Prevalence of Bacterial Agents associated with Calf Diarrhoea in Khanewal City of Province Punjab

Neonatal calf diarrhoea is the major cause of early calf mortality (ECM) and it has been a threatening alarm for livestock industry around the globe. A number of infectious and non-infectious factors are associated with it. In this paper, only the prevalence of bacteria causing calf diarrhoea in Khanewal city has been taken into consideration. A total of 97 fecal samples from diarrhoeal calves were taken from different farms locally called Bhanas, in 3 months (from November to January). Bacteria were isolated from feces of calves of age ranging 7 to 30 days suffering from diarrhoea. Fecal samples were analysed for enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella species and Clostridial species. Salmonella spp. was isolated from only 4% of all calves by using Selenite-F ans Tetrationate broths and then streaking out on MacConkey and brilliant green agar, found higher in calves of age two weeks. E.coli was isolated from 59% of all diarrhoeal calves by using MacConkey agar plates and lactose positive colonies were confirmed as E.coli, causing severe enteritis during first two weeks of life. Only 8% Clostridial spp. were isolated using cooked meat broth and streaking out on horse blood agar. It was concluded that Salmonella spp. seems to be less associated with calf diarrhoea in Khanewal. E.coli was more prevalent in dirrhoeal calves and Clostridial spp. were found to be prevalent at 3 Bhanas due to an outbreak.

Keywords: Calf diarrhoea, bacteria, E.coli, Salmonella spp., Clostridial spp.