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Awareness of the characteristics of the various types of acute gastrointestinal disease in camelids will augment veterinarians' ability to diagnose and treat these disorders.

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Streptococcus zooepidemicus spreads rapidly to other body compartments after intratracheal inoculation in llamas. Fever, anorexia, and signs of depression are the most consistent clinical signs, although other signs are possible. Clinicopathologic analysis of body fluids yields evidence of inflammation. Infection by S. zooepidemicus can be proven by bacteriologic culture of body fluids before death or of tissue specimens after death.

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The purpose of this study was to describe the ultrasonographic appearance of the gastrointestinal viscera of healthy llamas and alpacas. Six adult llamas, five juvenile llamas, and five adult alpacas were scanned with a 5 MHz linear transducer. The first and third gastric compartments occupied most of the left and right ventral abdomen, respectively. The saccules of the first compartment gave its wall a unique, hyperechoic appearance; whereas, all other viscera appeared as tubular structures. Except for the third gastric compartment, motility was visible in all structures by movement of fluid segments or contraction of the wall. Where it could be measured, wall thickness was between 2 and 4 mm, except that the caudal portion of the third compartment occasionally had a thicker wall. Fluid segments in the intestines were generally short and short lived. This description of normal camelids should aid in the ultrasonographic assessment of camelids suspected to have a gastrointestinal disorder.

Dairy calves under 14 days of age with naturally occurring, uncomplicated diarrhea were treated for 3 days with a hypertonic oral electrolyte solution with (n = 15) or without (n = 12) psyllium. Clinical response and clinical pathology data were compared between the 2 groups. Glucose absorption was evaluated on days I and 3 by measurement of plasma glucose and lactate and serum insulin concentrations for 4 hours after formula administration. On day I , glucose, lactate, and insulin concentrations were lower in psyllium-fed calves than in control calves, with significant differences noted in glucose and lactate concentrations at several time points ( P < 0.05). Plasma lactate concentrations were higher at several times in both treatment groups on day 3 than on day I ( P < 0.05). Fecal consistency was markedly different in psyllium-fed calves as compared with control calves within 24 hours of psyllium supplementation. Fecal percent dry matter content was lower in psyllium-fed calves than in control calves at least once a day during supplementation and on day 3 compared with day 0 in the psyllium-fed calves (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in clinical performance scores, hydration status, arterial blood gas, serum anion gap, electrolyte, or total CO, concentrations. Addition of psyllium to an oral electrolyte solution resulted in immediate alterationa in glucose absorption without impairing rehydration in diarrheic calves, but differences were transient and did not affect clinical outcome.Key words: Enteritis: Glucose; Insulin: Lactate.he optimal treatment of neonatal calf diarrhea has been T the subject of clinical and scientific interest in recent years. Interest stems from the fact that enteritis is a leading infectious cause of morbidity and mortality in calves, resulting in economic losses for the cattle industry.'.' Treatment strategies are directed at correcting the severe electrolyte and acid-base imbalances and fluid and energy deficits that often accompany calf diarrhea. Traditionally, the mainstay of therapy has included administration of hypertonic oral or parenteral electrolyte solutions containing glucose and alkaline buffers.? However, these solutions are not adequate for meeting caloric requirements and sustaining body weight in healthy calves or those with diarrhea.s Therefore, efforts have been directed at identifying alternative energy substrates or other substances that enhance nutrient absorption and improve efficacy of oral replacement solutions for treatment of diarrheic calve^.^.^A novel approach to correcting the energy deficits that accompany calf diarrhea is to enhance nutrient absorption from the gastrointestinal tract by the use of dietary fiber. The addition of fiber to orally administered electrolyte solutions may improve glucose absorption by slowing gastric emptying7,* Dietary fiber may have other beneficial effects in diarrheic animals, including improved nutrient assimilation, intestinal epithelial regeneration, restoration of the normal mucosal barrier to enteric...