책임운영기관 농촌진흥청 국립축산과학원 (로고)

Background: Neonatal calf diarrhea is a major problem in the cattle industry worldwide. Rotavirus and Cryptosporidium parvum are the primary causative agents, especially during the first three weeks of the calf’s life.Objectives: This study investigated the differences in acid-base, electrolytes, and biochemical parameters of diarrheic calves with infection of either rotavirus or C. parvum.Methods: A total of 61 Korean native calves (≤ 20 days old) were divided into two groups based on rotavirus or C. parvum infections: rotavirus infection (n = 44) and C. parvum infection (n = 17). The calves with at a specific blood pH range (pH 6.92&#8211;7.25) were chosen for comparison. The acid-base, electrolyte, chemistry, and serum proteins were analyzed, Further, fecal examinations were performed.Results: Compared to C. parvum-infected calves, the rotavirus-infected calves showed lower levels of total carbon dioxide, bicarbonate (HCO3&#8722;), anion gap, total protein, and albumin/globulin ratio, and significantly lower levels of potassium, globulin, and alpha2-globulin (p < 0.05). The C. parvum-infected calves (r = 0.749) had stronger correlations between pH and HCO3&#8722; than the rotavirus-infected calves (r = 0.598). Compared to rotavirus-infected calves, strong correlations between globulin and alpha2-globulin, alpha2-globulin and haptoglobin were identified in C. parvum-infected calves.Conclusions: This study is the first to investigate acid-base, electrolyte, and biochemical parameters in calves in response to infections of rotavirus and C. parvum. Although rotavirus and C. parvum cause malabsorptive and secretory diarrhea in similar-aged calves, blood parameters were different. This would help establish the diagnostic and treatment strategies.