Synonyms

E. coli formerly named K99.

Name of the disease in English

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli diarrhea

The disease in brief

Enterotoxigenic colibacilli (ETEC) (pathogenic only for the first enterocytes of the calf. They are part of the normal intestinal flora of the mother) have the ability to adhere to the intestinal wall (fimbrial adhesins F) and produce toxin; ETEC attached to the intestinal wall will secrete water loaded with ions (Cl, HCO3, Na, K). Immune protection is provided against fimbrial adhesins; this is why ETEC are designated by the name of their adhesin: If F5 is important, other adhesins can cause similar diseases.

ETEC diarrhea occurs from the first day of life, and often between days 1 and 5, particularly for adhesin F5.

Clinic & diagnosis

The disease is suspected in calves whose average age of patients is less than 5 days, by observing either yellow and liquid diarrhea (=Custard), or profuse diarrhea with high lethality (in more than 1/3 of patients), or signs of intense dehydration (enophthalmos) setting in quickly (in 12 hours!).

General health problems may dominate the clinical picture; diarrhea will then accompany symptoms of a "limp calf", unable to hold its head up, or ataxic, unable to get up, or drowsy, or no longer responding to stimulation.

Typical sign of the disease

No description

Pictures

See below

Diagnostic formulas

No description

Differential diagnosis

- Diarrhea in the first days of life: information VX21.1

-Neonatal calf sepsis N324

-Calf diarrhea due to salmonella VX13

-Ischemic-hypoxic encephalopathy of calves N217

Confirm a suspicion?

Tests exist for a diagnosis in the stable (Bio-X Kit (Elisa))

Prognosis and treatment

1-Rehydration: Treatment is based primarily on controlling hydration and acid-base balance; an assessment of this is made in the general condition section:

-Calves that are tonic and have a normal sucking reflex can receive oral rehydration, but this is a case that almost does not exist with this disease.

-The other calves are perfused: the volume and composition of the perfused liquid are defined either by clinical examination alone or by laboratory evaluation.

-2-Antibacterial/oral/general route: The antibiotic should be given orally in this case. If the calf needs to be given an IV and a catheter is placed in one of its veins, it may also be advisable to add a systemic antibiotic.

3-Antidiarrheal-antibacterial/oral route

4-Feed the calf: If the calf refuses to drink, it is advisable to provide the calf with another source of energy, especially if it is cold.

Prevention

Prevention is based on:

-on good colostral intake

-vaccination of mothers against this enterotoxigenic E. Coli.

-A supply of specific immunoglobulins from birth

References

Rebhun's disease of dairy cattle; Various DJs, Peek SF 3^rd edition by Ed. Saunders Elsevier

Memo written by F. Rollin, Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Liège-B, G Argenté, DVM,