Comparative study on plasma fibrinogen and ceruloplasmin concentrations during pregnancy and postpartum period in Bulgarian native goats

The goal of this study was to determine the plasma concentrations of the acute phase proteins fibrinogen and ceruloplasmin during the pregnancy and postpartum period in goats. The experiment was carried out with six clinically healthy Bulgarian native goats, aged 4-6 years, weighing 49-56 kg, reared at the Biobase of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – Stara Zagora. Blood samples for assay of plasma concentrations of the studied acute-phase proteins during pregnancy were collected over 7-day intervals, from the 14th to the 147th day of pregnancy. During the postpartum period, samples were obtained at 3-day intervals between the 1st and 15th postpartum day, as well as once on the 20th and 30th day after the parturition. The results indicated that throughout the first trimester of the pregnancy, the highest average plasma fibrinogen values were established on the 14th day, while significantly lower values (P<0.05) were measured on the 21st day. At this period, the values of plasma ceruloplasmin were the lowest on the 28th day and significantly higher (P<0.01) at the end of the first pregnancy trimester. During the second trimester of the pregnancy there was a clear tendency towards a decrease in the levels of the examined acute phase proteins. At the last pregnancy trimester, an increase in the levels of both acute phase proteins was observed. During the postpartum period there was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the levels of ceruloplasmin and fibrinogen on the 20th day, compared to the first postpartum day. The established average values of the examined acute phase proteins could be used for comparison purposes in cases of pathological conditions during the pregnancy and post partum period of goats.