Longitudinal study of Salmonella spp., diarrheagenic Escherichia coli, Rotavirus, and Coronavirus isolated from healthy and diarrheic calves in a Brazilian dairy herd

Trop Anim Health Prod. 2015 Jan;47(1):3-11. doi: 10.1007/s11250-014-0675-5. Epub 2014 Oct 14.

Abstract

This prospective longitudinal study investigated the epidemiology of enteric disease associated with infections in calves aging up to 70 days. A total of 850 fecal samples were collected from 67 calves. Seventeen isolates of Salmonella spp. were recovered from feces of 11 calves (16.4%), and statistical analysis revealed no association between the presence of Salmonella spp. and clinical signs of diarrhea or age. Virulence factors of Escherichia coli were identified in 103 strains: eae (7), K99/STa (7), Stx1 (7), Stx1/eae (36), Stx1/Stx2/eae (2), Stx2 (43), and Stx2/eae (1). There was statistical association between diarrheic animals carrying E. coli Stx1/eae (+) in their feces at 2 and 4 weeks of age (P = 0.003) and E. coli Stx2 (+) at 5 weeks of age (P = 0.03). Rotavirus was detected in 49 (5.76%) fecal samples collected from 33 calves (49.2%). The presence of rotavirus was correlated with diarrheic feces (P < 0.0001) rather than feces with normal consistency. There was a significant relationship between age group and diarrhea (P = 0.001). Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) was detected in 93 fecal samples collected from 46 calves (68.6%). There was an association (P < 0.0001) between diarrheic animals positive for BCoV and age groups. The results demonstrate the importance of the pathogens studied in the etiology of diarrhea in calves.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brazil
  • Cattle
  • Cattle Diseases / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus / isolation & purification*
  • Coronavirus Infections / veterinary*
  • Coronavirus, Bovine
  • Diarrhea / veterinary*
  • Escherichia coli / isolation & purification*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / veterinary*
  • Feces
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Prospective Studies
  • Rotavirus / isolation & purification*
  • Salmonella / isolation & purification*
  • Virulence Factors

Substances

  • Virulence Factors