Experimental enteric colibacillosis of the newborn pig: histopathology of the small intestine and changes in plasma electrolytes
Moon, H.W.; Nielsen, N.O.; Kramer, T.T.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 31(1): 103-112
1970
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 4905591 Document Number: 19482
Of 43 new-born pigs orally infected with entero-pathogenic strains of E. coli before being allowed to suck, 36 (84%) developed enteric colibacillosis. Histological lesions of primary importance in causing the diarrhoea were not consistently observed. Some pigs had segmental areas of villus atrophy or of desquamated villus epithelium in the anterior small intestine; in others the intestinal mucosa appeared normal. The disease was associated with increased plasma K and plasma osmolality, decreased plasma bicarbonate and Na, although there were wide variations between pigs for the electrolytes.