Are the acute phase proteins related to anestrus in primiparous water buffaloes? Preliminary results

• Frank Díaz-Huerta Mejoramiento Agroproductivo, Técnico e Integral C.A (MATICA), La Fría, Táchira, Venezuela.
• Anthony Meléndez-Becerra Mejoramiento Agroproductivo, Técnico e Integral C.A (MATICA), La Fría, Táchira, Venezuela.
• Justin Dijak Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
• Héctor Nava-Trujillo Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52973/rcfcv-wbc114

Keywords: water buffalo cows, primiparous, anestrus, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, cholesterol

Abstract

Primiparous water buffaloes are a group with more risk
for low reproductive performance, mainly due to a long period
of postpartum anestrus, which could have a multifactorial or-
igin. It is unknown if inflammatory diseases may promote the
long anestrus period in primiparous buffaloes. Therefore, this preliminary analysis aimed to compare C reactive protein and
fibrinogen levels, two acute phase proteins, and body condi-
tion score and cholesterol levels in primiparous water buffaloes
during the early postpartum and after a long anestrus period. To
this, ten primiparous water buffaloes from a commercial farm in
La Fria, Tachira, Venezuela, were submitted to a reproductive
ultrasonographic evaluation; no signs of uterine disease or cor-
pora lutea were observed in any buffalo; and therefore, these
were considered in anestrus and grouped as early postpartum
(n=4, mean of postpartum days 15±2.70) or prolonged anestrus
(n=6, mean of postpartum days 124.5±36.55, p< 0.05). More-
over, the body condition score was evaluated using a 1 to 5
scale with 0.25 increments (1 = thin, 5 = fat), and blood sam-
ples were collected to measure the levels of C-reactive protein
(by ELISA), fibrinogen (by Clauss assay), and cholesterol (by
Colorimetric method). All the means were compared by T-test
using R studio; additionally, a correlation analysis was carried
out. No differences were observed for any of the studied vari-
ables. Body condition score was lower than 3 points in both
groups (2.31±0.51 and 2.33±0.37 for early and late postpartum,
respectively, p=0.947). The cholesterol level was 142.75±9.74
mg/dL and 156±12.26 mg/dL, respectively (p=0.133). C-reac-
tive protein averaged 60±24 mg/dL and 33±18 mg/dL for early
and late postpartum buffaloes, respectively (p=0.137). At the
same time, fibrinogen levels were 318.5±161.77 mg/dL for
early postpartum and 318.83±69.78 mg/dL, respectively (p =
0.914). C-reactive protein and cholesterol levels were negative-
ly correlated (r = -0.71, p=0.048). Because no differences were
observed in the variables studied in both postpartum moments,
it is possible to suggest that a body condition score lower than
3.0 and persistent levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and
cholesterol could be related to a prolonged period of anestrus
in primiparous water buffaloes. However, given the reduced
number of animals included and the absence of cyclic females,
the results reported should be taken cautiously and verified in
a larger population.