Calf Diarrhea Is Associated With a Shift From Obligated to Facultative Anaerobes and Expansion of Lactate-Producing Bacteria.

Diarrhea is the leading cause of morbidity, mortality and antimicrobial drug use in calves during the first month of age. Alteration in the bacterial communities of the gastrointestinal tract occurs during diarrhea. Diarrheic calves often develop anion gap (AG) acidosis associated with increased concentrations of unmeasured anions including D- and L-lactate. However, studies investigating the association between gut microbiota alterations and the development of acid-base disorders in diarrheic calves are lacking. We investigated the fecal bacterial alterations of calves with diarrhea and its association with changes in blood pH, and AG. Blood and fecal samples from healthy and diarrheic veal calves were taken 7 days after arrival to the farm. The fecal microbiota of healthy and diarrheic calves was assessed by sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicons. Blood gas analysis was completed using an i-Stat analyzer. In healthy calves, higher richness, evenness, and diversity were observed compared to diarrheic calves. Phocaeicola, Bacteroides, Prevotella, Faecalibacterium, Butyricicoccus, Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae were enriched in healthy compared with diarrheic calves. Enterococcus, Ligilactobacillus, Lactobacilus, Gallibacterium Streptococcus, and Escherichia/Shigella were enriched in diarrheic calves. In diarrheic calves, an increased abundance of lactate-producing bacteria including Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Veillonella, Ligilactobacillus and Olsenella was detected. Diarrheic calves had a lower pH and bicarbonate concentration and a higher AG concentration than healthy calves. Together, these results indicate that calf diarrhea is associated with a shift from obligated to facultative anaerobes and expansion of lactate-producing bacteria which are related to acidemia, low bicarbonate and increase AG. Our results highlight the importance of the gastrointestinal microbiota on the clinicopathological changes observed in diarrheic calves.

Serum haptoglobin concentration and liver enzyme activity as indicators of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and survival of sick calves.

BACKGROUND: Increased concentration of haptoglobin (Hp) in serum is associated with survival of critically ill humans and horses. High serum activity of liver-derived enzyme is associated with sepsis in children and foals. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Investigate whether admission serum Hp and glutamic dehydrogenase (GLDH) are associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and survival of sick calves. ANIMALS: One hundred two calves. METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Electronic medical records from all calves <30 days of age admitted to a teaching hospital for 8 years were reviewed. The signalment, clinicopathological findings, the presence of SIRS, final diagnosis, hospitalization time and outcome were recorded. A Cox proportional hazard ratio (HzR) were calculated to assess the association between clinicopathological variables and survival to discharge. RESULTS: Serum Hp concentrations were similar between SIRS (0.29 g/L; range, 0.05-3.6) and non-SIRS calves (0.22 g/L; range, 0-4.2; P = .62). GLDH activity was similar between SIRS (12 U/L; range, 1-1025) and non-SIRS calves (9 U/L; range, 2-137; P = .2). Absent suckle reflex (HzR: 6.44, 95% CI: 1.44-28.86), heart rate (HR) < 100 beats per minute (bpm; HzR: 12.2; 95% CI: 2.54-58.62), HR > 140 bpm (HzR: 3.59, 95% CI: 1.05-12.33), neutrophil count <1.7 × 109 /L (HzR: 7.36; 95% CI: 2.03-26.66) and increased gamma-glutamyl transferase activity (every 50-unit, HzR: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.03-1.21) were predictive of nonsurvival. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The use of Hp and GLDH for prediction of survival in sick calves cannot be recommended at this time.

Indications for and outcomes of limb amputation in goats and sheep.

OBJECTIVE To characterize indications for and clinical outcomes of limb amputation in goats and sheep. DESIGN Retrospective case series and observational study. ANIMALS Goats (n = 15) and sheep (7) that underwent partial or complete limb amputation at the University of California-Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital from January 1, 1985, through December 31, 2015. PROCEDURES Medical records of qualifying goats and sheep were reviewed and data extracted regarding signalment, use of animal, characteristics of the amputated limb, duration of hospitalization, outcome, and surgery-associated complications. The Fisher exact test was performed to compare postsurgical complication rates between various groups. RESULTS Reasons for limb amputation included trauma (ie, fracture, dog bite, and wire-fence injury) and infectious or degenerative disease (ie, osteomyelitis and osteoarthritis). Median (range) hospitalization period for goats and sheep was 7.5 days (1 to 63 days) and 8 days (3 to 20 days), respectively. Most (7/9) of the postsurgical complications were noticed > 2 months after amputation and included uncoordinated gait, tendon breakdown and laxity of the contralateral limb, chronic lameness, surgical site infection, chronic intermittent pain, and angular limb deformity. No association was identified between postsurgical complication rate in goats and body weight category (< 20 vs ≥ 20 kg [44 lb]), age category (< 2 vs ≥ 2 years), and amputated limb type (forelimb vs hind limb). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Clinical outcomes for goats and sheep following limb amputation varied and were seemingly case dependent. Amputation should be considered when preservation of the whole limb is not possible. Veterinarians should advise owners that limb amputation may result in various complications and recommend aftercare treatment such as physiotherapy.

Transpalpebral exenteration in cattle: a retrospective study of 115 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the indications for exenteration and complications associated with the procedure. ANIMALS STUDIED: 115 cattle. PROCEDURES: Medical records of cattle presented for unilateral exenteration evaluated at the University of California, Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital from January 1985 through December 2015 were reviewed. RESULTS: Median (range) age at presentation for all cattle was 6 (0.2-30) years. The most prevalent (80.9%) indication for exenteration was squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Cattle >5 years had higher odds (OR = 11.2, 95% CI, 2.8-45.8) for undergoing exenteration due to SCC compared to cattle ≤5 years. Herefords had higher odds (OR = 4.6, 95% CI, 1.5-14.6) for undergoing exenteration for SCC compared to other breeds. Holsteins had higher odds (OR = 140.7, 95% CI, 7.5-2644) for undergoing exenteration for retrobulbar lymphoma compared to other breeds. Complications following exenteration were reported in 15 cases (13.0%). The postsurgical complications were orbital abscesses (6/15), recurrence of SCC (5/15), wound dehiscence (3/15), and excessive hemorrhage (1/15). Median (range) time to occurrence of postsurgical complications was 19 (5-205) days. There was no significant association (P > 0.05) between ocular diagnosis, age, anesthetic technique or the suture pattern used to close the skin postsurgically, and occurrence of postsurgical complications. CONCLUSIONS: Early clinical diagnosis of SCC by owners and veterinarians may prevent the need for exenteration. Owners should be made aware of the possible postsurgical complications following exenteration in cattle.