Etiological and predisposing factors in calves with neonatal diarrhea: a clinical study in 270 case series

Abstract

Th is study was carried out to find out the etiology and predisposing factors of calves having diarrhea from Kayseri province and its neighboring cities between January 2016 and September 2019. A total of 270 neonatal diarrheic calves were included to this study. Comprehensive information was obtained by face-to-face interviews with the animal owners about administrative practices such as the vaccination status of the dams, farm type, colostrum intake status. Th e etiological agents were determined using the lateral fl ow immunochromatographic test kits. As a result of this investigation, out of 270 diarrheic cases; 21.9% (59) Cryptosporidium spp., 15.6% (42) E. coli K99+, 14.1% (38) bovine coronavirus (BCoV), 10.4% (28) bovine rotavirus (BRV), 9.3% (25) Cryptosporidium spp.+BRV, 8.5% (23) BRV+BCoV were found. Interms of shelter type; 85.2% (230) were traditional and 14.8% (40) were modern type. Regarding the colostrum intake situation; 7.4% (20) received no colostrum, 11.1% (30) received insufficient colostrum and 81.5% (220) received colostrum adequately and on time. Additionally, 36.7% (99) calf mothers were vaccinated and 63.3% (171) were unvaccinated. Compared to those born in autumn, calves born in winter; 6.5-fold, in the spring season; 3.6-fold and in summer; 5.2-fold more likely to develop diarrhea caused by E. coli K99+. Th ese findings may generate valuable information not only for the clinicians and researchers but also animal health experts, policy makers, farmer etc.

Keywords

• calf
• diarrhea
• etiology
• predisposing factor