FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT THE OCCURRENCE OF ENTEROPATHOGENS IN THE FECES OF DIARRHEIC CALVES IN IRELAND

One hundred and eight samples of faeces taken from untreated diarrhoei c calves, up to 28 days of age, and early in the course of clinical di sease, were examined for enteropathogens. Cryptosporidia were identifi ed in 48 (44.4%) samples, rotavirus in 42 (38.9%), K99(+) E. coli in 1 6 (15%) and coronavirus in 11 (10.3%). Non-K99(+) E. coli were isolate d from 90 (83.3%) of the samples. Salmonella species and coccidial ooc yts were not detected in any of the samples. More than one species of enteropathogen (not including non-K99(+) E. coli) were identified in 3 1 (28.7%) of 108 samples. Rotavirus were detected significantly more o ften (P < 0.05) in calves fed colostrum by stomach tube than in calves fed by stomach tube than in calves fed by suckling. The proportion of samples positive for cryptosporidia was significantly correlated with age at sampling (p < 0.01), with the peak incidence in the second wee k of life. In housed calves the rate of detection of rotavirus increas ed significantly (p = 0.03) as the group size increased.