Hyaluronic Acid Levels and Physical Characteristics of Synovial Fluid in Healthy and Diarrheic Calves with Arthritis

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the physical characteristics and levels of hyaluronic acid, protein and glucose in joint fluid and to evaluate findings for a potential clinical application to monitor the diagnosis and prognosis of arthritis developed upon infection in neonatal diarrheic calves. Methods: The viscosity of joint fluid was evaluated in comparison to the viscosity of water. Mucin coagulation test was employed to determine the quality of synovial fluid. Hyaluronic acid levels were assessed using Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay. Results: Synovial fluid from healthy calves was bright yellow and displayed high viscosity and low protein levels, whereas the synovial fluid in diarrheic calves showed high protein levels, low viscosity and low glucose levels. Interestingly, the levels of hyaluronic acid (1.72 +/- 0.16 mg/ml) were found to be up regulated (i.e. 79 % increase) in synovial fluid in the test group in comparison to levels (0.96 +/- 0.04 mg/ml) in the control group. Conclusion: The data demonstrated that joint fluid from newborn diarrheic calves displayed reduced viscosity, decreased glucose levels, and increased hyaluronic acid levels correlating with the severity of the disease. These observations suggest that analysis of viscosity, protein, glucose and hyaluronic acid levels in synovial fluid may potentially be evaluated in the veterinary clinics for prognosis of the disease in neonatal diarrheic calves with arthritis/polyarthritis.