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Body Weight, Total Body Water and Hematocrit in Diarrheic Piglets

University of Illinois, Urbana 61801

Abstract

Piglets aged 12 to 72 h in which diarrhea had been induced by enteric Escherichia coli infection or sucrose gavage were studied with respect to body weight, total body water concentration (determined by tritiated-water dilution) and hematocrit. Sucrose-induced diarrhea reduced body weight by 13 to 17%, and E. coli diarrhea, by 8 to 9%. Neither age nor diarrheal treatment affected total body water concentration, although diarrheic piglets tended to have higher hematocrit values at all ages. There was a significant daily cycle in the piglets' hematocrit values, so hematocrit might be a less valid reflector of neonates' whole body hydration status than of adults'. It was concluded that diarrheic neonatal piglets lose body water and dry matter in a ratio similar to that of normal body water and dry matter concentrations, thus their bodies have normal total body water concentrations and normal average specific heat values.

¹ Present address: Moorman Manufacturing Co., Quincy, IL 62301.

² Anim. Sci. Dept. Address reprint requests to: 126 Anim. Sci. Lab., 1207 W. Gregory Dr., Urbana, IL 61801.

³ Vet. Pathobiol. Dept.