[en] Malnutrition is a major factor in disease management failure. In humans, the CONUT (COntrolling NUTritional
status) score assesses nutritional status based on albumin, cholesterol, and lymphocyte levels (sensitivity
92,30 %; specificity of 85 %). In bovine medicine, few studies focus on calf nutrition status. This study compares
serum urea, cholesterol, and albumin levels in Belgian Blue calves between hospital admission and discharge (or
death) and between survivors (S) and non-survivors (NS). At admission, cholesterol levels did not significantly
differ between groups (p > 0.1). Albumin levels were higher in S (p = 0.02), while urea levels were lower
(p = 0.04). At discharge, S showed a significant increase in cholesterol (p < 0.05) and a decrease in urea
(p < 0.01) and albumin (p < 0.05). A urea/albumin ratio, named the Calf-CONUT ratio, above 2.64 was associated
with increased mortality risk (Relative Risk: 2.29, Odds Ratio: 5.75) but demonstrated low sensitivity
(46 %) and high specificity (87 %), suggesting limited standalone predictive power. If the analysis focuses solely
on calves suffering from enteritis, the threshold value is 2.85, with improved sensitivity and specificity (Se 83 %;
Sp 78 %; relative risk: 10; odd ratio: 15). This study provides initial insights into the nutritional assessment of
hospitalized calves and paves the way for innovative approaches to their nutritional and medical management.
Further research on specific diseases and breeds is needed to refine these thresholds.
Disciplines :
Veterinary medicine & animal health
Author, co-author :
Eppe, Justine ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) > FARAH: Productions animales durables
Van Leeuw, Corine ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) > FARAH: Santé publique vétérinaire
Borelli, Elena; University of Glasgow > School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine > Scottish centre for production animal and food safety
Casalta, Hélène ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) > FARAH: Productions animales durables
Djebala, Salem; University college of Dublin > School of veterinary medicine > Farm animal clinic
Rao, Anne-Sophie; RumeXpert
Théron, Léonard; RumeXpert
Bayrou, Calixte ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) > FARAH: Productions animales durables
Language :
English
Title :
A nutritional prognostic model for hospitalized Belgian blue calves: The Calf-CONUT ratio for predicting survival
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