Measurement of abomasal conditions (pH, pressure and temperature) in healthy and diarrheic dairy calves using a wireless ambulatory capsule

Thomas Hildebrandt; Eberhard Scheuch; Werner Weitschies; Michael Grimm; Felix Schneider; Lisa Bachmann; Ingrid Vervuert

doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2017.06.011

Measurement of abomasal conditions (pH, pressure and temperature) in healthy and diarrheic dairy calves using a wireless ambulatory capsule

Livest Sci. 2017 Sep:203:41-47. doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2017.06.011. Epub 2017 Jun 23.

Authors

Thomas Hildebrandt¹, Eberhard Scheuch², Werner Weitschies³, Michael Grimm³, Felix Schneider³, Lisa Bachmann⁴, Ingrid Vervuert¹

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Nutrition Diseases and Dietetics, An den Tierkliniken 9, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
² Center of Drug Absorption and Transport, Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Felix-Hausdorff-Straße 3, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany.
³ Center of Drug Absorption and Transport, Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald, Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 3, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany.
⁴ Alta Deutschland GmbH, Altes Dorf 1, D-29525 Uelzen, Germany.

Abstract

This study investigated abomasal luminal parameters in healthy and diarrheic calves by using a wireless ambulatory capsule (WAC). The acetaminophen absorption test (APAT) was used to determine abomasal emptying rate. Four healthy and five diarrheic female Holstein-Friesian calves (age < 14 days) were included in the study. For APAT, calves were fed 2 L of milk replacer containing 50 mg acetaminophen/kg body weight, and blood samples were taken during a 12-h period afterward. Concomitantly, a WAC in the abomasum continuously measured luminal pH, pressure, and temperature. Five hours post suckling, intraluminal temperature was significantly higher in diarrheic calves than in healthy calves. Abomasal pH and pressure were not significantly different, but intraluminal pressure was always numerically lower in diarrheic calves. During APAT no significant differences in maximum acetaminophen concentrations (C_max) and time to reach maximum acetaminophen concentration (T_max) were observed. Nonlinear regression findings revealed a longer acetaminophen half-time (AAP t_1/2) in diarrheic calves compared to healthy calves [564 ± 96 min vs. 393 ± 84 min, respectively; P = 0.04] and lower area under the concentration curve values (e.g., 60 min postprandial AUC₆₀ 681 ± 244 (µg∙min)/mL vs. 1064 ± 23 (µg∙min)/mL, respectively; P = 0.04). In conclusion, abomasal luminal conditions were different between diarrheic and healthy calves. Significant differences in APAT reflected a delay in abomasal emptying in diarrheic calves. Impaired abomasal movement may induce enhanced bacterial fermentation processes as indicated by a higher abomasal temperature in diarrheic calves, which should be considered in management of their feeding.

Keywords: AAP, Acetaminophen; AER, Abomasal emptying rate; APAT, Acetaminophen absorption test; AUC, Area under the concentration curve; Abomasum; Acetaminophen; Calves; Diarrhea; SCFA, Short-chain fatty acids; SD, Standard deviation; WAC, Wireless ambulatory capsule; Wireless ambulatory capsule.