[Studies of carbohydrate absorption in clinically healthy and diarrheal calves]

Reported in this paper are results obtained from functional and morphological studies into absorption of carbohydrates by clinically intact and diarrhea calves. In that context, the xylose-stress test was used for functional determination of enteral absorption. Diarrhoea, caused in the calves by several pathogens, such as rotavirus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella dublin, led to significant impairment of carbohydrate absorption in the gastro-intestinal canal. However, glucose absorption was not even fully stopped by lasting severe diarrhoea over several days. Glucose-containing special diet drinks, therefore, may help, at least partially, stabilising the glucose metabolism of calves treated for diarrhoea. A comparison between functional and morphological tests for enteral absorption seemed to suggest that histological findings should not be overestimated regarding information obtainable from them on impaired functionality of intestinal mucosa.