Defining thrombocyte and leukocyte reference intervals for neonatal calves (10-28 days of age) in a BNP affected population

Abstract

Bovine neonatal pancytopenia (BNP) is a disease described in several European countries. The disease affects neonatal calves and is characterised by petechiae, cutaneous bleedings and melena, resulting in a case mortality of 90%. Haematology shows thrombocytopenia, leukocytopenia and anaemia. Pathology findings include pale mucous membranes, petechiae, ecchymoses through the whole body, thereby histology of the bone marrow shows a panmyelopthisis. To confirm case diagnosis reference intervals for thrombocytes and leukocytes are needed, however there is not much known about these reference values for neonatal calves. The current study sampled 361 control calves aged between 10 and 28 days for haematological analysis. There were no age effects observed between different age categories with regard to amount of thrombocyte and leukocytes (P>0.05). To define reference intervals the formula ‘mean ± 1.96*standard deviation’ was used. The results of the present study were used to define reference intervals for thrombocytes and leukocytes for neonatal calves in a BNP affected population.