Serum pepsinogen concentrations in strongyle-free French dairy goats

• Published in: Preventive veterinary medicine Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 255 - 261
• Main Authors: Chartier, C., Benoit, C., Pellet, M.-P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 1993
• Subjects: bovin; caprin; caprinos; cattle; enzyme precursors; france; francia; ganado bovino; goats; ovin; ovinos; precurseur d' enzyme; precursores de enzimas; sheep; strongylidae; tirosina; tyrosine
• ISSN: 0167-5877; 1873-1716
• DOI: 10.1016/0167-5877(93)90041-Q

Serum samples from 533 strongyle-free goats were analysed to assess the normal values of pepsinogen concentration. Results obtained from adult goats (> 12 months) indicated higher values of pepsinogen compared with sheep and cattle, with more than 25% of the animals exceeding 1000 milliunits of released tyrosine (mU TYR). Weaned goats less than 6 months old had lower pepsinogen concentrations than the adult goats: 490 ± 175 mU TYR vs. 825 ± 414 mU TYR for the French Alpine breed and 397 ± 135 mU TYR vs. 709 ± 274 mU TYR for the Saanen breed. Saanen goats showed lower pepsinogen values than French Alpine goats. Additional sources of variation included farm and duration of lactation. Pepsinogen determinations were highly repeatable for 4.5 months, suggesting a pronounced stability of pepsinogen levels for the same non-infected animals.