The effect of a single disinfection of a farm on cryptosporidiosis infection in calves

The disinfection of a farm with Dikonit (active substance: sodium dichlorocyanuran) exerted no significant influence on the course of the spreading of cryptosporidiosis infections in newborn calves. The oocysts of Cryptosporidium sp., isolated from the faeces of a spontaneously infected calf and left in a 2.5% disinfecting solution of Dikonit under laboratory conditions for four hours, did not lose their viability. Laboratory mice experimentally infected with these "disinfected" oocysts, began to produce oocysts of Cryptosporidium sp. the sixth day from infection. The findings of different developmental stages of this protozoan obtained during the histological examination of the intestinal tissue of test mice are also considered as evidence of successful experimental infection. The cryptosporidium-free period which lasted only 14 days from disinfection was mainly due to thorough mechanical cleaning of the area where the calves were kept after birth. This is also proved by the results of the examination of old residues of calf faeces scraped from the floors: only individual individual oocysts of Cryptosporidium sp. were found in these samples.     

Excretion of Eimeria alabamensis oocysts in grazing calves and young stock

The aims of the present study were to investigate the excretion of Eimeria alabamensis oocysts by young cattle during their first grazing season and during the first 16 days of their second grazing period. In trial 1, nine first-season grazing heifers were studied and found to have become infected with E. alabamensis shortly after turnout. The next grazing period they were turned out on to a permanent pasture together with two first-season grazing calves. Faecal samples were collected before turnout and then daily from day 3 to day 16. The second-season grazing heifers excreted insignificant numbers of E. alabamensis oocysts, whereas one of the two first-season grazing calves excreted up to 703,000 oocysts/g of faeces (OPG), indicating that the pasture was contaminated. In trial 2, faecal samples were collected from 12 calves before their first turnout in May, daily from day 2 to day 20 after turnout and then once a week until the end of September. The calves grazed pastures used in previous years by first-season grazing calves. Nine of the calves developed clinical E. alabamensis coccidiosis 4-7 days after turnout and excreted more than 950,000 OPG on days 9-10. By day 17 the oocyst excretion had decreased below 900 OPG and remained low throughout the rest of the grazing season. The results of the two studies indicate that reinfections with E. alabamensis are of little clinical importance in calves grazing contaminated pastures, and that young stock infected with E. alabamensis during their first grazing season may be used to cleanse contaminated pastures without risk of developing clinical coccidiosis.     

Peripartal Excretion of Eimeria Oocyst by Cows on Swedish Dairy Farms and the Age of Calves at First Excretion

Faecal samples were collected 3 times a week for 6 weeks from 22 peripartal cows and for up to 15 weeks after birth from 27 calves in 3 herds, to determine the numbers of Eimeria oocysts excreted and the age at which the calves first excreted oocysts. Only low numbers of oocysts were excreted by the cows and no oocysts were detected in 93% of the samples. However, half the cows excreted oocysts at least once. The age at which the calves first excreted oocysts ranged from 2.5 to at least 15 weeks, and there was a significant difference between the herds in their mean age at first excretion. Oocysts of Eimeria alabamensis, E. auburnensis, E. bovis and E. ellipsoidalis were found in numbers ranging from 7 to 8450 oocysts per gram faeces. About 50% of the calves excreted oocysts before they were transferred to group pens. The primary source of infection of the calves was probably their penmates or the previous occupants of the pens, and the cows probably played a subsidiary role.     

Enteric infections in veal calves: a longitudinal study on four veal calf units

Forty-five calves on four veal calf units were monitored during the first four weeks after their arrival. Faecal samples were collected on alternate days and screened for the presence of rotaviruses, bovine coronavirus, Cryptosporidium oocysts, K99 positive strains of E. coli and Salmonella spp. Rotaviruses and Cryptosporidium were the most commonly detected agents (78% and 60% respectively of the calves). Bovine coronavirus was detected in the faeces of 18% of the calves, whilst K99 positive E. coli was only found in 2 samples from one calf. Salmonella spp. were not isolated from any of the 646 faecal samples examined. Shedding of rotaviruses occurred in a bimodal pattern beginning in the first week of the survey. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected most frequently in the interval between the two peaks of rotavirus shedding. The presence of rotaviruses or Cryptosporidium oocysts in faeces was not strongly associated with scour, nor were combined infections with these agents or the cases of bovine coronavirus infection. The condition of the calves throughout the survey was generally satisfactory.     

Enteric infections in veal calves: A longitudinal study on four veal calf units

Summary

Forty‐five calves on four veal calf units were monitored during the first four weeks after their arrival. Faecal samples were collected on alternate days and screened for the presence of rotaviruses, bovine coronavirus, Cryptosporidium oocysts, K99 positive strains of E. coli and Salmonella spp. Rotaviruses and Cryptosporidium were the most commonly detected agents (78% and 60% respectively of the calves). Bovine coronavirus was detected in the faeces of 18% of the calves, whilst K99 positive E. coli was only found in 2 samples from one calf. Salmonella spp. were not isolated from any of the 646 faecal samples examined. Shedding of rotaviruses occurred in a bimodal pattern beginning in the first week of the survey. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected most frequently in the interval between the two peaks of rotavirus shedding. The presence of rotaviruses or Cryptosporidium oocysts in faeces was not strongly associated with scour, nor were combined infections with these agents or the cases of bovine coronavirus infection. The condition of the calves throughout the survey was generally satisfactory.     

The effect of intermittent treatment with sulphadimidine on coccidiosis in preruminant calves

Preruminant calves excreted coccidia oocysts in their faeces after 3 weeks of group housing. Two weeks of oral sulphadimidine (SDM) administration, 50 mg/kg on the first day of treatment followed by daily administration of 37.5 mg/kg, under the same housing conditions kept the faeces free of oocysts. Three weeks later, these calves excreted oocysts again. Repetition of the same treatment for 2 weeks controlled the infection again, but a second treatment for 5 days did not suffice. The repeated long treatment affected immunoglobulin levels adversely. SDM given repeatedly at a lower dose rate (30 mg/kg) for 1-week periods with medication-free intervals of 1 week controlled the infection and no adverse effects were noted. In comparison with controls, weight gains were greater in treated calves.     

Asymptomatic shedding of Cryptosporidium oocysts by red deer hinds and calves

Levels of Cryptosporidium infection in a group of red deer were monitored over a period of 1 year. Faecal samples were examined on an approximate monthly basis from adult hinds and calves for the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts. The water-ether sedimentation method followed by sucrose flotation and a monoclonal antibody identification procedure were used. It was found that apparently healthy adult deer were shedding low numbers of oocysts in their faeces throughout the year and that there appeared to be a periparturient increase in the numbers of oocysts shed. Samples taken from 6-month-old deer calves, both in-house and on pasture, had low numbers of Cryptosporidium oocysts, indicating that the calves were also asymptomatically shedding oocysts.     

Control of coccidia in young calves using lasalocid

SUMMARY Thirty-six, 2- to 4-day-old Friesian bull calves were divided into 4 groups and fed milk replacer and calf starter pellets ad libitum in separate pens. Four treatments were applied; lasalocid in milk (1 mg/kg body weight/day) (M), lasalocid in starter (F), lasalocid in both milk and starter (M+F) and untreated (C). When the calves were about 2 weeks old they were each dosed orally with 550 000 sporulated Eimeria sp oocysts, mainly E zurneii and E bovis. The infection, detected by faecal excretion of oocysts, was suppressed in the M+F and M groups. There was significant excretion of oocysts in the F group but these calves did not show any clinical signs of coccidiosis. Untreated calves were affected with diarrhoea containing blood on the 24th day after inoculation. Body weight gain and intake of starter pellets was also depressed in the untreated calves during the time they were clinically affected. It is concluded that mixing lasalocid in milk replacer (or fresh milk) is an effective method of protecting young calves against early infection with coccidia.     

Prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum infection and pattern of oocyst shedding in calves in Japan

Cryptosporidium parvum infection and the pattern of oocyst shedding were observed in calves. A total of 480 fecal samples were collected from 30 calves (age, < or =30 days) over a period of 10 months from June 1998 to March 1999. A sucrose centrifugal flotation technique revealed 28/30 (93%) calves were passing Cryptosporidium oocysts. Oocyst shedding was first detected on the sixth day after birth, with 8% of the calves testing positive. This rate increased day by day and reached approximately 80% by day 15. Oocyst shedding varied from 1 to 13 days, with a mean of 7 days. Calves infected with C. parvum had a significantly higher rate of diarrhea (33%) than non-infected calves (8%) (P<0.05), suggesting C. parvum infection as the likely cause. The mean number of oocysts excreted by calves < or =30 days old was approximately 6x10(7) per gram of feces. These results indicated that one calf would excrete some 6x10(11) oocysts in the first month after birth, taking both the quantity of feces in a day and the period of excretion into consideration. Accordingly, it is clear that calves are important in the spread of cryptosporidiosis to calves and humans.     

Intestinal antibody response after vaccination and infection with rotavirus of calves fed colostrum with or without rotavirus antibody

The intestinal and systemic antibody response of calves vaccinated and/or challenged with rotavirus was studied employing isotype-specific ELISAs for the detection of IgG1, IgG2, IgM and IgA antibodies to rotavirus. Monoclonal antibodies to bovine immunoglobulin isotypes of proven specificity were used as conjugated or catching antibody. Five days after oral inoculation (dpi) of a 5-day-old gnotobiotic calf with rotavirus, IgM rotavirus antibodies were excreted in faeces, followed 5 days later by IgA rotavirus antibodies. The increase in IgM rotavirus antibody titre coincided with the inability to detect further rotavirus excretion. Faeces IgM and IgA rotavirus antibody titres fell to low levels within 3 weeks post infection. IgG1 and IgG2 rotavirus antibodies were not detected in faecal samples. In serum, antibodies to rotavirus of all four isotypes were detected, starting with IgM at 5 dpi. Two SPF-calves, which were fed colostrum free of rotavirus antibodies, were vaccinated with a modified live rotavirus vaccine and challenged with virulent rotavirus 6 days later. Upon vaccination, the calves showed an antibody response similar to the response of the infected gnotobiotic calf. Intestinal IgM rotavirus antibodies were excreted before or on the day of challenge and appeared to be associated with protection against challenge infection with virulent virus and rotavirus-induced diarrhoea. In 3 control calves, which were challenged only, the antibody patterns also resembled that of the gnotobiotic calf and again the appearance of IgM rotavirus antibodies coincided with the end of the rotavirus detection period. Two other groups of 3 SPF-calves were treated similarly, but the calves were fed colostrum with rotavirus antibodies during the first 48 h of life. These calves excreted passively acquired IgG1 and IgG2 rotavirus antibodies in their faeces from 2 to 6 days after birth. After vaccination, no IgM or IgA antibody activity in serum or faeces was detectable. Upon challenge, all calves developed diarrhoea and excreted rotavirus. Seven to 10 days after challenge low levels of IgM rotavirus antibody were detected for a short period. These data indicate that the intestinal antibody response of young calves to an enteric viral infection is associated with the excretion of IgM antibodies, immediately followed by IgA antibodies. This response is absent or diminished in calves with passively acquired specific antibodies which may explain the failure to induce a protective intestinal immune response by oral vaccination with modified live rotavirus of calves fed colostrum containing rotavirus antibodies.     

Coccidiosis in preruminating calves the effect of management and short-term treatment on the spread of infection and reinfection

In farms with large numbers of individually-housed calves, the spread of coccidia is slow. In group pens, however, all the calves became infected within 3-4 weeks of being housed together. At the beginning of group housing no oocysts were found in the faeces of any of the calves. Sulphadimidine (SDM) was administered for 3 or 12 days at different doses and different times. Administration of the drug on Days 3-5 of group housing had no effect. Given between Days 11 and 13 or 17-19, the drug lowered (for a short period) the number of animals found to be excreting oocysts. SDM given between Days 6 and 17 kept the animals oocyst-free during that period. Within 2-3 weeks after the treatment all animals were excreting oocysts.     

Cryptosporidium infection in calves from a rural area of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Dairy calves less than 1 month of age are commonly infected with Cryptosporidium spp. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. among dairy calves or=810 oocysts/field. This study shows that Cryptosporidium spp. is one of the causes of calf neonatal diarrhoea in a rural area of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The highest intensity of infection reported for the 相似文献   

Quantitative determination of coccidian oocysts in beef calves from the coastal plain area of Georgia (U.S.A.)

For two consecutive years, determinations were made of the prevalence and abundance of coccidian oocysts from crossbred beef calves raised on Bahia grass pastures in the coastal plain area of Georgia. Of the 534 fecal samples collected during the survey, 461 (86.3%) contained one or more species of coccidian oocysts. The total mean oocysts per gram of feces (OPG) was significantly different (P less than 0.10) between the two years. Thirteen species of Eimeria were found during both years of the survey. Eimeria bovis was the most prevalent species found in the survey; E. ellipsoidalis, however, had the greatest number of OPG. Eimeria bukidnonensis, E. pellita, and E. brasiliensis were the least prevalent species and also had the lowest numbers of OPG. Only one clinical case of coccidiosis was seen. A nine-month-old calf had E. zuernii coccidiosis; it excreted E. zuernii oocysts in several fecal samples before the clinical disease appeared.     

Role of Cryptosporidium parvum as a pathogen in neonatal diarrhoea complex in suckling and dairy calves in France.

This study was carried out to find the importance of Cryptosporidium parvum in diarrhoea of neonatal calves in two types of breeding - suckling and dairy calves - in France. Different agents causing neonatal diarrhoea, E. coli, rotavirus, coronavirus, Salmonella and Cryptosporidium were systematically researched in faeces. 1. Suckling calves: In 40 livestock farms selected for diarrhoea, 311 calves 4 to 10 days old which had diarrhoea for less than 24h or no diarrhoea, were included in the study. A prophylaxis of neonatal diarrhoea had been carried out in 21 of the 40 livestock farms. On D0 (inclusion day), the mean age was 6 days, 82% presented a good initial general condition and 76.2% had a good appetite; 48.6% were diarrhoeic but 91.3% presented no sign of dehydration. Only 6.1% were infected by E. coli K99, 14.3% by rotavirus, 6.8% by coronavirus, 0.3% by Salmonella but 50% excreted C. parvum oocysts. This later percentage increases up to 84% and 86% by D3 and D7, respectively . We note that 16% of the 4-day-old calves on D0 are excreting oocysts and this percentage increases as a function of the age of the calf on D0 to reach 90% to 95% by the age of 8 days. 10 out of 12 dead calves excreted C. parvum oocysts. From D0 to D14 the other pathogen agents show a relative or a decreasing stability. 2. Dairy calves: 382 calves which had diarrhoea for less than 24 h or no diarrhoea, aged 8 to 15 days coming from six industrial livestock farms were included in the study. On D0, 99% of the calves presented a good initial general condition, 99.7% had a good appetite and no calf was dehydrated. At this date (D0), 16.8% of the calves excreted cryptosporidia. This percentage increases up to 23% and 51.8% on D3 and D8, respectively, then decreases to 31.9% on D14. The pressure of the other pathogenicagents remains relatively stable, excepted for rotavirus on D7 (from 9.9% on D0 to 27.2% on D7, then 12.6% on D14) which does not explain the concomitantpeak in diarrhoea because the infection by rotavirus on D7 is more frequent in non-diarrhoeic calves than in diarrhoeic calves. Our results show that Cryptosporidium prevalence is higher in suckling than in dairy calves and C. parvum constitutes actually in both cases the major aetiological agent of neonatal diarrhoea.     

Isospora orlovi infection in suckling dromedary camel calves (Camelus dromedarius) in Kenya

Outbreaks of isosporosis in young suckling dromedary camel calves (Camelus dromedarius) in Dubai, UAE and in Kenya were recently described. In the former outbreak the pathogen was shown to be Isospora orlovi by morphological features and was later characterized molecularly. In the present study, we have made a longitudinal investigation of 159 suckling dromedary calves < or =12 weeks of age belonging to 8 ranched camel herds (M1) in Northern Kenya. The study was carried out during 18 months. In three of the herds frequent samples were taken irregularly every 1-6 weeks. All calves < or =12 weeks of age present in the respective herds were sampled during the visits. In addition, 91 calves of the same age group but belonging to 42 pastoral herds (M2) in Northern Kenya were point sampled at convenience. Faecal samples from each calf were taken and the faeces were investigated for coccidia. Samples found with coccidian oocysts were suspended in a 2% potassium dichromate solution. Isospora sp. was identified and samples with relatively high numbers of Isospora sp. were analysed molecularly. The SSU rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) were amplified with primers complementary to conserved regions of the SSU rRNA gene in eukaryotes as well as a conserved part of the 5.8S rRNA gene of Eimeria. A relatively high number of the calves exhibited diarrhoea, 30.2% and 41.8% in the M1 and M2 herds, respectively. Isospora sp. was only found in diarrhoeic calves or in calves convalescent from recent scouring periods. No calf >8 weeks of age was found to be excreting Isospora sp. The parasite was only found in calves < or =4 weeks of age in the M1 herds and in the M2 herds in calves <8 weeks of age. Of the M1 and M2 calves exhibiting diarrhoea, 20.8% and 26.3% excreted Isospora sp., respectively. Morphologically the Isospora sp. was similar to I. orlovi and sequence analysis of the SSU rRNA gene from four Kenyan isolates (unfortunately only from the pastoral herds, M2) and ITS 1 segments from three of the isolates from Kenya and one from Dubai, confirmed that the Isospora isolates belonged to the species I. orlovi, and that the sequences were similar to the Dubai isolates.     

The effect of biotechnological treatment of milk-replacer feeding mixtures on hematologic and biochemical parameters and its utilization in calves

A trial was performed with cellulase administration (3 cx per g of ingested feed dry matter) to early weaned calves fed minimum amounts of milk replacer (21 kg per milk nutrition period) and sweet (C, D) and sour (A, B) diets. The groups B and D were supplemented with an enzyme till the age of 90 days. The calves were given free choice of COT concentrate mixture, hay and water. Liveweight gains, feed and nutrient intake and health condition of calves were the characteristics investigated in this trial. Hematocrit value, hemoglobin, glucose and urea contents were determined in blood, in blood plasma buffer capacity was investigated. Although the differences in calf performance are not statistically significant, the best growth of calves in the vegetable nutrition period was observed in calves in group D. Nutrient conversion was also higher in calves of group D in the vegetable nutrition period. In conversion of nutrient consumption per 1 kg liveweight gain the difference in the intake of digestible crude protein and starch units between the group of calves fed sweet milk without enzyme addition in the milk nutrient period (A--digestible crude protein 0.40 +/- 0.005; starch units 1.74 +/- 0.008) and group D (sour diet + 3 cx cellulase--digestible crude protein 0.34 +/- 0.007; starch units 1.52 +/- 0.044) was statistically significant (P less than 0.025 and P less than 0.05) in favour of group D. An analysis of the results of hematological and biochemical investigations during the trial demonstrates that the sour diet is better in view of changes in glucose concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The health status and metabolic indicators in calves fed colostrum and first milk preserved with potassium sorbate and milk replacements

The aim of the experiments was to investigate the effects of the preservation of colostrum and unripe milk with potassium sorbate at a concentration of 0.5% and of its storage for three to five days at normal environmental temperatures on the calf health condition. A set of 30 calves divided into two groups was included in the trial. Calves belonging to the experimental group were fed preserved colostrum and unripe milk from day 9 to day 30 of their life (the first experimental period), and from day 31 to day 50 (the second experimental period) milk replacer. Calves belonging to the control group were fed milk replacer from day 9 to day 50 of their life. One calf from the experimental group died from a respiratory disease. In the control group, one calf died and another had to be slaughtered; in both cases digestive tract diseases were diagnosed. The number of calves which had to be treated medically was also lower in the experimental group--in the calves fed preserved colostrum--one case of periodic tympany was recorded in comparison with four cases in the control group. When haematological and biochemical characteristics were examined, significantly lower haemoglobin levels were found in experimental calves at the end of the first experimental period (105.4 g.l-1 when compared with 112 g.l-1 in the control group) and significantly higher values of proteinaemia were found in the blood plasma of these calves at the same period (59.6 g.l-1 and 53.8 g.l-1, respectively). Similar differences were also found during a single haematological and biochemical examination.     

Coccidia in cows and calves on pasture in north Georgia (U.S.A.)

The prevalence and abundance of coccidian oocysts were determined in a herd of beef cows and calves on fescue pastures in the Piedmont area of Georgia during 4-consecutive grazing seasons. Twelve species of Eimeria were found in the feces of the calves and 10 species were found in the feces of the cows. Eimeria bovis was the most prevalent species found in both the calves and cows. It occurred in 72.5% of 1090 samples from the calves and 10.2% of 719 samples from cows. Eimeria bovis also comprised the majority of oocysts present in the fecal samples from the calves and cows. The greatest number of E. bovis in a sample was 45 800 oocysts per gram of feces (OPG) from a calf and 1900 OPG from a cow. No cases of clinical coccidiosis were seen in any of the animals sampled during the survey.     

酸化乳饲喂哺乳犊牛的研究进展

新生犊牛的消化道系统发育尚未完全,尤其是瘤胃和网胃。在此时期,犊牛营养主要依靠皱胃和肠道进行吸收,与单胃动物类似,液体饲料成为哺乳犊牛阶段最为理想的日粮。酸化乳是指以牛乳(含废弃乳和异常乳)或犊牛代乳粉为原料,添加酸度调节剂,使牛乳的pH保持在4.0~4.5,可以限制牛乳中病菌增殖,从而降低了犊牛的腹泻率,提高其对营养物质的消化、吸收能力,并且可以较长时间保存,节省了人工成本。本文阐述了近10 年来饲喂酸化乳对犊牛生长性能、肠道菌群结构以及免疫功能影响的研究。     

The economic significance of coccidia of the genus Cryptosporidium in calf rearing

In five large calf-houses and seven farms, 943 calves at the age from one to 198 days were examined coprologically; the feces of 224 animals (23.7%) contained coccidium oocysts of the genus Cryptosporidium. The cryptosporidium oocysts were counted in the Bürker chamber by means of the original method, and their mean number in 1 g of feces was the highest in the animals of the age from 11 to 20 days (3.0 +/- 2.4 million in the calves suffering from scours and 4.2 +/- 4.1 million in the calves without scours). Statistical comparison of the mean weights of heifers was performed at the time of their delivery to the calf-house and showed no statistically significant influence of cryptosporidia on the weight of animals.