Newborn diarrhea of ​​the calves and lambs

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Most newborn diarrhea in calves and lambs is a mixed infection. In addition to coli bacteria as the main pathogen , rotaviruses , coronaviruses ( betacoronaviruses ) and cryptosporidia are the most common pathogens in this complex of diseases. Monoinfections with Escherichia coli are called Coliruhr or Colidiarrhoea . Most coli bacteria belong to the ETEC type. The pathogens Salmonella , Campylobacter , BVD viruses or other intestinal pathogenic viruses are less common . Non-infectious causes such as feeding and poor hygiene should also be taken into account.

clinic

Newborn diarrhea in calves is a disease of very young animals. Most fall ill in the first week of life, a few in the second. The incubation period is 24–48 hours. Then watery, gray-yellow diarrhea occurs. Due to the loss of water, dehydration soon occurs , and then cardiovascular disorders . The loss of electrolytes , and especially bicarbonate , which acts as an alkaline buffer, often leads to over- acidification . The acute course of the disease is 3–6 days. While most diarrhea proceeds without inflammation of the mucous membrane of the small intestine , infection with rotaviruses and coronaviruses leads to atrophy of the small intestinal villi .

Therapy and prophylaxis

Most important is the fastest possible replacement of fluids and electrolytes. If the calves are still drinking, by the oral route, as an intermediate drink in addition to the milk meals, when the calf is no longer drinking, by the parenteral route. Antibiotics should only be administered in the case of fever or severe disease or proven coli infection. For prophylaxis, first and foremost, adequate hygiene and colostrum supply after birth play a role. Only then does the maternal vaccination have the appropriate effect. The administration of antibodies from hen's eggs is now a useful addition. Chickens are immunized with pathogens ( antigens ) appropriate for calves and other young animals and develop antibodies ( immunoglobulins , IgY ) against them . The concentration and binding strength of the immunoglobulins in the egg are particularly high. The young animals thus receive additional protection during the two immunity gaps: Immediately after birth, if the colostrum has not yet been administered or has not yet developed its full effect and approx. 25-50 days after birth, if the effect of the colostrum has decreased significantly has not yet fully developed their own active immunity . This therapy was already practiced by farmers in the past, when cows, pigs and chickens were still kept under one roof. The chickens came into contact with all the pathogens occurring in the barn (“dung scratchers”), but developed antibodies without necessarily becoming ill themselves. In the past, the farmer often fed the eggs of these chickens to sick or caring animals as "immunity aid".

literature

  • Medical microbiology, infection and epidemic theory von Rolle / Mayr, Enke Verlag Stuttgart (2007)
  • Dirksen / founder / Stöber (ed.): Internal medicine and surgery of the cattle. Parey Verlag, Berlin 2002
  • Ikemori, Yutaka et al. a .: “Research Note: Avidity of chicken Yolk antibodies to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli fimbriae”. In: “Poultry Science”. 72, 1993, pp. 2361-2365.
  • Ikemori, Yutaka et al. a .: “Protection of neonatal calves against fatal enteric colibacillosis by administration of egg yolk powder from hens immunized with K99-piliated enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli”. In: "American Journal of Veterinary Research". Vol. 53, no. 11, 1992, pp. 2005-2008.
  • Yokoyama, Hideaki, et al. a .: “Prevention of fatal salmonellosis in neonatal calves, using orally administered chicken egg yolk Salmonella-specific antibodies”. In: "American Journal of Veterinary Research". Vol 59, No. 4, 1998, pp. 81-86.
  • Kuroki, Mu a .: “Passive protection against bovine rotavirus in calves by specific immunoglobulins from chicken egg yolk”. In: “Arch. Virol. " Vol. 138, 1994, pp. 143-148.
  • Ikemori, Yutaka et al. a .: “Passive protection of neonatal calves against bovine coronavirus-induced diarrhea by administration of egg yolk or colostrums antibody powder”. In: “Veterinary Microbiology”. Vol. 58, 1997, pp. 105-111.
  • Iburg, Michael u. Oltmer, Susanne: "New strategies to prevent young animal diarrhea". In: "Lohmann Information". Issue 4, 1994, pp. 5-13
  • Oltmer, Susanne: “News on egg immunoglobulins for young mammals”. In: "Lohmann Information". Issue 2, 1998, pp. 23-28