Comp Clin Pathol (2006) 14: 221–225 DOI 10.1007/s00580-005-0579-x ORIGINAL ARTICLE B. Dalir-Naghadeh . H. A. Seifi . S. Asri-Rezaei . N. Pilevary Post-parturient haemoglobinuria in Iranian river buffaloes: a preliminary study Received: 19 May 2005 / Accepted: 17 October 2005 / Published online: 13 December 2005 # Springer-Verlag London Limited 2005 Abstract Haemoglobinuria occurred in 12 river buffaloes in West Azerbaijan, Iran. The affected buffaloes were aged 5 to 10 years. All the affected buffaloes had been recently calved. Intervals from calving to onset of signs ranged from 12 to 52 days (mean±SEM, 27.2±3.3). The occurrence was not associated with season. Physical examination revealed significant increase in heart and respiratory rates and de- crease in rectal temperature and ruminal motility. All 12 affected buffaloes were hypophosphataemic. The compar- ison showed that the serum inorganic phosphorus level in clinically normal buffaloes was four times greater than that of the affected buffaloes. It was hypothesized that hypo- phosphataemia was strongly associated with haemoglobi- nuria in buffaloes that affected multiparous females in a few weeks after calving. Our data indicate that the term “post-parturient haemoglobinuria” may be appropriate for this buffalo syndrome. Keywords Buffalo . Haemoglobinuria . Hypophosphataemia . Post-parturient . PPH Introduction West Azerbaijan is one of the major buffalo-raising areas in Iran. The river buffalo in Iran, primarily a dairy animal, have attained considerable economic importance. The high content of fat of buffalo milk makes it a favourable source of milk by-products. Buffaloes are kept in small herds with one to three breeding females plus young stock. Haemoglobinuria is a fatal syndrome of buffaloes in the area. Studies that show aetiology, risk factors and clinical and biochemical findings associated with haemoglobinuria in Iranian buffaloes are not available to date. A similar condition accompanied by hypophosphatae- mia has been observed in late pregnancy in Egyptian buffalo (Awad and Abdel-Latif 1963) and in tthe post- parturient period in Indian buffalo (Kurundkar et al. 1981). Recently, an increasing number of cases have been reported in Pakistan, and the disease appears to be of growing eco- nomic importance (Pirzada and Hussain 1998). The disease affects buffaloes more than cattle (Pirzada et al. 1989). The purpose of the study reported here was to determine the major features of the syndrome in Iranian river buffaloes. Materials and methods Post-parturient haemoglobinuria (PPH) was diagnosed in 12 Iranian river buffaloes between 1996 and 2001 in West Azerbaijan, Iran. They were presented to the Veterinary Clinic of Urmia University with red urine. They were all examined physically and underwent biochemical tests. The paired sera of three affected buffaloes were submitted for detection of leptospiral antibodies. The clinical diagnosis was based on the signs of anaemia and haemoglobinuria in post-parturient river buffaloes and was supported by haematological changes of low packed cell volume (PCV) with hypochromasia, anisocytosis and spherocytosis of red cells. Whole (EDTA treated) and clotted blood samples were obtained from all affected buffaloes. Samples were also obtained from at least 25 non-haemoglobinuric healthy buffaloes during the period of disease occurrence to com- pare the results. PCV and haematological smears were made on EDTA-treated blood samples. Sera obtained from the clotted blood samples were analysed for inorganic phosphorus by colorimetry. Peripheral blood smears were obtained for haemoparasite detection. B. Dalir-Naghadeh (*) . S. Asri-Rezaei . N. Pilevary Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, P.O. Box 1177, Urmia, Iran e-mail: b.dalir@mail.urmia.ac.ir Tel.: +98-441-2271926 Fax: +98-441-2271926 H. A. Seifi Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, P.O. Box 1793, Mashhad, 91775, Iran