Enteropathogens in Holstein calves with diarrhea during the first five weeks of age in México

Abstract

The aim was to assess the prevalence of etiologic agents of diarrhea in single and mixed infections and their relationship with age in Holstein calves. Fecal diarrheic samples (n=90) were taken to determine the causative agent (E. coli (K99), Salmonella spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Coronavirus, and Rotavirus). Samples tested were positive at least to one pathogen (87.7%), most of the positive cases were mixed infections (62%; P less than 0.01); from these, affected by two (59%), and by three or more agents (41%; P=0.07). Cryptosporidium spp. and Rotavirus were the most common agents and most of infections occurred during the first two weeks of age