Trials of diarrhoea treatment in buffalo calves by garlic powder compared to traditional treatment

Diarrhoea in​​veal calves causes serious problems, so more effective treatments and faster responses are required. This work aimed to investigate the efficacy of garlic powder in treatment of diarrhoea compared to the traditional treatment in buffalo calves. Ten apparently healthy buffalo calves were used as a control group (G1), ten diarrhoeic buffalo calves were treated with garlic powder (G2) and ten diarrhoeic buffalo calves were treated with nitazoxanide and colitrim (G3). Whole blood and serum samples were obtained on day 0, and 3rd, 5th, and 7th days post-treatment. The clinical picture of diarrhoeic calves showed white to yellowish, greenish profuse watery diarrhoea, and inability to stand with dermatological changes. The bacteriological examination isolated E. coli from anal swabs, and Cryptosporidium was detected by faecal parasitological examination. Blood lysate and serum biochemical analyses revealed significantly decreased SOD, CAT, TAC and GSH with significantly increased MDA, associated with decreased total protein, albumin, globulin, vitamin E, selenium, Ca, iCa, Ph, Mg, Cu, Fe, Na, Cl, and significantly increased LDH, CK, lipase, amylase and potassium levels of diarrhoeic calves on day 0 compared to G1. Most of biochemical parameters were completely recovered in G2 (treated with garlic powder) from the 5th day of treatment and some parameters were more improved compared to G1. Calves in G3 that received traditional treatment recovered on the 7th day of treatment but the values of some parameters were less improved than those in G2. Therefore, garlic powder is a very effective treatment of diarrhoeic buffalo calves, improving antioxidants, immunity, enzyme activity and trace elements.