[Field study of the prevalence and diagnosis of diarrhea-causing agents in the newborn calf in a Swiss veterinary practice area].
The prevalence of cryptosporidia, rotavirus, bovine coronavirus and Escherichia coli F5 (K99) in dairy calves with diarrhea and in healthy calves was established in a limited area served by a veterinary practice. Immuno-chromatographic rapid tests (FASTest Strips) were applied in the field and their results were compared to the ones obtained with standard methods (modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain, antigen-ELISA and cultivation). In 78% of the calves with diarrhea (n=46) and in 29% of the healthy calves (n=14), one or two agents were isolated. Of the diseased calves, 43% excreted cryptosporidia and in 46% rotavirus was isolated. Bovine corona virus and Escherichia coli F5 (K99) seemed to be of minor importance in the investigated population. Compared to the modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain or the antigen-ELISA, the FASTest Strips CRYPTO and ROTA were of very high diagnostic specificity of 100% each and their diagnostic sensitivity was 75% and 57%, respectively. Due to the low number of cases, the results of the FASTest Strips BCV and E.coli-K99 could not be interpreted. Although the diagnostic sensitivity of the FASTest Strips CRYPTO and ROTA--evaluated with standard methods--was not very high, their use in calves with acute diarrhea is recommended.
Luginbühl
A
A
andreas.luginbuehl@rega-sense.ch
Reitt
K
K
Metzler
A
A
Kollbrunner
M
M
Corboz
L
L
Deplazes
P
P
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000662:veterinary; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic