Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad;
¹Livestock Production Research Institute, Bhadurnagar. Okara;
²Breed Improvement Department. Government of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract   

    Study was conducted on 24 calves of one-week-age, randomly divided into four equal groups. First t1lfee groups were experimentally infected with E. coli and given treatment in various combinations. while group four was taken as uninfected untreated control. Results obtained on different parameters showed an overall lower (P<0.05) creatinine in calves treated with antibiotic+electrolytes and t1lose treated with electrolytes alone. Overall mean serum sodimn, urea and immunoglobulins revealed non-significant difference, while pH, potassium and AP were lower (P<0.05) in all treatment groups. Overall mean serum ALT was lower (P<0.05) in calves treated with antibiotic+electrolytes, while AST was higher (P<0.05) in calves treated wit1l antibiotic alone than control group. Serum total protein and globulins were higher (P<0.05) in calves treated with electrolytes 1eS alone t1lan control group, while albumin was higher (P<0.05) in all treatment groups. Significant relationship of serum sodium with ALT (r = 0.49; P<0.05), AP (r = 0.42; P<O.O5) and creatinine (r = 0.52; P<0.01) in normal, while no such relationship was observed in treatment/diarrhoeic calves. However, the increase in body weight in control calves correlated , the better clearance of creatinine (r = -0.56: P<0.01) and was similar in antibiotic+electrolytes treated calves (r = - .0.56: P<0.0001).     

Key words: Buffalo calves, E. coli diarrhoea, antibiotic, electrolytes, .serum enzymes.