Pathophysiology of neonatal calf diarrhea.

Neonatal calf diarrhea caused by bacterial enterotoxins, bacterial or parasitic-induced inflammation, or virus-induced villous atrophy leads to intestinal hypersecretion, malabsorption, or both. Mechanisms of secretion and malabsorption differ depending on the agent, suggesting that different modes of treatment must be employed to be effective. Currently, oral rehydration solutions and the pharmacologic blockade of secretory processes are being evaluated in these various diseases.