EVALUATION OF A GLUTAMINE-CONTAINING ORAL REHYDRATION SOLUTION FOR THE TREATMENT OF CALF DIARRHEA USING AN ESCHERICHIA-COLI MODEL

A high-calorie oral rehydration solution (ORS) with glutamine (n=11) w as more effective in correcting plasma, extracellular fluid and blood volume than solutions without (one WHO-type solution, n=6, and two hig h-glucose but glutamine-free solutions, n=7, n=12). It was the only so lution to improve plasma volume significantly within 48 h and sustain the improvement throughout treatment; similarly, it was the only solut ion to correct packed-cell volume within 48 h and sustain die benefit to the end of treatment. At the end of treatment, the glutamine-treate d calves were the only ones to avoid a significant weight loss compare d with their pre-diarrhoeic values. The crucial difference between thi s solution and those used with glutamine previously is that it gave si gnificant nutritional support whereas WHO type solutions did not. It a lso had more favourable effects on hyponatraemia and metabolic acidosi s than a standard ORS. Use of a high-calorie ORS for 4 days (rather th an 2 days of 50:50 admixture with milk replacer) brought additional be neficial effects on blood glucose and body weight.