Comparison of Sialic acid concentration between retained fetal membrane and healthy Holstein dairy cows

Sialic acid (SA), an acetylated derivative of neuroaminic acid, is widely distributed in mammals’ tissues. Since SA is usually bound to glycoproteins, glycolipids, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides, small amount of it is free in the body. Moreover, SA is an important structural component of biological membrane. It was also widely found in bacteria and animal tissues. Sialic acid concentration increases rapidly following the inflammatory and injury process. The mechanism inducing SA increase is not clearly understood. However, investigators have reported that SA localised at the end chain of many acute phase proteins can be used as marker for the determination acute phase protein concentration.

The effect of retained fetal membrane (RFM) on plasma Sialic acid activity was studied on 60 postpartum Holstein dairy cows with ELISA from 3 weeks before calving to 1 week after calving as named transitional period, weekly.

There was a significant between the RFM and healthy groups in the amount of Sialic acid in two weeks to calving and also after calving. There was a significant difference in the trend of variation of Sialic acid concentration during different weeks in each group.

The results indicated that upper plasma Sialic acid activity is associated with RFM in the early postpartum period and can use as a RFM diagnostic parameter beside other diagnostic parameters in dairy cows.