Enteric pathogens in intensively reared veal calves.
Observations were made on development of diarrhea in special-fed calves (n = 460) on 8 commercial facilities during 2 successive 16-week production cycles at weeks 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16. A total of 23% were affected, with peak number of calves with diarrhea observed at week 0. Suspected enteropathogens were identified in 86% of these calves, most commonly cryptosporidia, coronavirus, and rotavirus. Identified potential zoonotic pathogens included Giardia and Salmonella spp and verotoxigenic Escherichia coli. Noncytopathic bovine viral diarrhea virus was isolated from 6 calves that had repeated bouts of illness. Only 22% of calves entering the veal facilities had adequate transfer of passive immunity. At week 0, serum IgG concentration in calves that subsequently died or had diarrhea was lower (P < 0.001) than that in healthy calves. All calves that died (n = 6) during the first 4 weeks of production had complete failure of transfer of passive immunity.
McDonough
S P
SP
Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616.
Stull
C L
CL
Osburn
B I
BI
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001912:Bovine Virus Diarrhea-Mucosal Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D002140:California; D002417:Cattle; D002460:Cell Line; D003332:Coronaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001908:Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005843:Geography; D005872:Giardia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007668:Kidney; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D009922:Oregon; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012475:Salmonella / Q000302:isolation & purification
D007074:Immunoglobulin G