Serum pepsinogen level and abomasal ulcerations in experimental abomasal displacement in sheep

It is believed that serum pepsinogen levels could be useful for diagnosis of abomasal changes in cattle. Diagnosis of abomasal displacement (AD) is made via invasive and non-invasive techniques. None of the extant methods is a reliable indication of mucosal change. The applicability of serum pepsinogen levels for the diagnosis of changes in the mucous membrane of the abomasum in experimentally induced left and right AD in sheep was investigated in fourteen rams. Abomasal fluid samples were taken and the pH was recorded. Twelve sheep underwent induced left and right AD (six for each group). Two sheep underwent exploratory laparatomy alone to assess the effect of surgical stress on the abomasum. Blood samples were taken before surgery, at the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th days after surgery and at the time of necropsy and serum pepsinogen levels were measured. After two weeks the animals were slaughtered and abomasal fluid pH and types of abomasal ulcers were recorded. Significant changes in pepsinogen levels in the left displaced abomasums (LDA) group were seen on days 11 and 14 after surgery (P < 0.05). Significant changes in pepsinogen levels in the right displaced abomasum (RDA) group were seen on Days 9, 11 and 14 after surgery (P < 0.05). There was no association among the types of ulcers and the serum pepsinogen levels in AD cases. The pH increased significantly (P < 0.05) after induced AD in both groups. There were no significant changes in serum pepsinogen levels on different days after surgery among ulcerated and non ulcerated cases in both LDA and RDA groups (P < 0.05). Serum pepsinogen levels were significantly higher in AD groups. There was no association between the types of ulcers and serum pepsinogen levels in AD cases. It seems that the increase in concentration of serum pepsinogen is a good reflection of the damage to the abomasal mucousa due to AD, as was shown by the earlier increase in levels in the course of displacement in the RDA group.