23 mg/dl in cows with vagal indigestion; 4.45, 140.16 and 99.08 mEq/L, 9.57, 3.71 and 2.11 mg/dl in cows with simple indigestion; 4.50, 138.86 and 102.34 mEq/L, 9.37, 7.32 and 2.08 mg/dl in cows with ruminal acidosis. Significant differences ( p < 0,05 ) in K+ levels in blood were found between vagal indigestion group and control, simple indigestion and ruminal acidosis groups, differences in CI" levels between vagal indigestion group and other groups, differences in Ca++ levels between control group and other groups and between vagal indigestion group and simple indigestion and ruminal135 acidosis groups, differences in inorganic P levels between ruminal acidosis group and other groups and between simple indigestion group and control and vagal indigestion groups were also statistically significant ( p < 0,001 ). The mean amplitudes of the P, r, S, T waves in cows with acute RPT were measured as 0.16, 0.29, 1.31 and 0.59 mV, respectively. These values were 0.16, 0.12, 1.28 and 0.58 mV in cows with chronic RPT; 0.18, 0.13, 1.62 and 0.69 mV in cows with vagal indigestion; 0.16, 0.14, 1.44 and 0.64 mV in cows with simple indigestion; and 0.21, 0.14, 1.62 and 0.85 mV in cows with ruminal acidosis. The means of P wave, PR segment, PR interval, rS wave, ST segment, T wave and QTc interval in cows with acute RPT were measured as 0.090, 0.074, 0.162, 0.081, 0.177, 0.109 and 0.454 sn, respectively. These values were measured as 0.085, 0.091, 0.177, 0.082, 0.192, 0.108 and 0.448 sn in cows with chronic RPT; 0.087, 0.084, 0.171, 0.097, 0.206, 0.118 and 0.462 sn in cows with vagal indigestion, 0.084, 0.076, 0.160, 0.086, 0.191, 0.111 and 0.440 sn in cows with simple indigestion; and 0.078, 0.076, 0.154, 0.084, 0.152, 0.112 and 0.451 sn in cows with ruminal acidosis. Cows with acute RPT showed sinus tachycardia ( in 9 cows ) and sinus arrhythmia ( in 2 cows ). Cows with chronic RPT showed sinus tachycardia ( in 2 cows ). Cows with vagal indigestion showed sinus tachycardia ( in 2 cows ), sinus bradycardia ( in cows 5 ), sinus arrhythmia ( in 2 cows ) and ventricular extrasystol ( in 1 cows ). Cows with simple indigestion showed sinus bradycardia ( in 2 cows). Cows with ruminal acidosis showed sinus tachycardia ( in 7 cows ), sinus arrhythmia ( in 1 cows ) and ventricular extrasystol ( in 1 cows ). Cows with abomasal displacement showed sinus tachycardia ( in 1 cows ) and paroxsymal ventricular tachycardia ( in 3 cows ). In the case of P wave, the difference between ruminal acidosis group and others groups excluding vagal indigestion group was found to be significant ( P<0.05), whereas in the case of S wave, the difference between ruminal acidosis group and others groups excluding simple indigestion group, in the case of PR segment, the difference between control group and other groups, in the case of PR intreval, the difference between control and chronic RPT groups and ruminal acidosis and simple indigestion groups, in the case rS wave, the difference between vagal indigestion and other groups, in the case ST segment, the difference between ruminal acidosis group and control, chronic RPT, vagal and simple indigestion groups, in the case QTc interval, the difference between control group and acut RPT and vagal indigestion groups was found to be significant ( P<0.05), and in the case T wave, the difference between ruminal136 acidosis group and all other groups was found to be significant ( P<0.01 ). Significant positive correlations ( p< 0,05 ) were observed between K+ and CI", Mg++, QTc (sn) and T (mV), Na+ and QTc (sn), Ca++ and Mg++ inorganic P and PRa (sn), P (mV) and T (mV), P (sn) and rS (sn), ST (sn) and QTc (sn) and very significant positive correlations ( p< 0,01 ) were also seen between K+ and Ca++, inorganic P and PRs (sn), S (mV) and P (mV), T (mV) and rS (sn), T (mV) and T (sn), P (sn) and PRa (sn), P (sn) and T (sn), PRa (sn) and PRs (sn). But negative correlations were observed between Na+ and K+, CI" and QTc, Ca++ and QTc, r (mV) and S (mV). Clinical and laboratory examinations were repeated in 30 of 73 cows used in the study, and EKG's were retaken. While no progress was seen in two of the cows, the remaining 28 cows recovered. In conclusion; in the cows with RPT, a decrease in Ca++ level and PRs segment of EKG, but an increase in QTc interval were seen. In the cows with vagal indigestion a decrease in Ca++, K+ and CI- concentrations and in the PRs interval, but an increase in the S wave of EKG and interval of QTc were found. In cows with ruminal acidosis a decrease in Ca++ level and in all intervals and segments of EKG, but an increase in K+ and inorganic P levels and in P, r, S waves of EKG were seen. The means of blood electrolytes in cows with simple indigestion were found to be at the lower limit of physiological level and these means were lower than those found in the control group but the difference was not statistically significant. These values did not cause any significant changes in EKG. Electrolyte parameters ( except Na+ ) were found to be lower than normal physiological levels and than the means of control group. P waves were not seen in the EKG of cows with PVT. In the EKG's of cows with abomasal displacement a decrease in segment and intervals, but an increase in the amplitudes of waves were determined.