Neonatal diarrhea Flashcards
What are the 5 common causes of diarrhea in calves <21 days of age?
Enterotoxigenic E. coli
Rotavirus
Coronavirus
Cryptosporidium parvum
Salmonella
What age calves get enterotoxigenic E. coli
< 3 days
What age calves get attaching and effacing E. coli
20-30 days
What age calves get rotavirus?
5-15 days
What age calves get coronavirus?
5-21 days
What age calves get Cryptosporidium?
5-35 days
What age calves get Salmonella?
5-42 days
What age calves get Clostridium perfringens C and D?
5-15 days
What age calves get Eimeria?
> 30 days
What disease causes unique diarrhea symptoms? What are the symptoms?
Salmonella- yellow to white diarrhea, fever, dysentery, abdominal pain, tenesmus
What is the primary goal for treating acute undifferentiated diarrhea in calves?
Correct dehydration, acid-base status, electrolyte abnormalities, and negative energy balance until the GI tract has healed and the diarrhea has resolved
What pathogen causes disease in calves, piglets, lambs, and foals? What term is used to describe it?
Enterotoxigenic E. coli- called colibacillosis
Describe the bacteria enterotoxigenic E. coli
Gram negative rod, part of the normal flora, non-invasive, adheres to small intestine and colonizes it producing enterotoxins
What are the different strains of enterotoxigenic E. coli?
O- somatic (LPS/endotoxin)
K- capsular
H- flagellar
F- fimbrial (highly immunogenic)
What is the primary virulence factor for enterotoxigenic E. coli?
Adhesions in their pili or fimbriae- allows them to adhere to intestinal villus epithelial cells and prevents peristaltic elimination
What is the most common and second most common adhesin antigen for enterotoxigenic E. coli?
F5- makes heat stable enterotoxin
F41- fimbrial antigen
Describe the pathophysiology of enterotoxigenic E. coli
E. coli is ingested, multiplies in the ileum and ascends to the small intestine where it adheres to epithelial cells and colonizes the gut
At what age are calves resistant to adhesion of enterotoxigenic E. coli?
Day 4
How does enterotoxigenic E. coli cause disease?
Produces heat-stable enterotoxins altering the movement of ions and water, produces cGMP, causes hypersecretion (particularly of chloride) in cryptal cells, inhibits Na-Cl cotransporter, causes excessive loss of Na and Cl into intestinal lumen
How is enterotoxigenic E. coli transmitted?
Fecal-oral route (calf to calf or dam to calf, or survives in environment)
What are the risk factors for enterotoxigenic E. coli?
Age (<3 days), lack of colostral immunity, environmental factors and hygiene, calves born later than expected
What are the clinical signs associated with enterotoxigenic E. coli?
Yellow watery diarrhea (no blood or tenesmus), increased fecal pH, starting between 12 hours and 4 days old
How is enterotoxigenic E. coli diagnosed?
Age of animal and clinical signs
Need to detect specific enterotoxic strain to confirm diagnosis (PCR, IFA)
On necropsy- fluid filled intestines with an intact mucosa histologically, with clusters of gram negative rods adhered to villi of jejunum and ileum
How is enterotoxigenic E. coli treated?
Correct dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities (oral/IV fluids), possible use of antibiotics (ceftiofur, aminoglycosides, potentiated sulfas), possible use of immune stimulants