FREQUENCY AND ETIOLOGY OF CALF LOSSES AND CALF DISEASES IN COW-CALF FARMS .3. SEROPREVALENCE OF SELECTED DISEASES AND PREVALENCE OF ENDOPARASITES AT WEANING AGE

In a cross sectional study in 38 cow-calf farms blood and fecal sample s were taken from 207 calves at an age of 8-10 months and their darms, in order to determine the seroprevalence of Leptospira hardjo, Coxiel la burnetii, Toxoplasma gondii and the presence of the BVD-Antigen as well as the prevalence of endoparasites. The study was conducted in fa ll 1994 at the end of the grazing period. Eggs or larves of gastrointe stinal helminths were detected in 74% of calves that were dewormed bef ore the grazing period and in 88% of untreated calves. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant. In 83% of the we aned calves oocysts of Eimeria spp. were diagnosed. No significant dif ference in weight gain was observed between animals without endoparasi tes and animals infected with either helminths and/or Eimeria. In cows the prevalence was 61.5% for helminths and 45.7% for Eimeria spp. In calves the seroprevalence was 4% for Leptospira hardjo, 0.5% for Coxie lla burnetii and 14.0% for Toxoplasma gondii. The seroprevalence in co ws were 18% for Leptospira hardjo, 7.6% for Coxiella bumetii and 14.3% for Toxoplasma gondii. The prevalence of the BVD-Virus antigen was 0. 5% for calves and cows.Die.