Field study about prevalence and diagnostics of diarrhea causing agents in the new-born calf in a Swiss veterinary practice area
Luginbuehl, A.(Tierarztpraxis Dr.A.Luginbuehl, Duedingen (Switzerland)) | Reitt, K. | Metzler, A. | Kollbrunner, M. | Corboz, L. | Deplazes, P.
The prevalence of cryptosporidia, rotavirus, bovine coronavirus and Escherichia coli F5 (K99) in dairy calves with diarrhea and in healthy calves was established in a limited area served by a veterinary practice. Immuno-chromatographic rapid tests (FASTest® Strips) were applied in the field and their results were compared to the ones obtained with standard methods (modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain, antigen-ELISA and cultivation). In 78% of the calves with diarrhea (n = 46) and in 29% of the healthy calves (n = 14), one or two agents were isolated. Of the diseased calves, 43% excreted cryptosporidia and in 46% rotavirus was isolated. Bovine corona virus and Escherichia coli F5 (K99) seemed to be of minor importance in the investigated population. Compared to the modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain or the antigen-ELISA, the FASTest® Strips CRYPTO and ROTA were of very high diagnostic specificity of 100% each and their diagnostic sensitivity was 75% and 57%, respectively. Due to the low number of cases, the results of the FASTest® Strips BCV and E.coli-K99 could not be interpreted. Although the diagnostic sensitivity of the FASTest® Strips CRYPTO and ROTA - evaluated with standard methods - was not very high, their use in calves with acute diarrhea is recommended.
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