This investigation comprised two classes of calves showing neonatal diarrhoea, severely dehydrated calves (7 animals), and moderately dehydrated calves (9 animals). Seven apparently healthy calves served as control throughout the period of investigation. This investigation was carried out at El-Kharga governmental farm station, New Valley. The clinical signs recorded were of the typical profuse watery diarr hoea, characteristic for coli infection. Necropsy and microscopic find ings for the dead calves were typical colisepoticaemia infection. Oligocythaemia was evident in some affected calves with a comparable decrease in haemoglobin concentration. Obvious leucocytosis with marked neutrophilia (segmented cells were remarkably increased) and marked lymphopaenia in both groups specially the severely dehydra ted ones was also observed. No demonstrable changes for the heamato crit values in the moderately dehydrated calves, while distinct rise was detected among the severely dehydrated conditions.
Bacteriological examination of rectal swabs and swabs from the inter nal organs and heart blood of the necropsied calves showed the presen ce of E.coli micro-organisms. Polyvalent 03 and polyvalent 04 were found upon serotyping.