ENTEROTOXIGENIC COLIBACILLOSIS IN COLOSTRUM-FED CALVES - PATHOLOGIC-CHANGES

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  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (10) , 1391-1397
Abstract
Enterotoxigenic colibacillosis was experimentally produced in 8 of 9 colostrum-fed calves orally given 1011 Escherichia coli. The 8 calves developed profuse diarrhea accompanied by dehydration and depression. At 12 h after exposure, all calves were euthanatized for necropsy and collection of tissues for microscopic examination. Histopathologic changes included stunted villi in jejunum and ileum, focal degeneration and exfoliation of absorptive epithelial cells at the tips of jejunal and ileal villi and focal emigration of neutrophils which was especially prominent above the dome area of aggregated lymphatic follicles (Peyer''s patches). A layer of E. coli adhered to the epithelial surface of the jejunum and ileum. In the duodenum, lesions were minimal or absent and bacteria were not adhering to the mucosa. Histopathologic changes were not observed in other tissues. In 2 calves examined 24 h after they were inoculated and in 2 euthanatized 24-36 h after spontaneously developing enteric colibacillosis, lesions were similar to those observed in the calves 12 h after exposure.