Clinical, laboratory, and microbiological evaluation of neonatal calves with and without omphalopathies

Abstract

Omphalopathies are important causes of morbidity and mortality in neonatal calves, with significant economic and zootechnical impact. The aim of this study was to characterize the clinical, laboratory, and microbiological alterations in calves with different degrees of umbilical involvement, using an adapted scoring system. Twenty calves up to 15 days of age, originating from four farms, were evaluated and classified into three groups: healthy (≤ 4 points), inconclusive (5–7 points), and diseased (> 7 points). The animals underwent physical examination, complete blood count, serum %Brix assessment, and collection of umbilical swabs for bacterial isolation. Significant differences were observed in neutrophil count, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and rectal temperature among groups, with higher values in diseased calves. Bacterial isolation revealed a predominance of Escherichia coli, highlighting the opportunistic nature of this agent. The findings suggest that the NLR, in association with rectal temperature and neutrophil count, is a useful tool for the early identification of omphalopathies in calves.