Table 4 Differential diagnosis of the main agents of neonatal diarrhoea (modified from Martelli et al. 2013) [28]
From: Swine enteric colibacillosis: diagnosis, therapy and antimicrobial resistance
| Disease/Etiological Agent | Age | Diarrhoea | Gross Lesions | Lethality | Laboratory diagnostic methods |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Colibacillosis E.coli (ETEC) | Most commonly from 0 to 4 days |
Yellowish, grey or slightly pink alkaline pH | Distension, congestion of small intestine. Stomach full of curdled milk | Can reach 70% |
Culture/isolation. Typing of isolates usually by PCR Histopathology |
|
Clostridiosis C.perfrigens type C |
PA: 1 days A: 3 days SA: 7 days C: 10–14 days |
PA: watery yellowish bloody A: brown bloody SA: watery grey/yellow C: yellow/grey |
Jejunum and ileum mostly involved. Haemorrhagic enteritis Bloody ascitis | 100% in PA and A forms |
Culture/isolation. Typing/toxin identification. Histopathology |
|
Clostridiosis C.perfrigens type A | Generally diarrhoea is observed within 48 h of birth | Mucoid, pink without blood |
Jejunum and ileum mostly involved Pasty content Presence of necrotic membrane | Generally low if not complicated |
Culture/isolation. Typing/toxin identification. Histopathology |
|
Clostridiosis Clostridium difficile | In the first week of life | Pasty and yellow | Mesocolon oedema. Typhlocolitis with focal erosions | Variable. Up to 50% |
Culture/isolation. Toxin identification |
|
Coronavirus PEDV TGEV | All |
Watery yellow/white/grey Watery yellow, white, grey, greenish; acid pH |
Empty stomach. Small intestine was thinned and congested |
Differs between strains and between naïve and endemic infected herds. Very high (80–100%) in suckling piglets belonging to naïve infected herds |
PCR Histopathology Viral isolation |
|
Rotaviral enteritis Rotavirus | From 1 to 5 weeks | Watery, sometime pasty. Acid pH |
Small intestine was thinned. Milk in the stomach |
Low (in endemic infected herds) <20% |
PCR Histopathology Viral isolation |
|
Coccidiosis Isospora suis |
Not before 5 days. More frequent around 14 days | Yellow and pasty. Alkaline pH | Small intestine. Enteritis with fibrino-necrotic membrane | Very low or not observed | Microscopic evaluation after flotation |