Reference serum pepsinogen concentrations in dairy cattle.
Serum samples from 27 yearling heifers and 50 lactating cows were analyzed for pepsinogen concentration. Concentrations were 44 +/- 12 (SD) ng of pepsinogen/ml (2,200 mU of tyrosine/ml) of serum for the yearling heifers and 20 +/- 8 ng/ml (1,400 mU of tyrosine/ml) for the lactating cows. These initial data indicate that a yearling calf, grazing on pasture, with a serum pepsinogen concentration greater than 68 ng/ml (2,900 mU of tyrosine/ml) should be examined for ostertagiasis.
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