Comprehensive approach to early diagnosis and risk stratification of systemic infections in the large horned cattle with purulent inflammatory lesions

УДК 619:636.2-002.3-07:616.94
DOI 10.33861/2071-8020-2026-1-7-10

Original Empirical Research

Buzmakova N. A., Pimenov N. V.

Abstract. This article presents the development and rationale of a comprehensive approach for early diagnosis and risk assessment of systemic infections in cattle arising from purulent inflammatory conditions such as phlegmons. The proposed methodology integrates clinical and laboratory investigations and offers an objective system for assessing animal status, enabling prediction of infection generalization at early stages. At its core is a veterinary-adapted SAPS-f score, complemented by a cytochemical analysis of neutrophils based on their cationic protein content, which increases sensitivity to early signs of systemic inflammation in ruminants, where vital signs often remain within broad reference ranges. The clinical pilot included cows with confirmed phlegmons; the assessment comprised recording body temperature, heart and respiratory rates, overall clinical status, complete and biochemical blood tests, as well as cytochemical staining of blood smears using a standardized procedure followed by calculation of the mean cytochemical index (CI). Thresholds and a decision matrix were constructed to refine management tactics: the combination of high SAPS-f values with a low neutrophil cationic protein index was associated with an unfavorable prognosis and low effectiveness of standard therapy, whereas moderate scores with preserved neutrophil cytochemical activity corresponded to a favorable scenario. Practical implementation demonstrated high prognostic value, diagnostic accuracy, and costeffectiveness, together with suitability for dynamic on-treatment monitoring. The article is grounded in experimental data and provides a detailed description of the assessment methodology, formulae for calculating indices, clinical case examples, interpretation of results, and a discussion of limitations with outlined directions for further validation. The results are presented in aggregated form (descriptive statistics and diagnostic indicators of a simple threshold rule), which ensures reproducibility and applicability in the clinic.

Keywords: cows, phlegmon, sepsis, early diagnosis, SAPS-f score, neutrophil cationic proteins, cytochemistry, risk stratification, prognosis, acute-phase markers.

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Author affiliation:

Pimenov Nikolay V., D.Sc. in Biology, Professor, Head of the Department of Immunology and Biotechnology of the Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology – MVA named after K.I. Skryabin; e-mail: pimenov-nikolai@yandex.ru.

Responsible for correspondence with the editorial board: Buzmakova Natalya A., assistant of the Department of Immunology and Biotechnology of the Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology – MVA named after K.I. Skryabin; e-mail: nata24.06@mail.ru.

Authors’ Contribution:

Buzmakova N.A.: investigation, validation, writing – original draft preparation.

Pimenov N.V.: conceptualization, visualization, writing – review and editing.

Conflict of Interest Statement: the authors declare no conflict of interest. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.