Cold resistance and environmental temperature preference in diarrheic piglets

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 cold resistance and thermal-circulation index in a 90-min test in a 6 C environment (Exp. 1) and free-choice environmental-temperature preference during a 60-min test in a 24 to 44 C thermocline (Exp. 2). In Exp. 1, diarrhea lowered the piglet's ability to maintain body temperature during the cold test. Also, diarrheic piglets tended to have lower thermal circulation index values at the end of the cold test, indicative of a greater vasoconstrictive response to the cold environment. In Exp. 2, mean preferred environmental temperatures were 35.7, 34.9 and 34.5 C, respectively, for piglets in sham-control, E. coli-infected and sucrose-gavaged groups. For reason(s) still unknown, diarrheic piglets did not choose to locate themselves in a warmer niche than did normal piglets; in fact, they did the opposite. Results of the two experiments indicate that diarrheic neonatal piglets need even more attention and care in terms of the thermal environment than do healthy ones.