Oral and Poster Abstracts

faeces of healthy calves. Of the 37 E. coli isolated from diarrheic
calves, K99 (18.9%), F41 (18.9%), heat-stable enterotoxin a (STa)
(18.9%), Shiga toxin1 (Stx1; 13.5% ) and Shiga toxin2 (Stx2; 5.4%)
and intimin (8.1%) genes were identified by multiplex PCR. Of the
18 E. coli isolated from healthy calves, K99 (16.6 %) and intimin
(55.5%) genes were identified by PCR. A total of 15 rotavirus, 11
coronavirus and 11 E. coli K99 were detected in diarrheic calves by
the antigen ELISA.
Conclusion: This study shows that rotavirus, coronavirus, E. coli and
Enterococcus ssp. were determined to play a role in the etiology of
diarrhea in the neonatal calves. K99, F41, STa, Stx1 and Stx2 were
found as the most common virulence gene markers of E. coli strains
isolated from calves with diarrhea. The multiplex PCR may be useful
for characterization of E. coli isolated from calves.
This was supported by University of Selcuk, BAP.
1005 Efficacy of Oral Rehydration Therapy Solutions Containing
Sodium Bicarbonate or Sodium Acetate in Treating Calves
with Naturally Acquired Diarrhoea and Moderate
Dehydration
I. Sen 1 , V. Altunok 2 , M. Ok 2 , P. Constable 3 , A. Coskun 1
1 University of Selcuk, Faculty of Medicine, Clinical Sciences,
Internal Medicine, Konya, Turkey
2 University of Selcuk, Faculty of Vet. Med., Clinical Sciences,
Internal Medicine, Konya, Turkey
3 Pudue University, School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary
Clinical Sciences, Indiana, United States
The optimal formulation for an oral rehydration therapy (ORT) to treat
calves with diarrhoea remains controversial. The objective of this study
was to determine and compare the effect of four ORT solutions on
indices of acid-base balance, abomasal emptying rate, and plasma
volume expansion in cross bred calves with naturally acquired
diarrhoea and moderate dehydration.
Material and methods: Twenty calves up to 45 days of age with 5
to 8% dehydration and mild acidaemia were enrolled in the study.
Calves were randomly allocated to receive 2 L of one of four
treatments (n = 5 each) administered at room temperature (20-22 °C)
by oroesophageal intubation. The 4 treatments were 150 mmol/L
sodium bicarbonate, 150 mmol/L sodium acetate, 300 mmol/L
sodium bicarbonate, and 300 mmol/L sodium acetate. All 4 test
solutions contained acetaminophen and 50 g of glucose
monohydrate, equivalent to 1.3 g of glucose per kg of body weight.
Jugular venous blood samples for determination of blood gas and
serum biochemical parameters and acetaminophen concentration
were obtained periodically before and after administration of the
ORT solution.
Results: The rate of systemic alkalinization, as assessed by change
in venous measured strong ion difference and plasma bicarbonate
concentration, was similar for all 4 treatments. Interestingly, jugular
venous Pco 2 increased over the first 30 to 60 minutes in calves
administered 300 mmol/L or 150 mmol/L sodium bicarbonate
solution. For comparison, jugular venous Pco 2 decreased or stayed
constant over the first 30 to 60 minutes in calves administered 300
mmol/L or 150 mmol/L sodium acetate solution.150 mmol/L
solutions were emptied faster from the abomasum than 300 mmol/L
solutions, with no difference in emptying rate between acetate or
bicarbonate containing solutions.
Conclusion: Sodium acetate ORT solutions increase jugular venous
pH and plasma bicarbonate concentrations at least as fast, and possibly
faster, than sodium bicarbonate ORT solutions of similar osmolality.
Although the rate of abomasal emptying was slowed when the ORT
solution osmolality was increased, the slowing did not appear to have a
clinically important effect of the rate of systemic alkalinization. Our
results do not support widely held beliefs that bicarbonate containing
ORT solutions provide the fastest correction of acid-base abnormalities
in calves with diarrhoea and moderate dehydration.
This study was supported by a grant from Tubitak and partly University
of Selcuk, BAP
Key words: calves, OES, acetaminophen
1006 Acid-base Analyses of Venous Blood in Calves with Diarrhoea
S. Canikli, A. Coskun, H. Guzelbektas, I. Sen
University of Selcuk, Faculty of Medicine, Clinical sciences, internal
medicine, Konya, Turkey
Diarrhea is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in
unweaned dairy heifer calves in most countries. Diarrhea in calves
can lead to dehydration, acidemia due to primarily to strong ion
(metabolic) acidosis, hyperkalemia, and impaired cardiovascular and
renal function. Metabolic acidosis is well recognised potentially lifethreatening
consequence of diarrhoea. It is due to the loss of
bicarbonate into the small intestine and the production of acid in the
colon. The objective of this study was to determine strong ion
difference (SID), leukocyte, heamatocrit (Hct) and acid-base
analysis of venous blood in calves with diarrhea.
Material and methods: The pH, partial pressure of oxygen (pO 2),
partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO 2), concentration of
bicarbonate (HCO 3-), base excess (BE) and oxygen saturation (sat-
O 2), anionic gap (AG), sodium (Na + ), potassium (K + ), cloride (CI – ),
Strong Ion Differances, Hct, leukocyte and heamoglobin (Hgb) were
measured in venous blood of 84 calves with diarrhea. After clinical
examination, jugular venous blood samples were anaerobically
obtained in a 3-mL plastic syringe that has been previously coated
internally with sodium heparin. All sick calves had the usually
yellow and watery diarrhoea. Sick calves had also similar clinical
symptoms such as a weak suckle reflex, dry mucous membranes,
unable to stand, and cold mouth.
Results: The mean leukocyte count of calves with diarrhoea were
significantly increased. The mean pH (7.16), BE (-12,5 mmol/L) ,
HCO 3- (13.33 mmol/L), Tco 2 (16.5 mmol/L), and oxygen saturation
(36,28%) were significantly decreased compared to normal
reference values. The mean levels of potassium (4.7 mmol/L) and
anion gap (27.07) were also increased in calves with diarrhea.
Conclusion, we could be said that the loss of bicarbonate in the
feaces is regarded as cause of acidosis. Therefore, administration of
sodium bicarbonate via intra venous due to significantly lowered pH
and bicarbonate would be useful in treatmet of metabolic acidosis of
calves with diarrhea.
This study was supported by University of Selcuk, Scientific Research
Project Coordinating
Key words: calf, strong ion acidosis, pH, HCO 3
1007 Detection of Five Agents (Coronavirus, Rotavirus, E. coli,
Salmonella spp and Cryptosporidium sp) from Calves
Diarrheic Samples in La Laguna Mexico Region
J. Contreras, J. Palacios
Schering Plough Animal Health, Animal Health Division, Mexico
City, Mexico
Introduction: Diarrhea is an important cause of mortality in calves and
results in economic losses to the dairy industry 1, 2. Infected cows
seldomly show clinical diarrhea, making it difficult to establish the
carrier-state in the herd. Frequently identified causative pathogens are;
E. coli, rotavirus most common during 4 to 14 days age, coronavirus
more prevalent during 4-30 days age Cryptosporidium parvum from 1
to 4 weeks age and Salmonella typhimurium and Dublin responsible for
various clinical syndromes. Causative diagnosis is a critical tool in
treatment and prevention.
Study Objectives: To detect the presence of enteric pathogens (E. coli,
Rotavirus, Coronavirus, Salmonella spp and Cryptosporidium sp) in
calves with clinical diarrhea on 25 dairy operations from La Laguna
region in Mexico.
Material and Method: 170 feces samples from calves with diarrhea
were aseptically collected during November and December 2006.
Samples were analyzed by ELISA for Rotavirus, Coronavirus, and
E. coli F5 using micro plates coated with monoclonal antibodies,
conjugates with a plate reader with a 450 nm (Biovet Diagnostics)
Samples were incubated in Salmonella enrichment media (Selenite
broth) and plated on Green-brilliant media. Suspect colonies were
further identified by biochemical methods. Cryptosporidium sp were
detected by microscopic direct observation of fecal smears using
Ziehl-Nielsen modified stain.
Results: Samples were positive for Cryptosporidium sp, 99 cases
(58, 2 %), Rotavirus, 54 (31.7 %), E. coli-F5, 33 (19.4 %),
Coronavirus, 25 (14.7%) and Salmonella spp, 13 (7.65%). Mixed
infections were detected in most samples with only 4.9% of the
positive samples having only one antigen. There were no negative
samples to any antigens most frequent antigen combinations were
(Table 1).
Discussion: The study confirms the presence of pathogens described in
other world areas, from calves with clinical diarrhea, often as mixed
Calf Physiology, Management and Diseases 233