PREVALENCE OF BUXTONELLA SULCATA IN NEONATAL AND YOUNG CALVES IN AL-NASIR STATION AND SOME REGIONS IN BAGHDAD (AL-SHUALA SND GAZALIYA)

Neonatal diarrhea of calves is a major cause of economic loss in rearing young calves. Buxtonella sulcata may be a potential cause of diarrhea in these animals. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of B. sulcata infection and its role in diarrhea in neonatal and young calves. A total of 250 fecal samples were collected from calves (110 male and 140 female, ages ranged 1-30 day, among which 98 had diarrhea). Two laboratory tests were used to detect B. sulcata cysts and trophozoites in fecal samples which are direct wet film method and ether-formalin sedimentation method. The overall rate of infection was 43.2%. There is a significant difference in the rate and intensity of infection between calves with and without diarrhea. Calves over 10 days old had higher rate of infection than calves under 10 day old with significant difference. B. sulcata may be a potential cause of diarrhea in neonatal and young calves when there is suitable conditions in the intestinal lumen that promote the parasite multiplication