Prevalence of rotavirus, coronavirus, Cryptosporidium spp, Escherichia coli K99 and Giardia lamblia in neonatal calves with diarrhea in Burdur and its districts

Abstract

TThe aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of pathogens such as Rotavirus, Coronavirus, Cryptosporidium spp, Escherichia coli K99, and Giardia lamblia in neonatal calves with diarrhea in Burdur and its districts. The study material consisted of 96 diarrheic calves aged between 1 and 28 days from different cattle farms in the Burdur region. Fecal samples were collected, and the causative agents were identified using rapid diagnostic kits (BoviD-5 Ag Test Kit- BIONOTE). In the study, among the 96 diarrheic calves, a single enteropathogen was detected in 61 (63.54%), and 25 (26.04%) of these calves were positive for Cryptosporidium, 12 (12.5%) for E. coli K99, 11 (11.45%) for Rotavirus, 7 (7.29%) for Coronavirus, and 6 (6.25%) for Giardia lamblia, respectively. Multiple enteropathogens were responsible for diarrhea in 18 calves, and 2 (2.08%) of them were Cryptosporidium spp.+Giardia lamblia, 8 (8.33%) Cryptosporidium spp.+Rotavirus, 3 (3.12%) Coronavirus+Rotavirus, with 1 (1.04%) Coronavirus+Cryptosporidium spp., 2 (2.08%) Rotavirus+E. coli, and 1 (1.04%) of them was E. coli+Cryptosporidium spp.+Rotavirus. Among the 96 diarrheic calves with mixed infections or a single enteropathogen, 38 (39.58%) had Cryptosporidium, 15 (15.62%) had E. coli K99, 26 (27.08%) had Rotavirus, 12 (12.50%) had Coronavirus, and 8 (8.33%) had Giardia lamblia. However, in 17 of the 96 diarrheic calves, neither mono- nor multiple enteropathogens were detected, suggesting that other factors might have caused diarrhea. Finally, this research provides valuable information for faster diagnosis, prevention, control, and treatment of enteropathogens causing diarrhea in neonatal calves in the Burdur region, contributing to reducing calf losses. It is believed that the research findings will shed light on future studies.