North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) Practice Test 2025 - Free NAVLE Practice Questions and Study Guide

The presence of mucoid brown diarrhea, fever, and foul odor in a calf is indicative of salmonellosis. This bacterial infection is caused by Salmonella spp. and is characterized by diarrhea that can vary in appearance, often described as mucoid or watery, and it can have a distinct foul smell due to the bacterial proliferation and degradation of intestinal contents.

The combination of symptoms—particularly fever along with the diarrhea—suggests an infectious process that is systemic as well as localized to the gastrointestinal tract. In cases of salmonellosis, calves often show significant weight loss and dehydration, along with variations in fecal consistency that can be particularly severe.

Coccidiosis, while it does lead to diarrhea in calves, typically does not present with a foul odor or systemic fever that is as pronounced as in salmonellosis. Neonatal enteritis could also present with diarrhea but often lacks the strong odor and the fever aspect that salmonellosis displays. Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) is primarily a viral disease that can cause diarrhea but typically presents with different clinical signs and does not usually lead to the same foul-smelling diarrhea or the specific combination of mucoid and brown coloration that is seen in salmonellosis.

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