Diagnostic Workup in Relation to Odds of Clinico-Fecal Predictors in Adult Dairy Cattle and Buffalo with Chronic Diarrhea

BACKGROUND: Chronic diarrhea is one of the costly pathologic conditions affecting dairy animals owing to its significant impact on economic returns. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinico-fecal alterations associated with underlying disease entities or etiologies in adult dairy cattle and buffaloes with chronic diarrhea. METHODS: Hundred and two adult dairy cattle/buffaloes with a history of diarrhea (≥3- weeks duration) without any other complications were selected for the study. Quantification of parameters viz; frequency of feces, fecal consistency, abnormalities in feces, and secondary clinical signs such as changes in appetite or weight loss was estimated to assess the clinical severity associated with the chronic diarrheic condition. Etiologies identified were confirmed based on diagnostic techniques and laboratory tests (Fecal microscopy, culture using selective media, PCR, and copper estimation using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer). RESULTS: Different etiologies identified indicate significant variation (P<0.05), with Balantidium coli infection diagnosed in 38 of 102 adult dairy animals (37.6%) with chronic diarrhea. The nature of diarrhea was established in dietary origin in 9.9% of animals. Salmonellosis infection was diagnosed in seven animals. Amphistomiasis was established in 7 (6.6 %) adult dairy animals. Johne's disease was diagnosed in 4 animals (3.9%). Chronic diarrhea due to copper deficiency was detected in 6.9 percent of animals. Relation between the fecal odor, fecal consistency, and fecal abnormality showed variation with respect to etiologies. However, out of these parameters, body condition score (BCS) had a significant effect concerning the etiology (P<0.05) shown by the P-value on a log of odd scale. Body condition scores differ significantly (P<0.05) among the etiological groups, with variations in scores ranging between 2 and 3.5 in affected animals. All the animals affected with clinical Johne's disease had the lowest body condition score of 2-2.5. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study highlight the need for a detailed and elaborative diagnostic workup to identify the underlying causes of the chronic diarrheic condition in bovines to stamp out the possibility of severe economic losses associated with the condition.