Intestinal bacterial pathogens and risk factors leading to bacterial diarrhea in camel calves in selected districts of Afar National Regional State, North East Ethiopia

Abstract

To investigate intestinal bacterial pathogens and characterization of Escherichia coli isolates besides assessing management as well as herd and calf-level risk factors associated with camel calf diarrhea, a cross-sectional study was conducted in selected districts of Afar region, Ethiopia. A total of 384 fecal swabs were collected from diarrheic, convalescent and apparently healthy camel calves aged 12 months or younger and processed using standard conventional and molecular assays. The risk factors were assessed during sample collection using questionnaire survey and observational assessment. Out of the 384 camel calves examined, 59.38% were found harboring one or more bacteria at varying levels. Salmonella (31.6%), E. coli (28.2%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (22.2%) were the predominant bacterial species isolated from the gastro intestinal tract (GIT) of apparently healthy calves. On the other hand, E. coli (58.5%), Salmonella (17.1%) and Enterococcus (14.6%) were the most frequently encountered bacterial species in the diarrheic calves. Analysis of the questionnaire data revealed inconsistency in colostrum feeding, poor calf barn sanitation and health management. Age and colostrum feeding were the major risk factors associated with bacterial isolation and occurrence of calf diarrhea. Accordingly, young calves (0-3 months old) that didn't consume colostrum or received small amount of colostrum were at a significantly high risk of being affected with diarrhea (P<0.05). This study supports the assertion of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica (gp3B) and Enterococcus feculis as being the most important pathogens involved in camel calf diarrhea and have important public health implication. Majority strains of the bacterial pathogens were found susceptible to norfloxacin, amoxicillin and gentamicin but resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline in vitro.