Proportional morbidity rates of enteropathogens among diarrheic dairy calves in central Spain

Prev Vet Med. 1998 Aug 7;36(2):145-52. doi: 10.1016/s0167-5877(98)00077-4.

Abstract

Faecal samples from 218 diarrheic dairy calves in 65 dairy herds, selected by convenience, were screened for the presence of rotavirus, coronavirus, Cryptosporidium spp., F5+ Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. Animals surveyed were from 1 to 30 days old. Cryptosporidium and rotavirus were the most commonly detected agents (52.3% and 42.7% of the samples positive, respectively). F5+ E. coli was detected in the faeces of 11.9% of the calves and bovine coronavirus was detected in the faeces of 7.3% of the calves. Salmonella spp. was only found in the faeces of two calves (0.9%). Mixed infections with two or more agents occurred in 28% of the calves. Concurrent infection of rotavirus and Cryptosporidium was found in 21.6% of the calves. Two tests were used for the detection of rotavirus (a commercial ELISA and PAGE), F5+ E. coli (ELISA and bacterial culture) and Cryptosporidium (ELISA and microscopy). The validity of the commercial ELISA for the detection of rotavirus, F5+ E. coli and Cryptosporidium in faeces from diarrheic calves was evaluated using PAGE, bacterial culture and microscopy as gold standard, respectively. The ELISA showed a very low sensitivity (28.6%) for the detection of F5+ E. coli compared to bacterial culture.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle / microbiology
  • Cattle / parasitology
  • Cattle / virology
  • Cattle Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Cattle Diseases / microbiology
  • Cattle Diseases / parasitology
  • Cattle Diseases / virology
  • Cryptosporidiosis / epidemiology
  • Cryptosporidiosis / veterinary
  • Cryptosporidium
  • Diarrhea / microbiology
  • Diarrhea / parasitology
  • Diarrhea / veterinary*
  • Diarrhea / virology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Escherichia coli Infections / epidemiology
  • Escherichia coli Infections / veterinary
  • Rotavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Rotavirus Infections / veterinary
  • Salmonella Infections, Animal / epidemiology
  • Spain / epidemiology