PATHOLOGICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS MADE ON SPONTANEOUS CASES OF ACUTE NEONATAL CALF DIARRHEA

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  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (3) , 228-240
Abstract
This report describes clinical signs, gross and microscopic lesions, bacteriological and immunofluorescence observations made on spontaneous cases of acute neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD) in dairy and beef herds. The diagnostic tools used were direct smears of intestinal content, Escherichia coli counts, aerobic bacterial cultures of the small intestine and other organs (The O serogroup and the enterotoxigenicity of the E. coli isolated was determined), detection of the 2 Nebraska NCD viruses (reolike and corona-like) by the fluorescent antibody technique and histological examination of different segments of the digestive tract. The etiological diagnoses suggested after post mortem examination of 55 cases of NDC (34 were submitted alive) were: reo-like virus only (1), reo-like virus + E. coli (4), reo-like virus + Cryptosporidium (2), reo- + corona-like viruses (5), reo- + corona-like viruses + Cryptosporidium (3), reo- + coronalike viruses + infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (1), coronavirus-like agent only (2), coronarvirus-like agent + mycotic abomasitis (1), coronavirus-like agent + Cryptosporidium (1), E. coli only (6), Cryptosporidium only (5), mycotic abomasitis (3), mycotic rumenitis + reticulitis (1) and undetermined (20). Most of the calves in the last group were submitted dead.