Implementation of a pre-calving vaccination programme against rotavirus, coronavirus and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (F5) and association with dairy calf survival

Abstract

Background Diarrhea is one of the most common diseases and causes of death in calves during the first month of life. Pre-calving vaccination programme (PVP) against the most common diarrhea-causing pathogens could help to avoid this threat if hyperimmune transition milk (TM) is fed to calves throughout the whole susceptibility period. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to reveal the implementation practices of PVPs in large commercial dairy farms and to compare calf-level mortality hazards during the first year of vaccination (V+ period) and a year before implementing the vaccination programme (V- period). A questionnaire was filled out in 15 large-scale dairy farms in Estonia that used PVP. The farms were assigned into three groups based on compliance with the vaccine directions for use and TM feeding practices. Calf-level time-to-event data was analyzed with an observation period of 21 days and on-farm mortality due to diarrhea being the event of interest. Results During the V+ period, a significant decline in diarrhea-induced calf mortality was identified in three out of six herds that followed vaccination instructions and fed TM for at least 14 days. On average, calf mortality hazard due to diarrhea decreased among these herds (hazard rate ratio (HR) = 0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63; 0.81). In the group of correctly vaccinating herds where TM was fed for less than 14 days, diarrhea-induced calf mortality decreased in two herds and remained unchanged in two herds with average diarrhea-induced calf mortality hazard declining significantly during the vaccination period (HR = 0.24, 95% CI 0.14; 0.41). Among the three farms that deviated from the vaccination instructions, the average calf mortality hazard increased in the V+ period (HR = 1.61, 95% CI 1.21; 2.14). Conclusions This study revealed that implementing a PVP might aid to reduce diarrhea-induced calf mortality in large commercial dairy farms. There is a need to increase veterinarians´ and farmers´ awareness about the importance of including pregnant heifers into the vaccination programme and emphasize the importance of prolonged feeding of hyperimmune TM to calves.

Influence of Maternal BLV Infection on miRNA and tRF Expression in Calves

“…This implies that the downregulation of bta-miR-133b and bta-miR-206 may be associated with a decrease in IL-17 expression or an immunological response. Calves are often infected with E. coli on dairy operations, leading to diarrhea and even death [43,44]. An impaired immunological response to fungi or bacterial infections in calves born to BLV infected dams may lead to a poor outcome for calves infected with bacteria, such as E. coli.…”

A Novel Multiepitope Fusion Antigen as a Vaccine Candidate for the Prevention of Enterotoxigenic E. coli-Induced Calf Diarrhea

“…Although the association between F17 fimbriae and diarrhea is weaker than that between F5 or F41 fimbriae and diarrhea, changes in epidemic trends demonstrate the necessity to consider F17 fimbriae in vaccine strategies. The F5-F41 fimbriae vaccine against calf diarrhea has garnered early attention from researchers [13], and a multiple conjugate vaccine containing F5 has been studied in clinical practice and has demonstrated a favorable effect on calves [14]. However, the vaccines targeting F17 fimbriae are rarely reported.…”

Lactobacillus salivarius WZ1 Inhibits the Inflammatory Injury of Mouse Jejunum Caused by Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 by Regulating the TLR4/NF-κB/MyD88 Inflammatory Pathway and Gut Microbiota

“…Escherichia coli is the most common bacterial infection causing diarrhea in animals [ 1 , 2 ]. It causes diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis and dysentery in weak, malnourished and immunocompromised calves, especially those that have not acquired maternal antibodies through colostrum feeding [ 3 ].…”