Neonatal diarrhea and rotavirus A infection in beef and dairy calves, Brazil, 2006-2015

Abstract

Calf diarrhea causes substantial economic losses in the cattle industry worldwide. Bovine rotavirus A (RVA) is the main viral agent that leads to enteric infection and diarrhea outbreaks in calves throughout the world. The aim of this retrospective (2006-2015) study was to determine the frequency of RVA detection in diarrheic fecal samples from beef and dairy calves from the three main cattle-producing regions of Brazil. Diarrheic fecal samples (n=1,498) of 124 beef and 56 dairy cattle herds from the Midwest, South, and Southeast geographical regions of Brazil were evaluated using the silver-stained polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (ss-PAGE) technique. RVA double stranded-RNA was identified by the ss-PAGE technique in 410 (27.4%) fecal samples. The frequency of positive samples found in beef calves (31.9%; 328/1,027) was higher than the frequency found in diarrheic fecal samples from dairy calves (17.4%; 82/471). RVA infection was identified in calves from the three Brazilian geographical regions analyzed. However, the frequency of positive diarrheic calves in the Midwest region (39.4%), predominantly beef calves, was higher than in the South (19.4%) and Southeast (17.6%) regions. The temporal distribution of RVA-infected calves evaluated by two five-year periods (2006-2010, 24.5%; 2011-2015, 28.8%) demonstrated a very similar frequency of RVA in both periods. Considering the wide regional and temporal scope of this study, it can be concluded that RVA remains an important etiology of neonatal diarrhea in calves of Brazilian cattle herds.

High Occurrence Among Calves and Close Phylogenetic Relationships With Human Viruses Warrants Close Surveillance of Rotaviruses in Kuwaiti Dairy Farms

“…Additionally, it is known that vaccination against RVA reduces the incidence of diarrhea independent of infection genotype ( 26 ). Current research has demonstrated a possible way of passive immunization of cattle with anti-bovine RVA immunoglobulin yolks (IgYs) from hens immunized with the two RVAs with different genotypes [G6P ( 5 ) and G10P ( 11 )]. If it is confirmed, it will provide another tool against RVAs ( 27 ).…”

“…RVA infections are a constant health issue across the cattle farming industry, worldwide. A decade-long study, in Brazil, revealed that the RVA cattle infection rate remains constant through the years, despite the progress in our understanding of health epidemiology, the worldwide compliance clauses and the rigorous animal testing ( 5 ). In Uruguay, a large dairy and beef producer, RVA infection occurrence in calves reaches 57%.…”

Efficacy of prepartum vaccination against neonatal calf diarrhea in Nelore dams as a prevention measure

“…In a longitudinal study carried out on Nelore herds, BoRVA was detected in 11% (11/100) of the analysed fecal samples [23]. Another study had evaluated the presence of BoRVA in beef and dairy calves over 10 years (2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015), and these authors found a frequency of 27.4% of positive results [25]. In this same study, the frequency of BoRVApositive fecal samples in diarrheic calves from beef herds (31.9%) was higher than in dairy herds (17.4%) [25].…”

“…Another study had evaluated the presence of BoRVA in beef and dairy calves over 10 years (2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015), and these authors found a frequency of 27.4% of positive results [25]. In this same study, the frequency of BoRVApositive fecal samples in diarrheic calves from beef herds (31.9%) was higher than in dairy herds (17.4%) [25]. Other studies conducted in Brazil have identified BoRVA as the causative agent of diarrhea in 80% of the samples and 53.3% of the samples [2,6].…”