Effect of Orally Administered Duodenal Fluid on Susceptibility of Newborn Calves to an Escherichia coli Challenge

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Abstract
Whether duodenal contents inoculated orally could alter E. coli [09:K(A)] symptomatic diarrhea in neonatal calves was studied. Inoculum was obtained 3 h post-prandially from duodenal-cannulated milk-fed calves. Holstein bull calves (30) obtained within 3 h of birth were assigned alternately to a 3 .times. 2 factorial experiment. Calves received no E. coli challenge, challenge at 12 h or challenge at 24 h with or without 200 ml duodenal fluid orally with the 1st feeding of colostrum. Rectal temperature, urine output, milk intake and fecal dry matter were recorded daily, and body wt and hematocrit every 3rd day for 1 wk. Serum .gamma. globulin was determined at 2 h old. Inocula, duodenal tissue and fluid of the last 12 calves were assayed for total anaerobic bacteria, anaerobic and aerobic lactobacilli, coliforms and total aerobic bacteria. Inoculated calves exhibited lower incidence of diarrhea, greater urine output, lower hematocrit and superior average daily gain compared to uninoculated calves. Concentration of inoculated calf serum .gamma. globulin was subnormal. Bacterial populations of tissue and fluid at 7 days were not influenced by treatment.