Microbiome and metabolome alterations in calves with enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli and dyspeptic diarrhea.

Abstract

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) and dyspeptic diarrhea are significant health concerns in calves, leading to substantial economic losses in the livestock industry. This study investigated the impact of EHEC infection and dyspeptic diarrhea on calf health, focusing on blood parameters, fecal microbiota, and metabolite profiles. Thirty-two holstein calves were divided into three groups: healthy group (C Group), EHEC-infected group (E Group), and indigestion-induced diarrhea group (I Group). Significant alterations in diarrheic calves were noted in peripheral blood parameters, including hematological, biochemical, and blood gas indices. And then fecal microbiota analysis revealed decreased diversity, with reduced Actinobacteria and increased Proteobacteria and Fusobacteriota in E and I group. Metabolomic profiling showed significant reductions in organic acids and lipids in diarrheic calves. The study concludes that microbial and metabolic alterations play critical roles in the pathogenesis of EHEC- and indigestion-induced diarrhea, with Scorzoside identified as a potential biomarker for differentiating healthy calves from those with diarrhea. These findings provide insights for designing targeted interventions to enhance gut health and reduce disease burden in the livestock.