title: Risk factors for neonatal calf diarrhoea and enteropathogen shedding in New Zealand dairy farms.
abstract: To investigate the risk factors for neonatal calf diarrhoea, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 97 New Zealand dairy farms. Faecal specimens from 1283 calves were scored as liquid, semi-solid or solid, and analysed for bovine rotavirus (BRV) and coronavirus (BCV), enterotoxigenic K99(+)Escherichia coli (K99), Salmonella spp. and Cryptosporidium parvum. Calf- and farm-level data were collected by means of a questionnaire and the odds of liquid faeces calculated using mixed effects logistic regression models. Among the infectious agents, only C. parvum (odds ratio [OR] = 2.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-5.6; P = 0.02), BRV (OR = 2.7; 95% CI, 1.3-5.9; P = 0.01) and co-infection with more than one agent (compared with mono-infection: OR = 2.5; 95% CI, 1.3-4.8; P = 0.01) were associated with increased odds of liquid faeces in calves which were 9 to 21 days old. Housing of calves in open barns so exposing them to the weather was also associated with increased odds of liquid faeces compared with closed barns (OR = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1-12.2; P = 0.03). Vaccinating cows against calf enteropathogens (OR = 0.2; 95% CI, 0.1-0.9; P = 0.03), administering waste milk (from mastitis and/or containing antibiotics; OR = 0.4; 95% CI, 0.1-0.8; P = 0.01), the sex of calves (females compared to males OR = 0.2, 95% CI, 0.07-0.7; P <0.01), and the use of straw for bedding (OR = 0.2; 95% CI, 0.03-0.9; P = 0.03) decreased the odds of liquid faeces. Conversely, in calves that were 1 to 5 days old, only K99 was associated with liquid faeces (OR = 4.6; 95% CI, 1.2-16.1; P = 0.02). In this age group, the odds of liquid faeces were smaller on farms where females took care of the calves, compared with males (OR = 0.4; 95% CI, 0.01-0.9; P = 0.04).
authors: mEpiLab, Infectious Disease Research Centre, Hopkirk Research Institute, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4410, New Zealand.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Al Mawly
authors: Infectious Diseases Group, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4410, New Zealand. Electronic address: a.grinberg@massey.ac.nz.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Grinberg
authors: mEpiLab, Infectious Disease Research Centre, Hopkirk Research Institute, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4410, New Zealand.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Prattley
authors: MSD Animal Health, 33 Whakatiki Street, Upper Hutt, Wellington 5018, New Zealand.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Moffat
authors: mEpiLab, Infectious Disease Research Centre, Hopkirk Research Institute, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4410, New Zealand.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Marshall
authors: mEpiLab, Infectious Disease Research Centre, Hopkirk Research Institute, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4410, New Zealand.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: French
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003612:Dairying; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment
keywords: Calf diarrhea; Coronavirus; Cryptosporidium parvum; Risk factors; Rotavirus; Salmonella
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