ACUTE ENTERITIS IN NOENATE FRIESIAN CALVES IN SOHAG GOVERNORATE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ETIOLOGY, CLINICOBIOCHEMICAL ASPECTS AND THERAPY.

Document Type : Research article

Authors

1 Dept. of Animal Medicine, Fac. Vet. Med., Assiut Univ.,

2 Animal Health Research Institute, Assiut, Section of Microbiology.

Abstract

An acute attack of enteritis and deaths among the neonate calves had occurred in a herd of 250 dairy cows, during the period of January - April, 1998. A total of 38 neonate calves aged 5-25 days were involved in this investigation (30 with diarrhea and 8 was clinically healthy). The study aimed to achieve an etiological diagnosis, clinicobiochemical changes and trials for treatment. Moderate to severe greenish yellow diarrhea, tenesmus, depression and mild to moderate dehydration were the main signs. Rectal swabs and fecal samples were taken for bacterial and parasitic examinations respectively. On the basis of clinical and laboratory findings, the condition was diagnosed as concurrent acute bacterial and protozoal enteritis. The recognized etiological agents were mostly bacteria (40%) such as E. Coli either alone or in association with proteus sp < /em>p < /em>., Klebsiella spp. /or Pseudomonus, /or Cambylobacter sp < /em>p < /em>., and /or Salmonella; Bacteria and Protozoa (Cryptosporidia and Eimeria bovis) in 33.5 % of cases, Protozoa only (16.5 %) as Cryptosporidia and Eimeria bovis. No enteropathogens were identified in 10 % of cases. Hemoconcentration, hyponatremia, and increased blood urea and serum creatinine were the main biochemical changes in enteric calves. It could be concluded that concurrent infection of bacteria, Cryptosporida and Eimeria spp. may cause severe enteritis and case fatalities among suckling calves. Immediate application of intestinal protectant, Enrofloxacin with oral rehydration by electrolyte - glucose solutions for calves that have a suckling affinity as well as continuos drip infusion containing alkalizing agents, electrolytes and source of energy for severely apathetic calves proved a good rapid recovery.

Keywords