Organic acid profiles in feces of pigs with pathogenic or non-pathogenic diarrhea.

A chemical characteristic of the feces of diarrheal piglets permits differentiation among piglets receiving antibiotic treatment and those with colibacillosis or dyspepsia. A high concentration of lactic or succinic acid was observed in the diarrheic feces of piglets receiving antibiotic treatments and those with dyspepsia; however, no lactic or succinic acids were detected in piglets with colibacillosis. There was, however, little difference in the total concentration of organic acids among the three types of diarrheal illnesses. A quantitative analysis of lactic and succinic acids in diarrheic feces might provide a means for rapidly differentiating between colibacillosis and non-pathogenic diarrheas in piglets.