Source: UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS submitted to
CLINICAL AND CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF CRYPTOSPORIDIAL INFECTION IN DAIRY CALVES
 
PROJECT DIRECTOR: Constable, P.
 
PERFORMING ORGANIZATION
VETERINARY CLINICAL MEDICINE
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBANA,IL 61801
 
NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The effects of cryptosporidial diarrhea in neonatal calves will be determined in experimentally infected Holstein calves. The clinical and clinicopathologic effects of cryptosporidial diarrhea on the calf will be characterized for the first time.
 
OBJECTIVES: To: 1) characterize the effect of C. parvum infection on the clinical parameters in neonatal calves. This will include heart rate, hydration status, rectal temperature, body weight, time to suckle allotted milk replacer volume, and 24 h urine and fecal production; 2) characterize the effect of C. parvum infection on blood, serum, and urine clinicopathologic values in neonatal calves. This will include evaluation of acid-base status, serum biochemical analysis, and urine concentrating ability; 3) characterize the effect of C. parvum infection on fecal clinicopathologic values in neonatal calves. This will include evaluation of changes in fecal dry matter percentage, pH, osmolality, and fecal lactose, protein, fat, and volatile fatty acid concentrations.
 
APPROACH: Beginning on day 3 of life, calves will be randomly assigned to receive 10e8 oocysts (high dose), 10e6 oocysts (low dose), or 0 oocysts (control) using a random table. A physical examination will be performed each morning, consisting of heart rate (thoracic auscultation for 30 sec), respiratory rate (counting the number of thoracic excursions in 30 sec), rectal temperature, hydration status (extent of eye recession into the orbit), body weight (weighing the moveable calf stall on a scale and subtracting the weight of the stall), and appetite (time taken in seconds to suckle the allotted volume). Calves that do not suckle their allotted milk replacer volume within 10 minutes will have the remaining volume intubated using an esophageal feeder. Calves that are unable to stand or that fail to suckle their allotted volume twice in any 24 h period will have a venous blood gas analysis performed immediately, and intravenous fluids will then be administered based on the results of blood gas analysis. Blood will be collected through a jugular vein catheter on day 3, 7, 10, 14, and 21 for blood gas analysis (2 ml collected anerobically in a heparinized syringe) and serum biochemical analysis (5 ml collected into a red top tube). Blood gas analysis will be performed immediately, whereas serum will be harvested and frozen at - 20C for subsequent serum biochemical analysis and determination of L-lactate and D-lactate concentration. A freshly voided fecal sample will be obtained each morning by digital stimulation of the rectum using a gloved hand, and fecal pH and conductivity measured within 5 minutes of collection. A quantitative cryptosporidial oocyst count will then be determined. The freshly collected fecal sample will be retained on day 3, 7, 10, 14, and 21 and frozen at -20C for subsequent analysis of fecal osmolality, total carbohydrate concentration, total protein concentration, total fat concentration, and D-lactate concentration. Fecal dry matter content will be determined each day by drying a fecal sample at 100C until constant weight. Urine will be continuously collected and the volume noted each day. An aliquot of urine will be retained on day 3, 7, 10, 14, and 21 and frozen at -20C for subsequent analysis of urine osmolality and fractional clearance of sodium, potassium, calcium, and phosphate. Abomasal emptying rate will be determined using ultrasonography on day 3, on the first day of diarrhea (anticipated to be day 7), 3 days after the start of diarrhea (anticipated to be day 10), and at the end of the study (day 21) after the calf has suckled 2 L of milk replacer. Calves will be euthanatized at the end of the study with an overdose of sodium pentobarbital (60 mg/kg,IV).
 
CRIS NUMBER: 0202465 SUBFILE: CRIS
PROJECT NUMBER: ILLV-44-5739 SPONSOR AGENCY: CSVM
PROJECT TYPE: STATE PROJECT STATUS: TERMINATED MULTI-STATE PROJECT NUMBER: (N/A)
START DATE: Jul 1, 2004 TERMINATION DATE: Jun 30, 2005

GRANT PROGRAM: (N/A)
GRANT PROGRAM AREA: (N/A)

CLASSIFICATION
Knowledge Area (KA)Subject (S)Science (F)Objective (G)Percent
313341010204.2100%

CLASSIFICATION HEADINGS
KA313 - Internal Parasites in Animals
S3410 - Dairy cattle, live animal
F1020 - Physiology
G4.2 - Reduce Number and Severity of Pest and Disease Outbreaks


RESEARCH EFFORT CATEGORIES
BASIC 50%
APPLIED 50%
DEVELOPMENTAL (N/A)%

KEYWORDS: malabsorption; cryptosporidium; cryptosporidiosis; dairy calves; diarrhea; digestion; animal pathology; symptoms; infection; animal physiology; internal parasites; neonatal animals; heart rate; hydration; temperature; body weight; urine; feces; excretion; fatty acid composition; ph; dry matter; holstein cattle; pathogenesis

PROGRESS: Jul 1, 2004 TO Jun 30, 2005
This investigator has left this university.

IMPACT: 2004-07-01 TO 2005-06-30 This investigator has left this university.

PUBLICATION INFORMATION: 2004-07-01 TO 2005-06-30
No publications reported this period

PROJECT CONTACT INFORMATION
NAME: Constable, P.
PHONE: 217-333-8111
FAX: 217-244-1475