Comparison of blood serum proteins in water buffaloes with traumatic reticuloperitonitis and sequellae

In this study, 73 cows with different types of traumatic reticuloperitonitis (TRP) and sequellae along with 25 healthy buffalo cows were used to evaluate the total blood serum protein and protein electrophoresis. According to rumenotomy or necropsy findings, the affected buffalo cows were classified into acute local TRP (AL-TRP), chronic local TRP (CL-TRP), reticular abscess (RA), acute diffuse TRP (AD-TRP), purulent pericarditis (PPC) and fibrinous pericarditis (FPC). Polyclonal gammopathy was characteristic for the electrophoretogram of buffalo cows with CL-TRP (55%), RA (61.1%) and PPC (62.5%). Various degrees of hypoalbuminaemia, hyper-α-globulinaemia and low A/G ratios were the associated changes in all cases of TRP and sequellae. Hyper-β-globulinaemia was noticed in cases with CL-TRP, RA and PPC. Hyper-γ-globulinaemia was evident in cases with AL-TRP, CL-TRP, RA and PPC. Hyperproteinaemia was noticed in buffalo cows with local complications of TRP including AL-TRP, CL-TRP and RA. Hypoproteinaemia associated with severe hypoalbuminaemia (>50% reduction compared to controls) and very low A/G ratios (<0.4) characterized buffalo cows with AD-TRP, PPC or FPC. In conclusion, the concentrations and electrophoretic patterns of serum proteins in buffaloes differ according to the anatomical location of the foreign body and the associated pathological lesions.