Italian Journal of Animal Science (Feb 2010)
Effects of rehydration solution on hematological and biochemical parameters in induced buffalo neonatal calf diarrhea
Abstract
Experimentally diarrhoea with enteropathogenic E. coli was induced in 18 buffalo calves (a week old) which were divided into three equal groups while 4th group of six calves served as uninfected, untreated control. All the calves were monitored twice daily. Diarrhea developed in all treatment groups within 2-6 hours post infection. Twenty four hours after the on-set of diarrhea, neonates of Group (G)-1 was treated with antibiotic (Kanamycin®, Farvet Laboratories, Holland @ 10 mg/kg b.wt I/M) plus rehydration solution (sodium chloride-10g, potassium chloride-4g, sodium bicarbonate-20g, glucose-50g and water-4 litres @ 250–500 ml/day/I/V), G-2 with antibiotic and G-3 with rehydration solution. Diarrheic contents varied from semi solid to watery in consistency, yellowish to greenish yellow colour with blood or mucous and frequency of defecation was 6-10 times/day. Dehydration was mild (4-5%) in G-1, moderate (6-9%) in G-3 and severe (10-12%) in G-2 calves. Most severe signs of dehydration appeared in G-2 calves. Neonates in this group showed severe dryness of cornea, loss of suckling reflex, sunken eyes, dry mucous membranes and cold extremities. Temperature was significantly high in G-3 calves than G-1, G-2 and control calves. Pulse and respiration rates were low in all treatment groups than the control group. Total erythrocytic counts and hematocrit were high (P<0.05) in G-2 calves. Calves treated with Kanamycin showed crenated erythrocytes in the blood smears. Leukocytosis mainly due to neutrophilia was observed in all the treated calves than the control group. Serum total protein and globulin were low (P<0.05) in control calves than all treatment groups. Albumin was high in G-2 calves than calves of G-1, G-3 and control group. Immunglobulins were high (P<0.05) in G-2 calves than G-1, G-3 and control calves.
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