Experimental Escherichia coli and rotavirus infection in lambs

Colostrum-deprived lambs were infected with either enteropathogenic Escherichia coli(O9:K30:K99) or rotavirus or a mixture of the E coli and rotavirus. E coli doses of 10(6) and above consistently produced diarrhoea, as did experimental rotavirus infection. When both of the agents were administered, the mortality rate was higher, although the duration of diarrhoea was no greater than that observed when either of the two agents was administered alone.