Toxemia of pregnancy is a metabolic disorder with considerable economic impact on the production of sheep. However, the particularities of the systemic repercussion of the disorder have not yet been fully clarified. The aim of the present study was to assess the biochemical and hormonal profile of 77 ewes with a clinical diagnosis of toxemia of pregnancy and to compare the laboratory findings based on the clinical outcome: discharge (G1) or death (G2). The clinical manifestation of the disease was observed in the pre-birth period in 100% of the ewes, from which 66.2% (n=51) were discharged and 33.8% (n=26) died. A total of 55,8% of the cases were of multiple pregnancies.. Considering the parameters analyzed, cortisol, urea, AST and CK were significantly higher in G2 in comparison to G1 (p<0.05). An increase was found in the concentration of plasma glucose, fructosamine, albumin, creatinine, ß-hydroxybutyrate, non-esterified fatty acids and L-lactate, with no statistically significant differences between groups (p>0.05). No changes were found in cholesterol or triglycerides. A reduction in insulin levels was found, with no statistically significant difference between groups (p>0.05). All ewes exhibited ketonuria and aciduria.
Metabolic disease; ketoses; biochemistry clinic; cortisol; insulin
