Background In the livestock industry, Foreign Body Syndrome is a devastating disease condition. Feeding
management, lacking of food discrimination, and eating chopped food increase the risk of swallowing sharp
foreign bodies in bovine species. In addition to the honeycomb cells shape of the reticulum, the contractions of the
reticular wall, gravid uterine pressure, and parturition efforts, foreign bodies can penetrate the reticular wall, causing
cascade of problems including traumatic reticulitis, traumatic reticuloperitonitis, and traumatic pericarditis. The
present study was carried out to evaluate the diagnostic significance of cardiac troponin I rapid test cassette and
other cardiac biomarkers including serum cardiac troponin I (cTn I), creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB), lactate
dehydrogenase (LDH), and aspartate aminotransferase enzyme (AST), in confirmed cases of traumatic pericarditis (TP)
and/or traumatic reticuleoperitonitis (TRP) in cattle and buffaloes.
Methods A total number of 30 animals (22 cattle and 8 buffaloes) with different signs such as anorexia, jugular
distension, brisket edema, and signs of pain (reluctance to move, arching back, and abduction of the forelimbs) were
included in the present study. Based on case history, clinical signs, ferroscopic, pericardiocentesis, radiographic and
ultrasonographic examinations, TP were confirmed in cattle (n = 10) and buffaloes (n = 8) while TRP were confirmed
only in cattle (n = 12). Additionally, 20 clinically healthy animals (n = 10 cattle and 10 buffaloes) were used as a control
group. Blood samples were collected for determination of blood level of Tn-I, and activity of CK-MB, LDH, and AST.
Results The obtained results revealed a highly significant increase in serum cTn I in diseased cattle with TP and TRP
(P = 0.00), while buffaloes with TP showed no significant changes in serum cTn I (P = 0.111). Both diseased cattle and
buffaloes showed increased serum activities of CK-MB, AST, and LDH enzyme. On the other hand, cardiac troponin I
rapid test cassette failed to detect cTn I in diseased animals.
Conclusion The study concluded that the cardiac troponin I rapid test cassette did not have a diagnostic significance
and could not be used as a point-of-care under field condition for diagnosis of TP and TRP in large ruminants.
However, the serum troponin I level is helpful in diagnosis of TP and TRP in cattle. Although cardiac biomarkers have some diagnostic values in TP and TRP, the traditional diagnostic methods (clinical, radiography and ultrasonography
examinations) are crucial for thorough evaluation of TP/TRP cases in bovine.