Gastrointestinal disorders diagnostic methods comparative assessment in calves

The aim of the study is to give a comparative assessment of diagnostic methods for studying gastrointestinal disorders in calves. For the period 2019-2020 Animal studies (n = 45) and analysis of diagnostic methods (n = 180) were carried out in livestock farms of the Trans-Baikal Region and in the laboratory of the Research Institute of the Eastern Siberia - a branch of the SFNCA RAS in the diagnosis of acute gastrointestinal tract disorders (GITS) in calves at the age of birth up to 1 month. The analysis took into account 4 diagnostic methods: hematological, biochemical blood analysis, microscopy of smears from the rectum, examination of cadaveric material of fallen (16 %) and forcedly killed (3 %) calves. The method of intravital diagnostics of the gastrointestinal tract in calves - the method of microscopy of smears from the intestines, made it possible to determine the presence of pathogenic enterobacteria (E. coli) in the body of calves, which differentiate, first of all, by pathogenicity factors, as well as by the clinical manifestations of diseases, the causative agents of which they are. This method in combination with hematological methods of blood tests (determination of the number of leukocytes, erythrocytes, platelets, hemoglobin level, hematocrit), biochemical analysis of blood serum (determination of Ca, P, Na, K, Fe, albumin, globulins) helped to determine how the general state of the body calves, and the work of individual organs and systems at an early stage of the disease. The cost of complex laboratory diagnostics of biological material in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract of calves amounted to 1,391 rubles. A more informative diagnostic method in this case was the study of cadaveric material in the first hours after the death of calves (isolation of the pathogen E. coli + the presence of erosions on the surface of the intestinal epithelium). The method is long-term concerning the duration of the study and more expensive - 1,016 rubles, or 73 % of the total cost of complex diagnostics for acute intestinal tract infections. Early diagnosis reduces the risk of disease spread and preserves young cattle.