Effects of spontaneous and experimental colibacteriosis on some haematological and blood biochemical parameters in weaned rabbits

The changes in some haematological and blood biochemical indices in rabbits with spontaneous colibacteriosis, caused by Escherichia coli - EPEC serotype O15:H-, as well as rabbits with colibacteriosis experimentally induced with the same strain, were followed out. Blood samples were obtained on the day of weaning - 30 days of age, at 45 days of age, and from all animals with clinical signs of diarrhoea of intestinal origin. The following parameters were examined: total erythrocyte counts, haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, total and differential leukocyte counts, blood creatinine, urea, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase. In rabbits with spontaneous or experimental colibacteriosis, a reduction in the total erythrocyte count has occurred along with an increase in haematocrit and haemoglobin levels. Leukocytosis with pseudoeosinophilia was also observed. In cases of diarrhoeic syndrome, an increase in the levels of all examined biochemical indicators was observed in both groups, with the changes being manifested as early as the 45th day of age in rabbits born by infected does, before the diseases clinical expression.