Neopterin, procalcitonin, clinical biochemistry, and hematology in calves with neonatal sepsis

This study aims to determine how neopterin, procalcitonin, biochemical and hematological parameters change during treatment of calves with neonatal sepsis. A total of 25 calves divided into two groups. Sepsis group was composed of 15 newborn calves aged 0–10 days which met neonatal sepsis criteria, but did not receive any treatment. Control group included 10 healthy calves aged 0–10 days. Clinical examinations (respiratory rate, rectal temperature, heart rate, capillary refill time, sucking reflex) were performed at certain times before (0th h) and during (12th, 24th, 48th, and 72th h) the treatment. The blood was taken from the jugular vein from the sepsis group before (0th h) and during the treatment (12th, 24th, 48th, and 72nd h) and once from the control group. Procalcitonin pretreatment (0th h) and control group concentrations were found as 178.08 ± 2.4 (pg/mL) and 42.78 ± 1.25 (pg/mL), respectively (p < 0.001). Neopterin pretreatment (0th h) and control group concentrations were determined as 14.44 ± 0.30 (ng/mL) and 3.63 ± 0.29 (ng/mL), respectively (p < 0.001). As a result, neopterin and procalcitonin concentration decreased along with the treatment, confirming the presence of sepsis in calves and suggesting that sepsis could be a prognostic indicator. Therefore, both procalcitonin and neopterin can be prognostic and diagnostic in calves with sepsis.