Enteropathogens Present In Diarrhoeic Calves in Dairy Herds in Tanzania

Abstract

In  an  investigation for enteropathogens associated  with  diarrhoea  in  calves in dairy herds, 71 diarrhoeic and 46 non-diarrhoeic calves from 0 to  90  days  old were sampled  and  analysed  for  prevalence  of various  enteropathogens that may be responsible for diarrhoea  in  calves.  The calves came from 4 dairy farms in three different locations.  ELISA based techniques were used for detection of K99 E.coli, rotavirus, coronavirus and Cryptosporidia. Coprological methods were used for detection and identification of coccidia. Further, bacteriological methods were used in screening for Salmonella spp. Results showed that diarrhoea in calves below the age of two weeks was relatively uncommon. Various enteropathogens were   detected.   Rotavirus was detected in 38% of diarrhoeic calves and in 26.1% of the non-diarrhoeic calves examined.  Coronavirus was detected   in 31% and   in 4.3% of diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic calves respectively.  K99 E.coli was detected in 42.1% of diarrhoeic calves and in 19.6% of non-diarrhoeic calves. Cryptosporidia was detected in 25.8% of diarrhoeic calves and in 28.6% of non-diarrhoeic ones. Coccidiosis was detected in 51.6% of diarrhoeic calves in contrast to 16.7% in non-diarrhoeic calves.  Salmonella spp. was detected in 7.3% and 0% of diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic calves respectively. Although six different enteropathogens were detected in the calves, causal effects were demonstrated for only three of them. It was statistically demonstrated that, significant differences in prevalence rates of enteropathogens between diarrhoea and non-diarrhoeic calves existed with respect to K99 E. coli, coronavirus and coccidia only.  There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the prevalence rates with respect to rotavirus, Cryptosporidia and Salmonella spp between the diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic calves investigated. It is suggested that some of the detected enteropathogens had no causal effect. Such detections serve to indicate enteropathogens that are probably incidentally present in cases of diarrhoea caused by other agents