Rapid immunochromatographic assays for detecting infections with bovine coronavirus (BCV), rotavirus A and Cryptosporidium parvum in calf faeces were evaluated using as gold standards a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (BCV and rotavirus) and a sedimentation-flotation technique (C. parvum). Rapid tests for the detection of BCV and rotavirus showed a high specificity (96.4% and 95.3%, respectively), but a relatively low sensitivity (60.0% and 71.9%, respectively). Sensitivity and specificity for detection of C. parvum were high (100% and 94.6%, respectively).

Faecal samples from 230 diarrhoeic and healthy calves aged 0-6 weeks, from 100 farms in Austria, were examined between October 2004 and February 2005 for the presence of bacteria, especially Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), viruses and parasites. Escherichia coli was detected in 17% of all the faecal samples and was more prevalent in healthy calves. However, E. coli F5 was identified only in one calf without diarrhoea. Overall, 35 out of the 230 (15.2%) samples analyzed carried the Shiga toxin gene: stx1, stx2 or both stx1 and stx2 in their faeces, STEC. Nevertheless, out of 39 pathogenic E. coli positive samples observed, only two carried the Shiga toxin genes: stx1, in a diarrhoeic calf and both stx1 and stx2 in a healthy calf. eaeA and Ehly genes were detected more frequently in the strains from diarrhoeic calves 57.1% and 50.0%, respectively. Clostridium perfringens was detected in twenty-one samples, the most prevalent toxin type of Clostridium perfringens was found to be type A (76.2%). Other bacteria such as Klebsiella spp. and Proteus spp. were present in 1.3% and 0.4% of all samples. Salmonella spp. was not detected. The detection rates of other enteropathogens were 25.7% bovine coronavirus, 11.7% Cryptosporidium spp., 10.4% Eimeria spp., 9.1% group A rotavirus and Giardia spp. 6.1%. We demonstrated the presence of the STEC virulence genes in healthy and diarrhoeic Austrian calves but the importance of the virulence factors of STEC (stx1, stx2, eae and Ehly) in calf diarrhoea and systemic disease is not well defined. Therefore, further studies are necessary to identify reservoirs or potential sources of virulent STEC strains in order to establish control and prevention strategies for STEC associated diseases in animals and humans.

Investigations on Taylorella equigenitalis: cell wall proteins, DNA-fingerprints, plasmids, adhesion and cytotoxicityIn this study 55 strains of Taylorella equigenitalis isolated from horses of four different studs in Austria, and a comparative strain from the Federal Republic of Germany were investigated by different methods. These investigations were carried out with the help of SDS-PAGE, immunoblotting, the analyses of genoms and by proof of plasmids. Furthermore, pathogenic mechanisms such as adhesion or the formation of toxins were investigated in vitro.O n the basis of the results carried out by means of SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting all tested strains of Taylorella equigenitalis were alike, whereas by D N A analyses the strains could be divided into five groups. The comparative strain from the FRG, which clearly differed from the Austrian strains, formed one group all by itself.From three studs, which are related to each other because of an intensive exchange of horses, representatives (n = 5 3 ) of three D N A fingerprint groups were isolated. These three fingerprint patterns were very similar to each other, while the hybridisation patterns from the other two Austrian strains were very different. One of these strains, isolated from a diseased mare, could not he distinguished from the other strain isolated from a clinical healthy stallion from the same stud by this method.Only 47.3 ' %" from the investigated strains showed attachment to HeLa cells, while cell extracts of all of them caused morphological changes of a varying degree of both Yl and Vero cells. There were no connexions between these adhesion-cytotoxicity-properties and the D N A fingerprint groups as well as the studs, respectively.No plasmids were found in the Taylorella equigenitalis strains used in this study. EinleitungContagious equine metritis organism (CEMO), d e r Erreger d e r ,,contagious equine metritis" (CEM), einer Genitalinfektion d e r Pferde, w u r d e erstmals von PLATT u n d U.S.Cupyrighr (:I~.anncc Center Code Statement: 0931 -1793/91/3808-0589$02.50/0