Studies on diagnostic & prognostic markers of ovine pregnancy toxemia

This study was conducted on ewes with pregnancy toxemia (PT) with an attempt to evaluate metabolic and oxidative profile in subclinical and clinical ovine pregnancy toxemia and to determine their association with diagnosis and prognosis of the disease. A total of, 20 ewes having beta-hydroxy butyric acid (β-HBA) >2.5mmol/l and proven clinical sings of PT, categorized as clinical PT (CPT), 12 ewes having β-HBA 0.8-2.5mmol/l and no clinical signs of PT, categorized at subclinical PT (SPT) and 10 ewes having β-HBA ≤0.8mmol/l, categorized as healthy control (CON) were enrolled. Among 20 CPT ewes, 11 had negative outcomes (non-survivors), six ewes had positive outcomes (survivors) and three were lost during follow-up. A significant increase in non-esterified fatty acid, β-HBA, triglycerides, gamma-glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, malondialdehyde levels and significant decrease in fructosamine was observed in CPT and SPT compared to CON. Significant increase in cholesterol, aspartate amino transferase, creatinine kinase, and significant decrease in albumin, potassium, calcium, superoxide dismutase and catalase was observed in CPT only.