Blood serum and synovial fluid in bovine laminitis and arthritis, with particular reference to the protein composition.

In 74 cases of clinical laminitis and in 10 cases of clinical discrete arthritis in adult cattle, the protein picture was changed in blood and synovial fluid. The cases of laminitis were clinically divided into one group without and another with general affection. The changes in serum γ- and α-globulins indicated a predominantly chronic inflammatory process in the arthritis groups and a more acute process in the laminitis groups. In discrete arthritis, the leukocyte concentration and all protein levels except the relative albumin concentration were increased. In laminitis without general affection no significant changes were found in synovial fluid, while the synovial protein pattern in laminitis with general affection indicated a simultaneous occurrence of arthritis. The combination of laminitis and arthritis might be an expression of different inflammatory reactions to common aetiological, still unidentified factors, indicating the existence of a disease complex which may manifest itself in hoof corium, in joints or in both.