Diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin, neopterin, and gamma interferon in neonatal calves with septicemic colibacillosis.

The objective of our study was to compare the serum concentrations of procalcitonin (PCT), neopterin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), prostaglandin E2, malondialdehyde, interleukin 8, and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) in neonatal calves with septicemic colibacillosis (n = 15) with healthy controls (n = 15). Septicemic colibacillosis was diagnosed based on clinical signs and the isolation of Escherichia coli from heparinized blood in clinically suspected cases. PCT, neopterin, TNF-α (p < 0.05), and IFN-γ concentrations in calves with septicemic colibacillosis were significantly higher than in the healthy controls (p < 0.01). Serum PCT concentrations were ~4 times higher in the calves with septicemic colibacillosis than in the healthy calves, suggesting that PCT could be a useful marker of septicemic colibacillosis in neonatal calves.