Comparison of Clinicopathological Findings of Idiopathic Hydropericardium Characterized by Blood-Like Fluid and Pericarditis in Dairy Cattle

Abstract

Clinicopathological findings of eight cases of idiopathic hydropericardium characterized by blood-like fluid(HBF-group) that were confirmed by necropsy were retrospectively summarized and compared with those of seven cows with pericarditis. Although the numbers of cows that showed edema in the HBF-group were larger than those in the pericarditis-group, the frequency of other clinical signs in the two groups was similar. Echocardiography revealed a reduced quantity of fibrin in the pericardial cavity in the HBF-group compared with the pericarditis-group. In blood and blood chemical examinations, cows in the HBF-group showed significantly weak inflammation findings in terms of the numbers of white blood cells and neutrophils, albumin-globulin ratio, albumin concentration, and gamma-globulin ratio compared with those in pericarditis-group cows. Increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity were recorded in both groups; however, GGT in the HBF-group was significantly higher than that in the pericarditis-group. Although diagnosis of blood-like pericardial fluid is difficult with clinical signs alone, findings such as reduced fibrin in the pericardial cavity, weaker inflammation findings in the blood and blood chemical examination, and increased ALP and GGT activity would be helpful for a differential diagnosis with pericarditis.