12/17/2024:
In the second quarter of 2024, pathological examinations showed an increase in the percentage of calves submitted from dairy farms with proven E. coli infections. E. coli was detected in 26.3 per cent of submissions in the second quarter, compared to 13.0 and 12.9 per cent in the second quarters of 2023 and 2022 respectively.
This increase mainly affected calves in the category aged 0–30 days, with most cases occurring in the first few days after birth. These E. coli cases were diagnosed e.g. in sepsis, pneumonia or polyserositis. In that same quarter, there was also an increase in the percentage of submissions for pathological examination diagnosed with E. coli K99, which is an intestinal pathogen and the causative agent of diarrhoea in calves up to 10 days of age. Due to the fact that E. coli K99 has a different clinical presentation, it was analysed separately and therefore does not play a role in the observed increase in the E. coli statistics mentioned above. The
percentage of cases in which E. coli K99 was diagnosed was 29.6 per cent in the second quarter of 2024, as compared to 15.6 and 9.4 per cent in the second quarters of 2023 and 2022 respectively.
The rising trend in the percentage of calves submitted with E. coli or E. coli K99 infections has not continued in the third quarter of 2024: the number of detections is similar to the number of infections detected in the third quarter of 2023. We have no explanation for the observed increase in the percentage of calves submitted with E. coli or E. coli K99 infections. We will continue to monitor the trend closely.
More information from the Highlights Report Cattle
- Update on BTV situation in the Netherlands
- Moulds on sweet potatoes
- Data analysis: Higher mortality ear-tagged dairy calves and suckler calves
- Health of cattle in the Netherlands, third quarter of 2024
Read the Highlights Report Cattle
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