Neonatal Diarrhea Flashcards
Age patterns of ruminant diarrhea
Neonates: management/nutritional, infectious
Growing animals: management/nutritional, infectious
Adult females: management/nutritional, infectious
Managemental causes of neonatal diarrhea
Calf milk replacer - 125g/L (12.5%) - 2L 2xd - .5kg per calf per day Ad lib milk - 20%bw daily
Infectious causes (7)
ETEC (enterotoxogenic E. coli)* Coronavirus* Rotavirus* Cryptosporidium* Clostridium spp. Salmonella Mixed infections
ETEC basics and Dx/prevention
2-5d calves
Low morbidity, high mortality (die of dehydration)
Dx: fecal culture with serotyping
Prevention: vaccinate cow prior to calving, oral Ab
ETEC virulence factors
Pilus antigen - allows bacteria to attach to villi (K99, F41)
Enterotoxin - heat stable exotoxin
- Activates c-GMP which inhibits NaCl absorption
- Loss of Na, Cl, HCO3, K, and water (secretory diarrhea)
Attach mainly in caudal SI
Very little morphologic damage to gut
EHEC, EPEC, normal E. coli
Can also cause diarrhea
Salmonella
Zoonotic Wider age variation Diarrhea more likely to contain blood May have problem in calves and adults at same time - Septicemia - Pneumonia - Acute deaths Dx: fecal culture
Rotavirus
7-10d High morbidity, low mortality Very stable in environment, prolonged shedding Proximal SI Villus tips Malabsorption/maldigestion Dx: EM of feces, FA, ELISA Prevention: Vaccinate dam, calf vaccine
Coronavirus
Calves <2wk Low morbidity, high mortality Ill thrift Less stable in envmt Distal SI and LI Entire villus affected Malabsorption Diarrhea more severe Dx same as rotavirus
Other viruses that can cause neonatal diarrhea
Adenovirus
Parvovirus
Astrovirus
Breda virus
Cryptosporidium
Zoonotic 10d-2wk Resistant to chemical disinfectants Pure, mixed, subclinical infections Mucoid diarrhea Colon, lower GI, damages wall Dx: fecal float, acid fast stain, combination
Giardia
Found in calves with and without diarrhea
Metronidazole and related drugs are illegal in food animals!
What two foods are essential for calves to develop ruminal folds?
Milk and Grain
Infectious causes of adolescent diarrhea
Coccidiosis Endoparasitism BVDV Clostridium spp. Salmonellosis
Coccidiosis
Older calves, usually weaned - 1yr
Eimeria sp
Indoors in crowded or contaminated areas
Outdoors around feeding troughs, etc.
Causes of diarrhea in adult ruminants
Johne's dz (M. paratuberculosis) Subacute rumen acidosis BVDV Salmonellosis Miscellaneous
Most important signs in assisting diagnosis?
Mentation Body temperature Fecal consistency Fecal color Cardio status Mucous membranes Recumbency Response to fluid therapy
Clin path in neonatal diarrhea
Hemoconcentration Metabolic acidosis Electrolyte disturbances - Hyperkalemia - Low to normal sodium and chloride \+/- hypoglycemia
Individual management
PE
- Mentation
- CV status
- Hydration
- Signs of sepsis
- Localize dz
- Primary or secondary
- Characterize pathology
Fluids
Oral - Many varieties - Use active glucose/sodium-linked gut transport system - Limited time only - Milk feeding Parenteral - IV - SQ - Alkalinizing
T/F: Abx are rarely needed in cases of neonatal diarrhea
True
Importance of colostrum
Colostrum fed calves get sick less easily and less severely
Quality, Quantity, Quickly!
Benefit of high serum IgG
More weight gain
Less feed needed
Less mortality
Lower health treatment costs
Colostrum Quality
Dam - breed, age, yield, dry period
Collection - timing, pooling
Storage - hygiene, temperature
Colostrum Quantity
Immediate - 5% body weight, 2-4L
Next feed (4-6h) - 5% bw, 2-4L
Total by 24h - 12-15%bw, 6-8L
Calf intestinal absorption
Not after 24h
Digestive enzymes still low for first 12h
Potential for pathogenic bacterial colonization in the intestine