Enteric Pathogens in the Aetiology of Diarrhoea in Neonatal Lambs

Abstract

This study determined some enteropathogens in diarrhoeic neonatal lambs (0-28 days old) in randomly selected 4 sheep farms in Kars. Feacal samples were collected from diarrhoeic cases on daily visits during 2006 lambing season in order to determine Escherichia coli F5, E. coli O157, Cryptosporidium parvum, rotavirus, coronavirus, Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. Microbiological examination of faecal samples revealed absence of Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. in one case. E. coli F5 10.5% (4/38), E. coli O157 10.9% (12/110), C. parvum 21.05% (8/38), rotavirus 5.3% (3/56) and coronavirus 21.4% (12/56) were also determined in samples by using ELISA. Analyses of tissue samples taken from lambs died of septicaemia revelaed presence of E. coli (42.5%, 9/21). Cl. perfringens and their toxins were determined in feaces of 56 diarrhoeic lambs using ELISA. Of these, 57% (32/56) were positive for Cl. perfringens and at least one of these cases had α, β and € toxins. Biotyping of these positive samples revelaed Cl. perfringens type A (18.8%, 6/32), Cl. perfringens type B (21.9%, 7/32), Cl. perfringens type C (28.2%, 9/32) and Cl. perfringens type D (31.3%, 10/32). The results of this study disclosed that Cl. perfringens, C. parvum, E. coli F5, rotavirus and coronavirus played role, either alone or togather, in the aetiology of neonatal lamb diarrhoae and that may cause outbreaks leading to higher morbidity and mortality rates.