Lack of good practice in dairy calves and diarrhea diagnostic: a problem to animal welfare maintenance

Diarrhea is a major disorder affecting calves in the first three weeks of life in different countries, causing significant economic losses. The main calf diarrheal diseases of bacterial origin are Colibacillosis, caused by Escherichia coli, and Paratyphoid or Salmonellosis, caused by strains of Salm...

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Main Authors: Clarissa Varajão Cardoso, Alcir das Graças Paes Pinheiro, Alexandre Castro Marques dos Santos, Rossiane de Moura Souza, Eunice Ventura Barbosa, Helena Carla Castro, Maíra Halfen Teixeira Liberal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Instituto de Zootecnia 2015-02-01
Series:Boletim de Indústria Animal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://35.198.24.243/index.php/bia/article/view/431
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author Clarissa Varajão Cardoso
Alcir das Graças Paes Pinheiro
Alexandre Castro Marques dos Santos
Rossiane de Moura Souza
Eunice Ventura Barbosa
Helena Carla Castro
Maíra Halfen Teixeira Liberal
author_facet Clarissa Varajão Cardoso
Alcir das Graças Paes Pinheiro
Alexandre Castro Marques dos Santos
Rossiane de Moura Souza
Eunice Ventura Barbosa
Helena Carla Castro
Maíra Halfen Teixeira Liberal
author_sort Clarissa Varajão Cardoso
collection DOAJ
description Diarrhea is a major disorder affecting calves in the first three weeks of life in different countries, causing significant economic losses. The main calf diarrheal diseases of bacterial origin are Colibacillosis, caused by Escherichia coli, and Paratyphoid or Salmonellosis, caused by strains of Salmonella spp. The lack of hygiene of handlers and facilities, contribute to outbreaks of diarrhea among young animals. Calves become infected orally through contaminated food or water, and the contamination by feces on floors, beds and in the feed, which could be avoided if adopted effective and appropriate management measures in animal husbandry. In this study a survey was made of the presence of pathogenic bacteria in feces of calves belonging to three family dairy farms located in Coastal Lowlands, Metropolitan, and Northwest Regions of RJ. A questionnaire on herd management was completed, observing the hygienic conditions of the location, type of feeding, and the physical appearance of the cows and calves (presence of ticks, bristly hair and thinness). A total of 41 stool samples were obtained, collected using sterile swabs (with Cary & Blair medium) for transport to the laboratory. Enrichment culture media were used to obtain initial growth, and dehydrated selective media Compact Dry EC® (for E. coli) and Compact Dry SL® (for Salmonella spp.) were tested, aiming at the presumptive identification of these microorganisms. As a control for characteristic growth Hektoen and Teague culture media were used. All samples were positive for E. coli and other coliforms in the Compact Dry EC® plate (Figure 1 and 2). Although there was growth in all Compact Dry SL® plates (Figure 3), the isolated colonies were typical of Coliforms (Figure 4), and did not grow any typical colony of Salmonella. In all properties a deficient management, with total lack of hygiene and accumulation of feces, mostly in the milking parlor was observed. The precarious condition of handling and the lack of good treatment to animals showed a total disregard of keepers with the environment where the animals live, and with their welfare.
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spelling doaj.art-2ea9c4519c5140c2858ff06fef37f4402023-08-08T23:41:29ZengInstituto de ZootecniaBoletim de Indústria Animal1981-41002015-02-0171Lack of good practice in dairy calves and diarrhea diagnostic: a problem to animal welfare maintenanceClarissa Varajão CardosoAlcir das Graças Paes PinheiroAlexandre Castro Marques dos SantosRossiane de Moura SouzaEunice Ventura BarbosaHelena Carla CastroMaíra Halfen Teixeira LiberalDiarrhea is a major disorder affecting calves in the first three weeks of life in different countries, causing significant economic losses. The main calf diarrheal diseases of bacterial origin are Colibacillosis, caused by Escherichia coli, and Paratyphoid or Salmonellosis, caused by strains of Salmonella spp. The lack of hygiene of handlers and facilities, contribute to outbreaks of diarrhea among young animals. Calves become infected orally through contaminated food or water, and the contamination by feces on floors, beds and in the feed, which could be avoided if adopted effective and appropriate management measures in animal husbandry. In this study a survey was made of the presence of pathogenic bacteria in feces of calves belonging to three family dairy farms located in Coastal Lowlands, Metropolitan, and Northwest Regions of RJ. A questionnaire on herd management was completed, observing the hygienic conditions of the location, type of feeding, and the physical appearance of the cows and calves (presence of ticks, bristly hair and thinness). A total of 41 stool samples were obtained, collected using sterile swabs (with Cary & Blair medium) for transport to the laboratory. Enrichment culture media were used to obtain initial growth, and dehydrated selective media Compact Dry EC® (for E. coli) and Compact Dry SL® (for Salmonella spp.) were tested, aiming at the presumptive identification of these microorganisms. As a control for characteristic growth Hektoen and Teague culture media were used. All samples were positive for E. coli and other coliforms in the Compact Dry EC® plate (Figure 1 and 2). Although there was growth in all Compact Dry SL® plates (Figure 3), the isolated colonies were typical of Coliforms (Figure 4), and did not grow any typical colony of Salmonella. In all properties a deficient management, with total lack of hygiene and accumulation of feces, mostly in the milking parlor was observed. The precarious condition of handling and the lack of good treatment to animals showed a total disregard of keepers with the environment where the animals live, and with their welfare.https://35.198.24.243/index.php/bia/article/view/431coliformesEscherichia coliSalmonella spp
spellingShingle Clarissa Varajão Cardoso
Alcir das Graças Paes Pinheiro
Alexandre Castro Marques dos Santos
Rossiane de Moura Souza
Eunice Ventura Barbosa
Helena Carla Castro
Maíra Halfen Teixeira Liberal
Lack of good practice in dairy calves and diarrhea diagnostic: a problem to animal welfare maintenance
Boletim de Indústria Animal
coliformes
Escherichia coli
Salmonella spp
title Lack of good practice in dairy calves and diarrhea diagnostic: a problem to animal welfare maintenance
title_full Lack of good practice in dairy calves and diarrhea diagnostic: a problem to animal welfare maintenance
title_fullStr Lack of good practice in dairy calves and diarrhea diagnostic: a problem to animal welfare maintenance
title_full_unstemmed Lack of good practice in dairy calves and diarrhea diagnostic: a problem to animal welfare maintenance
title_short Lack of good practice in dairy calves and diarrhea diagnostic: a problem to animal welfare maintenance
title_sort lack of good practice in dairy calves and diarrhea diagnostic a problem to animal welfare maintenance
topic coliformes
Escherichia coli
Salmonella spp
url https://35.198.24.243/index.php/bia/article/view/431
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