Occurrence of Cryptosporidium and other enteropathogens and their association with diarrhea in dairy calves of Buenos Aires province, Argentina

Cryptosporidiosis of neonatal dairy calves causes diarrhea, resulting in important economic losses. In Argentina, prevalence values Cryptosporidium spp. and other enteropathogens such as group A rotavirus (RVA), bovine coronavirus (BCoV) enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC, endotoxin STa+), have been independently studied different regions. However, an integrative epidemiological investigation on large-scale farms has not carried out. this study, fecal samples (n = 908) were randomly collected from diarrheic healthy 42 farms, analyzed for the presence spp., RVA, BCoV, ETEC (STa+) Salmonella all sampled dams had vaccinated against gram-negative bacteria to protect diarrhea. The proportion shedding BCoV animals younger than 20 days age 29.8%, 12.4% 6.4%, aged between 21 90 days, 5.6%, 3.9%, 1.8%, respectively. was absent younger, occurred only sporadically older (0.9%), whereas both. observed sporadic finding or even absence bacterial pathogens might be explained by frequent use parenteral antibiotics 25.3% 6.5% calves, respectively, within 2 prior sampling and/or vaccination bacteria. Diarrhea 28.8% (95% CI, 24.7–32.8%) 11.7% 9.1–15.5%) calves. Importantly, (odds ratio (OR) 5.7; 95% 3.3–9.9; p < 0.0001) RVA (OR 2.5; 1.2–5.1; 0.05) both found risk factors diarrhea old. Based its high OR, our results strongly suggest that is principal causative factor seems play a secondary role etiology with about three-times lower half OR. Furthermore, coinfection rate 3.7% which strengthens assumption these events are independent. contrast, due low infection mixed (<< 1%) virtually group.