Jg. Fagan et al., FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT THE OCCURRENCE OF ENTEROPATHOGENS IN THE FECES OF DIARRHEIC CALVES IN IRELAND, Irish veterinary journal, 48(1), 1995, pp. 17-21
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.