PREVALENCE OF ROTA VIRUS, CORONA VIRUS, CRYPTOSPORIDIUM AND E. COLI (F-5) IN SC DAIRY AND BEEF CALVES TWO MONTHS OF AGE OR YOUNGER

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0228759
• Project Start Date: Jul 1, 2012
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2016
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
CLEMSON,SC 29634

Performing Department
Livestock-Poultry Health

Non Technical Summary
Statement of Issue and Justification: Neonatal calf diarrhea (scours) is a significant cause of illness and production loss (poor weight gain) in both beef and dairy operations. Four major causes of neonatal calf scours are Rota-virus, Corona-virus, Cryptosporidium and E. coli (F5). Individually these organisms rarely produce fatal disease; however, the synergistic effects with one another and other pathogens can increase morbidity and mortality within a herd. All four of these microorganisms are endemic throughout North America; however, the actual prevalence is not known in South Carolina. Clinical signs and age of onset are very similar with Rota-virus, Corona-virus, Cryptosporidium and E. coli (F5). There is generally more than one disease microorganism causing the illness. Due to this fact, testing for all four organisms is important to obtain a realistic picture of the prevalence of all of these disease entities. These diseases can have a significant economic impact on calf population and obtaining data on these organisms in this state will give South Carolina cattle and dairy producers information on the true prevalence of these organisms, the prevalence of subclinical disease, as well as the effectiveness of control and vaccination programs currently in place.

Animal Health Component

(N/A)

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
311	3399	1160	30%
311	3499	1160	45%
313	3399	1160	10%
313	3499	1160	15%

Knowledge Area
311 - Animal Diseases; 313 - Internal Parasites in Animals;

Subject Of Investigation
3499 - Dairy cattle, general/other; 3399 - Beef cattle, general/other;

Field Of Science
1160 - Pathology;

Keywords

rota virus

corona virus

cryptosporidium

e. coli (f5/k99)

Goals / Objectives
Goals and Objectives 1) To determine the prevalence of Rota-virus, Corona-virus, Cryptosporidium and E. coli (F5) in South Carolina dairy and beef calves 2 months old and younger. 2) To obtain information about the effects of calf-hood vaccinations (Rota, Corona and E. coli) against enteric diseases in calves. Measurement of Progress and Results: Outputs: A manuscript of the data from this research will be created and submitted to various peer reviewed publications as well as Bovine journals and newsletters. The findings will be disseminated to the Bovine producers of South Carolina as well as published in the CULPH newsletter. Outcomes or projected impacts: It is expected that this data will give a current assessment of the prevalence of each of Rota-virus, Corona-virus, Cryptosporidium and E. coli (F5) diseases in South Carolina and the effect of early vaccination in the prevention of these diseases. This data will help producers assess production efficacy and areas of deficiency so as to improve their outcomes.

Project Methods
Methods: Testing for these organisms will be performed through surveillance of fecal samples from calves (2 months old and younger) from across the state to look for the presence and prevalence of these infectious agents in South Carolina. In order to allow for an adequate, representative sample size, fecal samples will be collected from necropsy samples submitted to the Clemson Veterinary Diagnostic Center (CVDC). We will also take measures to encourage submission of appropriate samples, with history, from South Carolina dairy farms with calves that exhibit clinical signs associated with enteric illness (e.g. scours, lethargy, anorexia and un-thriftiness). Sample submissions will also be solicited from producers with calves that do not exhibit clinical signs in an attempt to determine the rate of subclinical infections with these pathogens. A history of husbandry as well as vaccination of calves will be collected to identify which calves have been vaccinated for these enteric diseases and the environmental conditions in which they are raised. This information will be assessed to help delineate how clinical disease, subclinical disease, husbandry and vaccine status correlate in those calves that are tested. The CVDC will use a commercially available ELISA test kit for Rota-virus, Corona-virus, Cryptosporidium and E. coli (F-5/ K-99 strain) for detection of these pathogens.

Progress 07/01/12 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience consists of dairy and beef cattle producers and veterinarians, pathologists and diagnosticians dealing with beef and dairy cattle. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Analysis, writeup and dissemination is in process at this time. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? This cycle we performed 29 tests. Findings are: 11 Rota virus, 2 Corona virus, 3 E. coli(K99) and 6 Cryptosporidium. There were 5 cases that had multiple positive pathogens. 14 cases were diagnosed with enteritis. There were 18 dairy calves and 11 beef calves that were tested. I am now entering into the state of result analysis, write up and publication.

Publications

Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience consists of dairy and beef cattle producers and veterinarians, pathologists and diagnosticians dealing with beef and dairy cattle. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The analysis, writeup and dissemination is in process at this time. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The analysis, writeup and dissemination is in process at this time.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? This cycle we performed 29 tests. The findings are: 11 Rota virus, 2 Corona virus, 3 E. coli(K99) and 6 Cryptosporidium. There were 5 cases that had multiple positive pathogens. 14 cases were diagnosed with enteritis. There were 18 dairy calves and 11 beef calves that were tested. I am now entering into the stage of result analysis, write up and publication.

Publications

Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Veterinarians and cattle producers in South Carolina and the southeast. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?There is nothing to report at this stage. Results and analyses from the four year surveillance project will be disseminated at the end of 2016. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? This year (2015) there were 36 samples tested. Rota virus = 24 Corona virus = 1 E. coli (K99) = 7 Cryptosporidium = 10 samples with > 1 microorganism found = 12

Publications

Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? I have had the opportunity to discuss these findings with several large animal veterinarians over the course of the past year. I have also had discussions on this subject with Clemson Livestock and Poultry Health's Field/extension veterinarian Patty Scharko so that in her dealings with producers she can better discuss possible herd diarrhea issues that the producers may be experiencing. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The number of samples obtained and tests performed this cycle was 37. This is still below the 50 samples / year that we had expected/ hoped to perform. The data that we have collected this year, again, found that (in descending order) Rota and Corona viruses as well as Cryptosporidium are all significant factors in calf diarrhea. E. coli (K99) was notdiagnosed in this cycle. Of the samples that were performed19/37 were positive for at least 1 microorganism;5/37 were positive with multiple microorganisms; 16/37 for Rota virus;3/37 for Corona virus;0/37 for E. coli and6/37 for Cryptosporidium.

Publications

Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The results have not been disseminated to any of the communities of interest thus far. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? It is expected and anticipated that the word of mouth communication of veterinarians as well as dairy and cattle producers will elevate the number of samples done to the target of 50-100 year. The findings thus far are showing trends that are somewhat different and interesting than what microorganisms were thought to be the most prevalent in the general population.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The number of samples obtained and tests performed have gone up significantly (From an extrapolated 22 samples the first year to an extrapolated 39 in the second year). The data that we have found thus far is showing that Rota and Corona viruses as well as Cryptosporidium are all significant factors in calf diarrhea whereas E. coli (K99) hasonly rarelybeen diagnosed.

Publications

Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Over the reporting period of July 1-Dec 31, 2012, nine quality samples have been acquired and examined. This is below the 50-100 samples per year envisioned in the project proposal. Prior to the reporting period the project was mentioned to the SC Cattlemen's Association as well as to the extension agents and dairymen's organizations (through Tina Horn of Clemson extension). During the reporting period a letter was generated for cattle and dairy producers and their veterinarians and disseminated via email in the June CVDC newsletter. The reason for the lower than hoped sample numbers is suspected to be the cost of the test coupled with the current economic struggles that cattle and dairy producers are presently facing. Based on the lower than expected submission of samples, further outreach to raise awareness of this project is planned for the coming reporting period. The data acquired through examining the submitted samples will contribute to the ultimate project output of determining the prevalence of young calf diarrhea diseases in the SC cattle and dairy population. PARTICIPANTS: Doug Smith DVM, Doug Lever TARGET AUDIENCES: SC Cattle and Dairy farmers, organizations and their veterinarians. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
The projected output of this project is determination of the prevalence of young calf diarrhea disease in SC cattle and dairy populations. As diarrhea (scours) results in loss of growth and production and in many cases loss of the calf's life, the economic loss to the producer can be significant. This loss feeds back to consumers through a decreased supply of beef or milk and can negatively affect state funds generated through animal agriculture. By determining the prevalence of young calf diarrhea diseases in SC, I hope to be able to provide this information to SC veterinarians and cattle/dairy producers so that appropriate health management plans can be developed to decrease the loss of production and calves on a given farm, which would also decrease the financial losses that occur from these diseases. A secondary output that would occur with the knowledge of prevalence of these diseases would be the development of more effective testing protocol to detect the four diarrhea diseases in question of this study (Rota virus/Corona virus/E. coli F5/Cryptosporidium). This will aid in appropriately identifying disease so clinicians can effectively treat and prevent occurrence at the farm level. Of the 9 samples that were performed in 2012 the following results were found: 6/9 found at least 1 disease entity present. All but 1 of the positive samples had multiple disease entities present. 3/9 had Rota virus present. 4/9 had Corona virus present. 5/9 had Cryptosporidium present. E. coli F5 was not found in any of the samples.

Publications

• Cushing TL. 2012. CVDC Special Projects In: CVDC quarterly newsletter. Provides updates to CVDC users and information regarding animal health issues affecting SC livestock producers.