Short communication: acute phase proteins in Holstein cows diagnosed with uterine infection.

The aim of this work was to monitor the pattern of serum acute phase proteins [paraoxonase (PON), haptoglobin (Hp) and albumin] during the peripartum period of normal healthy cows (n=16) compared to that in cows diagnosed with uterine infection (n=15). Albumin concentrations were lower at 21 days before expected calving in cows subsequently diagnosed with uterine infection and predicted the occurrence of uterine infection with an accuracy of 79.3%. Cows diagnosed with uterine infection had a postpartum reduction in serum PON activity and the concentration of Hp increased at 7 DIM for multiparous uterine infected cows. In conclusion, cows diagnosed with uterine infection had reduced serum albumin concentration 21 days before calving, lower PON activity at 7 days after calving, and increased Hp in multiparous cows at 7 DIM compared to healthy cows.