Skip to main content
PMC home page
Elsevier - PMC COVID-19 Collection logoLink to Elsevier - PMC COVID-19 Collection
. 2016 Jan 6;16(1):37–57. doi: 10.1016/S0749-0720(15)30136-5

Differentiation of Gastrointestinal Diseases of Calves

Christine B Navarre 1,2,*, Ellen B Belknap 1,2, Sara E Rowe 1,2
PMCID: PMC7134856  PMID: 10707413

Abstract

Bovine practitioners are commonly faced with gastrointestinal problems in calves. Being able to diagnose gastrointestinal problems properly is pivotal in developing proper preventive and treatment strategies. This article discusses the common gastrointestinal diseases, including diarrhea of calves, with the focus on antemortem diagnosis and differentiation of these diseases.

References

  • 1.Andrews A.H. Calf Management and Disease Notes. Nynwood Arts; Hertfordshire: 1983. Health and disease. [Google Scholar]
  • 2.Acres S.D., Saunders J.R., Radostits O.M. Acute undifferentiated neonatal diarrhea of beef calves: The prevalence of enterotoxigenic E. coli, reo-like (rota) virus and other enteropathogens in cow-calf herds. Can Vet J. 1977;18:113–121. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 3.Acres S.D. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infections in newborn calves: A review. J Dairy Sci. 1985;68:229–256. doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(85)80814-6. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 4.Anderson D.E., Cornwell D., Anderson L.S. Comparative analyses of peritoneal fluid from calves and adult cattle. Am J Vet Res. 1995;56:973–976. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 5.Anderson D.E., St.Jean G. Intussusception. In: Howard J.L., Smith R.A., editors. Current Veterinary Therapy Food Animal Practice. ed 4. WB Saunders; Philadelphia: 1999. pp. 537–538. [Google Scholar]
  • 6.Babiuk L.A., Sabara M., Hudson G.R. Rotavirus and coronavirus infections in animals. Progress in Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology. 1985;1:80–120. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 7.Benefield D.A., Stotz I.J., Nelson E.A. Comparison of a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with electron microscopy, fluorescent antibody, and virus isolation for the detection of bovine and porcine rotavirus. Am J Vet Res. 1984;45:1998–2002. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 8.Bezek D. Rotavirus enteritis in food animals. Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian. 1994;16:391–405. [Google Scholar]
  • 9.Breukink H.J., Kuiper R. Pathologie de la caillette place des anti-inflammtoires chez les bovins. Societe Francaise de Buiatrie, Toulouse; France: 1993. Clinical consequences of abomasal ulceration in cattle; pp. 109–119. [Google Scholar]
  • 10.Breukink H.J., Wensing T.H., Weeren-Keverling-Buisman A. Consequences of failure of the reticular groove reflex in veal calves fed milk replacer. Vet Q. 1988;10:126–135. doi: 10.1080/01652176.1988.9694159. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 11.Buret A., DenHollander N., Wallis P.M. Zoonotic potential of giardiasis in domestic ruminants. J Infect Dis. 1990;162:231–237. doi: 10.1093/infdis/162.1.231. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12.Carter G.R., Cole J.R. ed 5. Academic Press; San Diego: 1990. Diagnostic Procedures in Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology. [Google Scholar]
  • 13.Chapman H.W., Butler D.G., Newell M. The route of liquids administered to calves by esophageal feeder. Can J Vet Res. 1986;50:84–87. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14.Clark K.J., Tamborello T.J., Xu Z. An unusual group-A rotavirus associated with an epidemic of diarrhea among three-month-old calves. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1996;208:552554. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 15.Clark M.A. Bovine coronavirus. British Veterinary Journal. 1993;149:51–70. doi: 10.1016/S0007-1935(05)80210-6. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 16.Cohen N.D., Martin L.J., Simpson B. Comparison of polymerase chain reaction and microbiological culture for detection of salmonellae in equine feces and environmental samples. Am J Vet Res. 1996;57:780–786. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 17.Constable P.D., Huhn J.C., Morin D.E. Atresia coli in calves: Etiopathogenesis and surgical management. Bovine Practice. 1999;33:70–73. [Google Scholar]
  • 18.Constable P.D., Rings M., Hull B.L. Atresia coli in calves: 26 cases (1977-1987) J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1989;195:118–123. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 19.Corwin R.M. Cryptosporidiosis: A coccidiosis of calves. Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian. 1992;14:1005–1007. [Google Scholar]
  • 20.Dirksen G. Forestomachs. In: Rosenberger G., editor. Clinical Examination of Cattle. Berlin Hamberg; Paul Parey: 1979. pp. 197–220. [Google Scholar]
  • 21.Dirksen G., Baur T. Force-feeding and rumen acidosis in young calves. Bovine Practice. 1990;25:29–32. [Google Scholar]
  • 22.Dirksen G.U. Tympany, displacement and torsion of the abomasum in calves: Pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. Bovine Practice. 1994;28:120–126. [Google Scholar]
  • 23.Dirksen G.U. Ulceration, dilation and incarceration of the abomasum in calves: Clinical investigations and experiences. Bovine Practice. 1994;28:127–135. [Google Scholar]
  • 24.Dirksen G.U., Garry F.B. Diseases of the forestomachs in calves-part I. Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian. 1987;9:F140–F145. [Google Scholar]
  • 25.Dirksen G.U., Garry F.B. Diseases of the forestomachs in calves-part II. Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian. 1987;9:F173–F179. [Google Scholar]
  • 26.Doll K. Tympany and torsion of the abomasum in calves. Bovine Practice. 1991;26:96–99. [Google Scholar]
  • 27.Dreyfuss D.J., Tulleners E.P. Intestinal atresia in calves: 22 cases (1978-1988) J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1989;195:508–513. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 28.Fleming S. Enterotoxemia in neonatal calves. Vet Clin North Am: Food Anim Pract. 1985;1:509–514. doi: 10.1016/s0749-0720(15)31299-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 29.Frazee L.S. Torsion of the abomasum in a one month old calf. Can Vet J. 1984;25:293–295. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 30.Garry F.B. In: Indigestion in ruminants. ed 2. Smith B.P., editor. St. Louis; CV Mosby: 1996. pp. 824–828. (Large Animal Internal Medicine). [Google Scholar]
  • 31.Garry F.B. In: Rumen putrefaction. ed 4. Howard J.L., Smith R.A., editors. WB Saunders; Philadelphia: 1999. pp. 510–512. (Current Veterinary Therapy Food Animal Practice). [Google Scholar]
  • 32.Guard C. Obstructive intestinal diseases. In: Smith B.P., editor. Large Animal Internal Medicine. ed 2. St. Louis; CV Mosby: 1996. pp. 880–881. [Google Scholar]
  • 33.Heath S.E. Neonatal diarrhea in calves: Diagnosis and intervention in problem herds. Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian. 1992;14:995–1002. [Google Scholar]
  • 34.Hoflund S. Diseases due to digestive disorders, hygiene of nursing, weaning, and artificial feeding: V. Digestive disorders of hygiene in the feeding of calves. In: Eriksson K., editor. Control of Losses in Young Farm Animals. 1957. pp. 113–140. OEEC-REPORT, Project No. 345. [Google Scholar]
  • 35.Hollund R.E. Some infectious causes of diarrhea in young farm animals. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1990;3:345–375. doi: 10.1128/cmr.3.4.345. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 36.House J.D., Smith B.P. Current strategies for managing salmonella infections in cattle. Vet Med. 1998;93:756–764. [Google Scholar]
  • 37.Hunt E. Diarrheal diseases of neonatal calves. In: Howard J.L., Smith R.A., editors. Current Veterinary Therapy Food Animal Practice. ed 4. WB Saunders Co; Philadelphia: 1999. pp. 56–62. [Google Scholar]
  • 38.Janke B.H. Protecting calves from viral diarrhea. Veterinary Medicine. 1989;84:803–810. [Google Scholar]
  • 39.Janke B.H. Attaching and effacing Escherichia coli infections in calves, pigs, lambs, and dogs. J Vet Diagn Invest. 1989;1:6–11. doi: 10.1177/104063878900100104. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 40.Jelinski M.D., Janzen E.D., Hoar B. A field investigation of fatal abomasal ulcers in western Canadian beef calves. Agri-Pract. 1995;16:16–18. [Google Scholar]
  • 41.Jelinski M.D., Ribble C.S., Chirino-Trejo M. The relationship between the presence of Helicobacter pylori, Clostridium perfringens typa A, Campylobacter sp., or fungi and fatal abomasal ulcers in unweaned beef calves. Can Vet J. 1995;36:379–382. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 42.Johnson R., Ames N.K., Coy C. Congenital intestinal atresia of calves. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1983;182:1387–1389. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 43.Jubb K.V.F., Kennedy P.C., Palmer N. ed 4. vol 2. Academic Press; Orlando: 1993. (Pathology of Domestic Animals). [Google Scholar]
  • 44.Kersting K. Enteric pathogens of young calves. Bovine Practice. 1998;32:39–42. [Google Scholar]
  • 45.Kirkpatrick C.E. Giardiasis in large animals. Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian. 1989;11:80–84. [Google Scholar]
  • 46.Kumar A., Tanwar R.K., Gahlot T.K. Trichophytobezoars in a neonatal calf. Mod Vet Pract. 1982;63:382. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 47.Kumper H. A new treatment for abomasal bloat in calves. Bovine Practice. 1995;29:80–82. [Google Scholar]
  • 48.Leek B.F. Digestion in the ruminant stomach. In: Swenson M.J., Reece W.O., editors. Duke's Physiology of Domestic Animals. ed 11. Cornell University Press; Ithaca: 1993. [Google Scholar]
  • 49.Levine J.F., Levy M.G., Wälder R.L. Cryptosporidiosis in veterinary students. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1988;193:1413–1414. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 50.Lilley C.W., Hamr D.W., Johnson J.L. Linking copper and bacteria with abomasal ulcers in beef calves. Vet Med. 1985;80:85–88. [Google Scholar]
  • 51.Moore J.A., Blagburn B.L., Lindsay D.S. Cryptosporidiosis in animals including humans. Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian. 1988;10:275–285. [Google Scholar]
  • 52.Nappert G., Hamilton D., Petrie L. Determination of lactose and xylose malabsorption in preruminant diarrheic calves. Can J Vet Res. 1993;57:152–158. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 53.Naylor J.M. Neonatal ruminant diarrhea. In: Smith B.P., editor. Large Animal Internal Medicine. ed 2. St. Louis; CV Mosby: 1996. pp. 396–417. [Google Scholar]
  • 54.Naylor J.M., Bailey J.V. A retrospective stud of 51 cases of abdominal problems in the calf: Etiology, diagnosis and prognosis. Can Vet J. 1987;28:657–662. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 55.Olchowy T.W.J., Linnabery R.D., Andrews F.M. Lactose intolerance in a calf. J Vet Intern Med. 1993;7:12–15. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1993.tb03162.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 56.Quinn P.J., Carter M.E., Markey B.K. Wolfe Publishing; London: 1994. Clinical Veterinary Microbiology. [Google Scholar]
  • 57.Peltzer K.D. Salmonellosis. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1989;195:456–463. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 58.Reif J.S., Wimmer L., Smith J.A. Human cryptosporidiosis associated with an epizootic in calves. Am J Pub Health. 1989;79:1528–1530. doi: 10.2105/ajph.79.11.1528. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 59.Rings D.M., Rings M.B. Managing Cryptosporidium and Giardia infections in domestic ruminants. Veterinary Medicine. 1996;91:1125–1131. [Google Scholar]
  • 60.Roeder B.L., Chengappa M.M., Nagaraja T.G. Experimental induction of abdominal tympany, abomasitis, and abomasal ulceration by intraruminal inoculation of Clostridium perfringens type A in neonatal calves. Am J Vet Res. 1998;49:201–207. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 61.Roeder B.L., Chengappa M.M., Nagaraja T.G. Isolation of Clostridium perfringens from neonatal calves with ruminai and abomasal tympany, abomasitis, and abomasal ulceration. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1987;190:1550–1555. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 62.Roeder B.L. Abomasal ulcer disease in calves; Proceedings of the 8th Annual American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum; 1990. pp. 739–742. Washington, DC. [Google Scholar]
  • 63.Roy J.H.B. The Calf. 4. Butterworth; Boston: 1980. The digestive system of the calf. [Google Scholar]
  • 64.Roy J.H.B. The Calf. 4. Butterworth; Boston: 1980. Diseases of young calves. [Google Scholar]
  • 65.Runnels P.L., Moon H.W., Schneider R.A. Development of resistance with host age to adhesion of K99+Escherichia coli to isolated intestinal epithelial cells. Infect Immun. 1980;28:298. doi: 10.1128/iai.28.1.298-300.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 66.Saunders G. Diagnosing braxy in calves and lambs. Veterinary Medicine. 1986;81:10501052. [Google Scholar]
  • 67.Schultheiss P. Diarrheal disease in calves. Large Animal Vet. 1992;47:24–28. [Google Scholar]
  • 68.Smith D.R., Fedorka-Clay P.J., Mohan R. Evaluation of cow-level risk factors for the development of winter dysentery in dairy cattle. Am J Vet Res. 1998;59:986–1002. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 69.Snodgrass D.R., Terzolo H.R., Sherwood D. Aetiology of diarrhoea in young calves. Vet Ree. 1986;119:31–34. doi: 10.1136/vr.119.2.31. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 70.Timoney J.F., Gillespie J.H., Scott F.W. ed 8. Comstock Publishing; Ithaca: 1988. Hagan and Bruner's Microbiology and Infectious Diseases of Domestic Animals. [Google Scholar]
  • 71.Tzipori S. The relative importance of enteric pathogens affecting neonates of domestic animals. Advances in Veterinary Science and Comparative Medicine. 1985;29:103–158. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 72.Toombs R.E., Grotelueschen D.M., Glock R.D. Postnatal calf losses in beef herds: Causes and epidemiological characteristics. Large Anim Practice. 1998;19:16–24. [Google Scholar]
  • 73.Torres A. The pathogenesis and clinical management of neonatal diarrhea; Proceedings of a Symposium on Bovine Neonatal Diarrhea; 1988. pp. 5–14. Las Vegas. [Google Scholar]
  • 74.Virtala A.K., Mechor G.D., Grohn Y.T. Morbidity from nonrespiratory diseases and mortality in dairy heifers during the first three months of life. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1996;208:2043–2046. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 75.Webster K.A., Smith H.V., Dawson L. Detection of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in faeces: Comparison of conventional coproscopical methods and the polymerase chain reaction. Vet Parasitol. 1996;61:5–13. doi: 10.1016/0304-4017(95)00811-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 76.Wensing T., Breukink H.J., VanDijk S. The effect of feeding pellets of different types of roughage on the incidence of lesions in the abomasum of veal calves. Vet Res Commun. 1986;10:195–202. doi: 10.1007/BF02213981. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 77.Zeman D.H., Thomson J.U., Francis D.H. Diagnosis, treatment, and management of enteric colibacillosis. Veterinary Medicine. 1989;84:794–802. [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Food Animal Practice are provided here courtesy of Elsevier

RESOURCES