Enteritis in foals induced by rotavirus and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.

This research investigated the influence of foal rotavirus and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) on the development of Enteritis (diarrhea) in colostrum-deprived, colostrum-fed and suckling foals. The study found that the age of the foal plays a crucial role in the development of age-related resistance to diarrhea.

Methodology

• The foals were divided into three groups: those deprived of colostrum, those who were fed colostrum, and those who were suckling.
• The foals were orally inoculated with foal rotavirus and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli derived from a calf.
• The impact of the foal’s age on the successful establishment of the rotavirus was also scrutinized.

Results

• The foals aged 1 or 2 days did not experience diarrhea when exposed to either foal rotavirus or ETEC individually.
• However, two out of the three inoculated with rotavirus developed depression three days post-inoculation and all three were found to have excreted the rotavirus in their feces.
• When administered both agents simultaneously, all the foals aged up to 16 days developed diarrhea, irrespective of whether they were deprived of colostrum, were fed colostrum, or were suckling.
• Interestingly, the study noted an age-related resistance to diarrhea that developed between 2 and 3 weeks of age and this resistance was attributed to the failure of rotavirus to establish a clear infection in older foals.

Conclusion

• The study concluded that the age of foals played a critical role in determining their susceptibility to rotavirus and ETEC induced diarrhea.
• This age-related resistance to diarrhea was not dependent on the preinoculation maternal antibody levels in the foals.