Avaliação epidemiológica da diarreia em uma coorte de bezerras, no Município de Piraí, RJ.

Abstract

This study aimed to perform a descriptive analysis of diarrhea and parasites infection ; the association among diarrhea and risk factors such as infection by Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Eimeria and helminths, age, failure of passive immunity transference (FPT), type of fertilization (in vitro embryo production - IVP, artificial insemination - AI and natural mount), dam (heifer or cow) and birth weight. Moreover, assessing the influence of diarrhea on the weekly weight gain of dairy heifer calves reared in individual calf pens under paddock in a farm of dairy production, Piraí, Rio de Janeiro. From September 2009 to June 2011, feces collection, weighing and data about the calves, were obtained weekly. Blood samples were collected only once after ingestion of colostrum. The calves in this study were followed up from birth to one hundred day old until the end of the study period / or death / or release. Feces were considered normal (firm, brown, tail and perineum clean and dry) or diarrhea (pasty or aqueous, tail and/or perineum soiled with feces). Logistic regression models by generalizes estimated equations were used to study relationship among diarrhea and its determinants factors, the relative risks (RR) were estimated. Gaussian regression models by generalizes estimated equations were used to obtained the relationship between weekly weigh gain and diarrhea. For both models, intervals with 90% confidence were estimated. One hundred and eighteen calves were followed up, in a total of 1457 fecal samples. The incidence rates of diarrhea, infection by Cryptosporidium, G. intestinalis, Eimeria and helminths were 25.7, 13.2, 16.6, 26.9 and 7.3 new cases per 100 calves week, respectively. In calves up to 30 dayold, the type of fertilization IVP [RR=0.33 (CI 90% 0.14 - 0.75)] is a factor protection and Cryptosporidium spp. infection [RR=1.95 (CI 90% 1.22 - 3.12)] risk factor.On the other hand, for calves with 31 to 100 days of age, IVP [RR=0.50 (CI 90% 0.28 -0.89)] and birth weight ≥ 40 kg [RR= 0.65 (CI 90% 0.47 - 0.89)] are protective factors. , Greater was the weight gain, in those calves more old (p<0.001) and heavier at the birth (p=0.10). In this population, part of diarrhea in animals aged up to 30 days, can be explained by infection with Cryptosporidium spp. and greater care should be dispensed in the administration of colostrums, despite the lack of statistical significance, animals with FTP are more sensitive to the occurrence of diarrhea. In the group from 31 to 100 days special attention should be given to those with low birth weight. The variables that influence the weight gain of calves in this study differ in general from the cited literatures since the mother and absorption of colostrum immunoglobulin’s had no effect on weight gain. Moreover, although the effect of diarrhea has not been shown statistically significant its clinical relevance must be considered.