Measurement of bovine (Bos taurus) serum albumin by different methods and the comparison of protein fractions determined by capillary zone electrophoresis and agarose gel electrophoresis

Serum albumin measurement is an important parameter routinely evaluated in clinical biochemistry within the livestock industry. It plays a crucial role in assessing the nutritional and health status of animals, as well as in aiding the diagnosis of various pathological conditions as a complementary...

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Main Authors: Leandro Abreu da Fonseca, Fabiano Montiani-Ferreira, Marilyn Rodriguez, Joao Henrique Jabur Bittar, Fabricia Modolo Girardi, Theo Matos Arantes Moraes, Carolyn Cray
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Language:English
Published: PeerJ Inc. 2025-08-01
Series:PeerJ
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Online Access:https://peerj.com/articles/19685.pdf
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author Leandro Abreu da Fonseca
Fabiano Montiani-Ferreira
Marilyn Rodriguez
Joao Henrique Jabur Bittar
Fabricia Modolo Girardi
Theo Matos Arantes Moraes
Carolyn Cray
author_facet Leandro Abreu da Fonseca
Fabiano Montiani-Ferreira
Marilyn Rodriguez
Joao Henrique Jabur Bittar
Fabricia Modolo Girardi
Theo Matos Arantes Moraes
Carolyn Cray
author_sort Leandro Abreu da Fonseca
collection DOAJ
description Serum albumin measurement is an important parameter routinely evaluated in clinical biochemistry within the livestock industry. It plays a crucial role in assessing the nutritional and health status of animals, as well as in aiding the diagnosis of various pathological conditions as a complementary tool. Several laboratory methods are available for albumin measurement; however, some methods have been documented to overestimate the concentration of serum albumin versus the proposed gold standard of serum protein electrophoresis. The primary aim of the study was to analyze the agreement between albumin measurement in bovine serum samples by the capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE), bromocresol green (BCG), and purple (BCP) methods. In addition, AGE and CZE methods were also compared for quantitation of globulin fractions. Lastly, reference intervals were established using all methods using the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ASVCP) guidelines. Serum samples from 55 clinically normal Brangus cattle (5 ± 1.5 years old) were examined by the four methods. For the albumin method comparison, all methods were significantly correlated (r = 0.55–0.91, p < 0.0001) and the bias between methods ranged from 0.01–0.22 g/dL. For AGE and CZE methods, all protein fractions were significantly correlated (r = 0.85–0.91, p < 0.0001) except for the alpha 1 fraction (r = 0.21, p = 0.12). Five fractions were quantitated using AGE method: albumin, alpha 1, alpha 2, beta, and gamma globulins. For the CZE method, six fractions were resolved with the sub fractionation of beta 1 and beta 2 globulin fractions. The evaluated methods showed good agreement in determining albumin levels in cattle. Although CZE offers higher resolution, it requires careful interpretation and precise definition of fractions. Therefore, methodological choice and consideration of analyzer-specific reference intervals are essential for accurate results.
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spelling doaj-art-6c8b2fddacef4dc4b571474370d082dd2025-08-20T03:39:40ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592025-08-0113e1968510.7717/peerj.19685Measurement of bovine (Bos taurus) serum albumin by different methods and the comparison of protein fractions determined by capillary zone electrophoresis and agarose gel electrophoresisLeandro Abreu da Fonseca0Fabiano Montiani-Ferreira1Marilyn Rodriguez2Joao Henrique Jabur Bittar3Fabricia Modolo Girardi4Theo Matos Arantes Moraes5Carolyn Cray6Veterinary Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Vicosa, Minas Gerais, BrazilDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States of AmericaDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States of AmericaLarge Animal Clinical Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of AmericaVeterinary Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Vicosa, Minas Gerais, BrazilVeterinary Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Vicosa, Minas Gerais, BrazilDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States of AmericaSerum albumin measurement is an important parameter routinely evaluated in clinical biochemistry within the livestock industry. It plays a crucial role in assessing the nutritional and health status of animals, as well as in aiding the diagnosis of various pathological conditions as a complementary tool. Several laboratory methods are available for albumin measurement; however, some methods have been documented to overestimate the concentration of serum albumin versus the proposed gold standard of serum protein electrophoresis. The primary aim of the study was to analyze the agreement between albumin measurement in bovine serum samples by the capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE), bromocresol green (BCG), and purple (BCP) methods. In addition, AGE and CZE methods were also compared for quantitation of globulin fractions. Lastly, reference intervals were established using all methods using the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ASVCP) guidelines. Serum samples from 55 clinically normal Brangus cattle (5 ± 1.5 years old) were examined by the four methods. For the albumin method comparison, all methods were significantly correlated (r = 0.55–0.91, p < 0.0001) and the bias between methods ranged from 0.01–0.22 g/dL. For AGE and CZE methods, all protein fractions were significantly correlated (r = 0.85–0.91, p < 0.0001) except for the alpha 1 fraction (r = 0.21, p = 0.12). Five fractions were quantitated using AGE method: albumin, alpha 1, alpha 2, beta, and gamma globulins. For the CZE method, six fractions were resolved with the sub fractionation of beta 1 and beta 2 globulin fractions. The evaluated methods showed good agreement in determining albumin levels in cattle. Although CZE offers higher resolution, it requires careful interpretation and precise definition of fractions. Therefore, methodological choice and consideration of analyzer-specific reference intervals are essential for accurate results.https://peerj.com/articles/19685.pdfGlobulinsClinical chemistryProteinogramRuminants
spellingShingle Leandro Abreu da Fonseca
Fabiano Montiani-Ferreira
Marilyn Rodriguez
Joao Henrique Jabur Bittar
Fabricia Modolo Girardi
Theo Matos Arantes Moraes
Carolyn Cray
Measurement of bovine (Bos taurus) serum albumin by different methods and the comparison of protein fractions determined by capillary zone electrophoresis and agarose gel electrophoresis
PeerJ
Globulins
Clinical chemistry
Proteinogram
Ruminants
title Measurement of bovine (Bos taurus) serum albumin by different methods and the comparison of protein fractions determined by capillary zone electrophoresis and agarose gel electrophoresis
title_full Measurement of bovine (Bos taurus) serum albumin by different methods and the comparison of protein fractions determined by capillary zone electrophoresis and agarose gel electrophoresis
title_fullStr Measurement of bovine (Bos taurus) serum albumin by different methods and the comparison of protein fractions determined by capillary zone electrophoresis and agarose gel electrophoresis
title_full_unstemmed Measurement of bovine (Bos taurus) serum albumin by different methods and the comparison of protein fractions determined by capillary zone electrophoresis and agarose gel electrophoresis
title_short Measurement of bovine (Bos taurus) serum albumin by different methods and the comparison of protein fractions determined by capillary zone electrophoresis and agarose gel electrophoresis
title_sort measurement of bovine bos taurus serum albumin by different methods and the comparison of protein fractions determined by capillary zone electrophoresis and agarose gel electrophoresis
topic Globulins
Clinical chemistry
Proteinogram
Ruminants
url https://peerj.com/articles/19685.pdf
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