Med. Weter. 72 (4), 263-267, 2016
full text
Stefaniak T., Houszka M., Nowaczyk R., Rouibah K., Jawor P. |
Zygomycosis of the abomasum in neonatal calves during treatment of diarrhea caused by Escherichia coli: A case report |
An outbreak of neonatal diarrhea occurred at a high producing dairy farm consisting of 460 holstein-friesian cows. Severe diarrhea appeared mostly between 3–5 days of life and despite of intensive treatment, lasted about 7 days and in 5 cases was fatal. Through the previous four months dry cows were fed by hay silage markedly overgrown with mould. From rectal swabs of eight examined calves Escherichia coli strains of different antibiotic susceptibility were isolated. Postmortem examination of two calves showed marked dehydration, enteritis and abomasitis with ulceration. Bacteriological aerobic culture of inner organ samples showed abundant growth of Escherichia coli and from abomasum intensive growth of Candida sp. Histological examination revealed Zygomycetes mycosis of the abomasum wall. Failure/partial failure of passive transfer was found in two other examined calves. A multifactor origin of the diarrhea outbreak was diagnosed. Antibiotic therapy based on susceptibility of isolated E.coli strains and appropriate fluid therapy was conducted. Farm staff was trained to proper colostrum feeding the calves. Additionally, the mould contaminated hay silage was discarded and vaccination of dry cows byE.coli/rotavirus/coronavirus commercial vaccine was performed. The health normalization of the calves was achieved after the next two months of the improved animals’ management. |
Key words: diarrhoea, abomasum mycosis, Escherichia coli, failure of passive transfer |