A relationship between hypohposphataemia and plasticity of transvers process of lumbar vertebrates in cattle

This Survey was conducted to evaluate the plasticity and firmness of transverse process of lumbar vertebrates for early clinical diagnosis of osteomalacia in cattle. After clinical examination and history taking, out of 325 cows, admitted to the faculty of veterinary medicine of Shahid Chamran University for an unknown illness, 33 heads (10.1%) had some degrees of plasticity of transverse process of lumbar vertebrate. So, they were chosen as patient group and 57 cows with normal vertebrate selected as control group. The scale of plasticity and firmness of transverse process in patient group was determined with palpation in three degrees as (+), (++) and (+++). Blood samples of both groups were collected and the serum was separated for biochemical analysis of Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium and Alcalin phosphatase activity. The results showed that there was a statistically significant difference between level of serum phosphorus and Alp in patient and control groups but no difference was noticed in serum calcium and magnesium level. No significant difference between level of blood phosphor in patient (+) and control groups was observed (p>.05) but a significant difference was found between level of phosphor in each patient (++) and (+++) with control group (p<.01). Therefore, the results of present study suggested that, patient cows with plasticity (++) and (+++) had lower level of blood phosphorus in comparison with those without such a problem and with existing this sign in clinical examination, necessary action should be taken for prevention of exacerbated phosphorus deficiency and occurrence of future osteomalacia in cattle.