Risk factors of diarrhea in small ruminants in Kuwait

Background: Diarrhea is the most severe disease affecting small ruminant farms, even though there is continuous progress in the control and prevention strategies. Aims: This study aimed to identify some of the risk factors associated with diarrhea in small ruminants in Kuwait. Methods: Faecal samples from 556 animals (334 sheep and 222 goats) were collected and examined for different enteropathogens. The collected data from animals and herd management were finally analysed. Results: Statistical analysis identified that age (pre-weaned; P=0.022, OR=2.38), herd size (large; P=0.037, OR=1.7), and season (dry; P=0.022, OR=2.39) were as non-infectious risk factors of the diarrhea occurrence. It was found that Escherichia coli K99 (P=0.000, OR=7.7), Cryptosporidium spp. (P=0.000, OR=586), and Eimeria spp. (P=0.000, OR=2.97) were reported more frequently in diarrheic animals than non-diarrheic ones. Conclusion: Pre-weaned small ruminants reared in the large herd were more susceptible to diarrhea. Escherichia coli K99, Cryptosporidium spp., and Eimeria spp. were the most predominant enteropathogens causing diarrhea in small ruminants in Kuwait. Diarrhea was more common in dry season than in wet season.