A Gutzwiller1, J W Blum. 1. Swiss Federal Research Station for Animal Production, Posieux, Switzerland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: 2 hypotheses were tested: calves with acute, mild diarrhea digest lactose less efficiently than healthy calves, and they are in a catabolic state, which influences plasma glucose concentration after glucose absorption. DESIGN: Clinical study; 2 treatments with 10 repetitions/treatment. ANIMALS: 20 preruminant Brown Swiss and Simmental Red Holstein calves; 10 calves with mild diarrhea, and 10 age-matched healthy calves. PROCEDURE: Blood metabolite and hormone concentrations were determined before and after an oral lactose load. Plasma xylose concentration was determined after an oral xylose load. III calves were tested 1 day after the onset of diarrhea. RESULTS: Calves with diarrhea (cryptosporidia, coronavirus) had lower preprandial concentrations of plasma glucose, insulin-like growth factor 1, and 3,5,3-triiodothyronine (P < 0.01) and a higher concentration of free fatty acids (P < 0.03) than did healthy calves. After the oral lactose and xylose loads, blood galactose and plasma xylose concentrations were lower in ill calves (P = 0.10 and P = 0.07, respectively). In calves with diarrhea, there was a larger increase of plasma glucose concentration (P = 0.12) and a smaller increase of plasma insulin concentration (P = 0.04) above baseline values after lactose ingestion. CONCLUSIONS: Lactose digestion is slightly impaired in calves with mild diarrhea. Calves with acute diarrhea are in a catabolic state and, therefore, respond with a larger increase of plasma glucose concentration to a given amount of absorbed glucose than do healthy calves. CLINICAL-RELEVANCE: Plasma glucose concentration is not a reliable measure for glucose absorption in animals that are in a catabolic state.
OBJECTIVE: 2 hypotheses were tested: calves with acute, mild diarrhea digest lactose less efficiently than healthy calves, and they are in a catabolic state, which influences plasma glucose concentration after glucose absorption. DESIGN: Clinical study; 2 treatments with 10 repetitions/treatment. ANIMALS: 20 preruminant Brown Swiss and Simmental Red Holstein calves; 10 calves with mild diarrhea, and 10 age-matched healthy calves. PROCEDURE: Blood metabolite and hormone concentrations were determined before and after an oral lactose load. Plasma xylose concentration was determined after an oral xylose load. III calves were tested 1 day after the onset of diarrhea. RESULTS:Calves with diarrhea (cryptosporidia, coronavirus) had lower preprandial concentrations of plasma glucose, insulin-like growth factor 1, and 3,5,3-triiodothyronine (P < 0.01) and a higher concentration of free fatty acids (P < 0.03) than did healthy calves. After the oral lactose and xylose loads, blood galactose and plasma xylose concentrations were lower in ill calves (P = 0.10 and P = 0.07, respectively). In calves with diarrhea, there was a larger increase of plasma glucose concentration (P = 0.12) and a smaller increase of plasma insulin concentration (P = 0.04) above baseline values after lactose ingestion. CONCLUSIONS:Lactose digestion is slightly impaired in calves with mild diarrhea. Calves with acute diarrhea are in a catabolic state and, therefore, respond with a larger increase of plasma glucose concentration to a given amount of absorbed glucose than do healthy calves. CLINICAL-RELEVANCE: Plasma glucose concentration is not a reliable measure for glucose absorption in animals that are in a catabolic state.