Some Studies On Neonatal Calf Diarrhea In Egypt Part 1: Causative agents and some epidemiological aspects

TL;DR: The clinical examination on 1200 neonatal calves in three different farms in various localities in Egypt revealed that 200 calves suffered from variable degrees of diarrhea and dehydration.

Abstract: L’examen clinique de 1200 veaux neonatals dans trois fermes situees dans differentes localites en Egypte a revele que 200 veaux souffraient a des degres divers de diarrhee et de deshydratation. Les veaux etaient classes en 4 groupes selon leur âge : 1er groupe (1 – 7 jours) ; 2eme groupe (8 – 14 jours) ; 3eme groupe (15 – 21 jours) et 4emegroupe (22 – 30 jours). A partir de l’isolement et de l’identification du virus par le Test de neutralisation du serum utilisant le serum de reference connu, 53 echantillons fecaux sur 200 ont produit un effet cytopathique sur la culture de tissus. Des virus Rota etaient isoles de 38 echantillons,des virus Corona de 25 echantillons. L’infection mixte entre les virus Rota et Corona etait observee dans 10 echantillons et l’infection mixte entre les virus Rota et le virus BVD dans 5 echantillons. Le taux le plus eleve d’isolement de virus s’est produit dans le 2eme groupe.E-coli spp etait isole de 45 echantillons et Salmonella spp de 10 echantillons ; un echantillon avait une infection mixte. Le taux le plus eleve d’isolement d’E-coli et de Salmonella s’est produit dans le 1er groupe (30%) et dans le 2eme groupe (8,6%) respectivement.Clostridium perferingens spp etait isole de 10,5% des echantillons et le taux le plus eleve s’est produit dans le 4eme groupe (13,3%).Soixante echantillons sur 200 etaient infectes par l’ovocyste  cryptosporidium parvum et l’on a constate le taux d’infection le plus eleve dans le 2eme groupe (42,8%). The clinical examination on 1200 neonatal calves in three different farms in various localities in Egypt revealed that 200 calves suffered from variable degrees of diarrhea and dehydration. The calves were classified according to their ages into 4 groups: 1st group: 1-7 day; 2nd group: 8-14 day; 3rd group: 15-21 days and 4th group: 22-30 days. From the viral isolation and identification by Serum neutralization Test (SNT) using known reference serum, 53 out of 200 fecal samples gave Cytopathic Effect (CPE) on tissue culture: Rota viruses were isolated from 38 samples, Corona viruses from 25 samples, the mixed infection between Rota and  Corona viruses was observed in 10 samples and the mixed infection between Rota viruses and BVD virus in 5 samples. The highest rate of viral isolation occurred in 2nd group. E- coli spp was isolated from 45 samples and Salmonella spp. isolated from 10 samples and one sample had mixed infection. The highest isolation rate of E-coli and of Salmonella occurred in 1st age group of (30 %) and in 2nd age group (8.6 %). Clostridium Perferingens spp. were isolated from 10.5 % of the samples, the highest rate occurred in 4th age group (13.3%). Sixty out of 200 samples were infected with Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst. The highest infection rate was found in 2nd group of age (42.8 %). The study indicated the effects of age and location (management) on  neonatal diarrhoeic infection in cattle in three randomly selected farms in Egypt. The data confirms the principal causal agent in neonatal calf diarrhoea in Egypt as Escherichia coli, Rotavirus, Corona virus, Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella spp and Cryptosporidium spp as a single or mixed infection by the isolated agents. In addition, diet, management and sanitation are also significant contributory factors in the aetiology of neonatal calf diarrhoea in Egypt.