EXPERIMENTAL COLIBACILLOSIS IN CALVES

colibacillosis was produced in calves by feeding culture of E. coli serogroup 09. The infected calves developed clinical symptoms of the disease on the 4th or 5th day of infection characterized by the onset of diarrhoea. Various drugs were tried for combating the infection along with fluid therapy. All calves treated, except with Gastina tablets recovered. The substitution of balanced salt solution drip with blood transfusion further hastened the recovery. E. coli count per gram of faeces increased with the onset of diarrhoea and Log₁₀ value varied from 8.6683 to 10.9895. Haematological observations revealed higher packed cell volume, haemoglobin percentage, neutrophil count with relative lymphopaenia in the infected calves.