Variation in clinical findings associated with neonatal colibacillosis in lambs before and after treatment

Aim: To identify the changes in clinical findings before and after treatment associated with enteric colibacillosis in lambs under different managemental setup. Materials and Methods: Clinical trial was designed on thirty lambs showing the following signs: scanty fecal volume to profuse watery to whitish diarrhoea, varying degree of dehydration, respiration and heart rate, pale mucous membrane and prolonged capillary refill time. Results: Clinical signs associated with colibacillosis varied significantly (P<0.05) before and after treatment. On first day, all the clinical signs were perfectly described and pathogenic Escherichia coli serotypes were isolated from all the affected lambs. Treatment regimen used (antibacterial) in four different groups of clinical cases of colibacillosis indicated gradual improvement and clinical findings started to normalize after the treatment was commenced. Conclusion: The clinical severity may vary according to the number of organisms and the physiological condition of the affected animals. Skin fold test was a more significant indicator of dehydration and fluid loss in diarrheic lambs than eyeball recession. Capillary refill time was a reliable and a significant indicator of peripheral perfusion among diarrheic lambs.