Changes in hydromineral metabolism in diarrhoeic rabbits. 2. Study of the modifications of electrolyte metabolism

The study of the equilibrium of the main electrolytes (Na+, K+, Cl-), in plasma and intestinal content and the evolution of the partial plasma (Na+, K+, Cl-) in the young rabbit suffering from diarrhoea revealed disturbances of the mineral metabolism. Mineral losses were lower in sick animals than in controls. When the reduction of ingested matter was taken into account, the ion balance showed a deficit. The apparent coefficient of digestive utlization (aCDU) of the electrolytes Na+ and K+ dropped, although the reabsorption of these ions in the last segments of the digestive tract was generally good. The pH remained normal and the proteinaemia fell, suggesting a haemodilution. This was backed up by the presence of a hyponatraemia and a hypochloraemia, but did not account for the large drop in kaliemia. On the other hand, the plasma osmotic pressure increased, very probably in association with a high uraemia. It would therefore seem that the pathogenesis of diarrhoea in the young rabbit differed from that of other known examples, such as diarrhoea in the calf and in the infant. In the young rabbit, the pathogenesis of diarrhoea resulting from coccidiosis would seem to be, as much a result of a nutritional deficiency in particular of potassium, as of a malfunctioning of the digestive tract.