ICAR 27 Present address: 1 MV.Sc. student, 2, Professor, 3 Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Pathology (e mail 3 : skmpath @gmail.com), Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences; 4 Scientist, AICRP on Post Harvest Technology in Department of Fish Processing Technology, Faculty of Fishery Sciences. 5 Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh 224 229. Short Communications Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 81 (5): 459–60, May 2011 Biochemical analysis of cerebrospinal fluid of cattle and buffaloes affected with spontaneous brain disorders S RAMESH 1 , M K BHOWMIK 2 , S K MUKHOPADHAYAY 3 , S GANGULY 4 and D NIYOGI 5 West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, West Bengal 700 094 India Received: 18 September 2010; Accepted: 4 January 2011 Key words: Biochemical, Brain disorders, Buffaloes, Cattle, CSF The involvement of blood brain barrier, which stabilizes the intra-parenchymal internal environment and the absence of lymphatic drainage in combination make the brain immunologically privileged site and also render it susceptible to the development of edema (Vegad and Katiyar 1998). Considering the information on diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) in cattle and buffaloes is limited, the present study was undertaken with the objective to carry out detailed and intensive biochemical analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to assess the biochemical alterations during the spontaneous brain disorders in both cattle and buffaloes and to establish the spontaneous disorders in the brain of cattle and buffaloes slaughtered at Tangra slaughter house, Kolkata, India. Altogether 147 brains (85 from buffaloes and 62 from cattle) were collected by screening more than 3000 buffaloes and 2500 cattle. The cerebrospinal fluid samples were also collected from the brains showing gross lesions. Collection protocol: After slaughter, the whole brain was removed carefully from the cranial cavity as per the standard procedures and examined for gross changes. Altogether, 147 brain samples (85 samples from buffaloes and 62 from cattle) and CSF samples from 30 cattle and 45 buffaloes suspected for infection were collected. The CSF from 12 each of healthy cattle and buffaloes of the same age group were also collected. CSF samples (15 ml) were aseptically collected in sterile test tubes, individually from each animal, directly by sub- occipital approach, utilizing 3 to 4 inch 16 gauge needle, after cutting the skin and muscles around the occipital area during slaughter of the animals. The collected samples were kept in refrigerated condition at 4°C until use. Samples were processed within 2 h after collection. Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid: The CSF samples collected from 30 cattle and 45 buffaloes suspected for CNS lesions at necropsy were examined physically, biochemically, cytologically and microbiologically. The CSF from 12 each of healthy cattle and buffaloes of the same age group were also evaluated for comparison. Physical examination: Immediately after collection, gross appearance, turbidity and clot formation of each of the CSF samples were observed and recorded. Clot formation was graded as absent (0), very slow (1+), slow (2+), rapid (3+) and immediate (4+). Variation in color, turbidity and the presence of flocculent materials were observed in CSF samples from both infected cattle and buffaloes having meningitis. Cytological examination Total leukocyte count: The mean total leukocytic count in CSF by standard hemocytometer in infected cattle was 26.06±0.513×10 3 /mm 3 which was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than in control group (2.85±0.041×10 3 /mm 3 ). The TLC of infected buffalo group (29.46±0.533×10 3 /mm 3 ) was also significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of control group buffaloes (2.925±0.04×10 3 /mm 3 ). The increased levels of leucocytes were mainly due to the absolute increase of neutrophils. Increased total leukocyte counts were generally encountered in yellow and turbid CSF having some flocculent materials. Higher mean absolute number of neutrophils reflected exudative properties of CSF from the bacterial meningitis of cattle and buffaloes (Coles 1986). Biochemical analyses Total protein estimation: The CSF protein levels in infected cattle and buffaloes estimated by Lowry’s method (Plummer 1988) were 76.69±2.12 mg/dl and 89.55±3.767 mg/dl respectively which were significantly (P < 0.05) higher when compared with the values of the respective control groups (30.10±0.419 mg/dl and 36.83±1.152 mg/dl). This corroborated the results of Nazifi et al. (1997). downloaded from http://epubs.icar.org.in