Evaluation of Hyaluronic Acid in Cattle: Physiological Variations Related to Age, Periparturition and in Clinical Cases of Paratuberculosis

Abstract

Hyaluronic acid (HA) serum levels have been related to various pathological conditions in both humans and animals. The involvement of HA in the pathogenesis of mycobacterial infections has been suggested. The aim was to evaluate serum levels and ilea tissue presence of HA in healthy bovines and in clinical paratuberculosis (PTB) cases. HA serum concentrations in bovines were found to be in the range of 130 to 617 ng/mL with a median value of 418 ng/mL. Significantly increased HA levels were detected in 1 month-old calves. Increased levels of HA were found at peripartum as compared to healthy control animals, with pre- parturition values significantly higher than post- parturition (p=0.02). Cows with clinical PTB showed higher serum levels and diminished ileal detection of HA than healthy animals. In serum, physiological variations in HA serum levels related to age and parturition were found in bovines. In addition, clinical PTB also affected the presence of HA in serum and ileum. These results might contribute to elucidate the clinical significance of HA evaluation in cattle and its involvement in PTB infection.