Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) infections--control and eradication programme in breeding herds in Slovenia

A Slovenian BVD control and eradication programme was initiated in 1994, and the results from testing of bovine herds for antigen and antibodies in 1996 are presented. Samples originating from breeding herds, breeding herds for young bulls, and insemination stations were tested by antigen or antibody ELISA, or by PCR. Out of 7968 samples from 354 herds we found 18% of the animals antibody-positive. In one region situated in the north-east of Slovenia we found the herds to be almost nearly free of BVDV infections (5% prevalence). No positive antigen ELISA findings were done in 374 blood samples from recruitment herds for young bulls, whereas two out of 206 sera were investigated by PCR-reacted positive. The differences in seroprevalence found between regions is thought to be caused by differences in summer pasturing and husbandry practices.     

Bovine virus diarrhea (BVD)--diagnostic determination of cattle with persistent BVD virus infection

Buffy coats of 1074 cattle were examined for regard to BVD virus using the usual long-termed-cultivation (LTC) in bovine kidney monolayer cell cultures (7 days) whereby 268 carriers could be detected. Serum samples collected simultaneously from the same cattle were examined by means of a short-termed-cultivation (STC) of only two days in stationary macroplate cell cultures. Using this method only 172 carriers were found. Amongst 96 serum samples from animals positive in LTC of buffy coat leucocytes and negative in the STC further 19 cattle were found to be viraemic when the sera were tested by LTC, too. Thus 77 of a total of 268 serum samples (28.7%) taken from viraemic cattle turned out to be negative in the STC as well as the LTC. These results are discussed with regard to the antibody level and the age of the animals. The reduced sensitivity is considered in relation to the favourable time and cost factor. STC of serum samples in connection with the serological results proved to be valuable for the examination of cattle of more than 6 months of age but not for calves below 6 months.     

Bovine viral diarrhea in a newborn calf

Bovine viral diarrhea virus was believed to be the cause of ill-thrift since birth, resulting in death of a Holstein calf. Bovine viral diarrhea virus was isolated from Peyer's patches and mesenteric lymph nodes, but serum neutralizing antibodies were not detected. The lymphoid depletion and myeloid suppression seen in this case may be a factor in the immune system dysfunction described for bovine viral diarrhea. Typical ulcerative lesions within the alimentary tract were not observed.     

Bovine viral diarrhea infection in pregnant swine

Twenty pregnant gilts (5 groups of 4) were infected experimentally with 1 of 4 strains of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) administered intranasally-orally. Blood specimens were taken from the gilts on postinfection day (PID) 7 and cultured for virus. Serum specimens, obtained on PID 21 and at termination of the experiment, were tested for neutralizing antibodies. At 90 to 112 days of gestation, the gilts were euthanatized and their fetuses were examined for evidence of intrauterine infection. Evidence of infection was demonstrated in all of the gilts, either by isolation of BVDV at PID 7 or subsequently by detection of neutralizing antibody titers. Intrauterine infection was confirmed in one of 20 gilts by isolation of BVDV, detection of neutralizing antibodies, and demonstration of microscopic lesions in the fetuses. The microscopic lesions were characterized as nonsuppurative meningitis and choroiditis. Clinical signs of disease were not seen in the infected fetuses. Of 8 gilts exposed to strains of BVDV pathogenic for cattle, 1 gilt developed intrauterine infection, 2 gilts were found barren, and 3 gilts had significantly fewer fetuses than copora lutea.     

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection in relation to fertility in heifers

In this study, blood serum and leukocyte samples were collected from 400 Holstein heifers, all of which appeared to be healthy. Antibodies (Ab) against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) were detected in 57 serum samples, and BVDV antigen (Ag) was detected in 38 leukocyte samples. There were statistically important differences between the average first insemination ages (FIT) of the BVDV (Ag-/Ab+) heifers (p<0.0001) (pregnant p<0.05, nonpregnant p<0.0001) and BVDV (Ag-/Ab-) heifers. The average conception rates (CR) of BVDV (Ag-/Ab+) heifers and BVDV (Ag-/Ab-) heifers were not significant statistically. There were statistically important differences in average FIT between persistent infected (PI) BVDV (Ag+/Ab-) heifers (p<0.0001; PI pregnant p<0.05, PI nonpregnant p<0.0001) and BVDV (Ag-/Ab-) heifers. No significant differences in average CR between PI BVDV (Ag+/Ab-) heifers and BVDV (Ag-/Ab-) heifers were found. The differences in average FIT between BVDV (Ag+/Ab+; p<0.0001; nonpregnant p<0.0001) and BVDV (Ag-/Ab-) heifers were important statistically. Although there were no BVDV (Ag+/Ab+) pregnant heifers, the differences in average CR between BVDV (Ag+/Ab+) pregnant heifers and BVDV (Ag-/Ab-) heifers were found to be statistically important (p<0.0001). We conclude that fertility is affected in heifers with BVDV (Ag-/Ab+, Ag+/Ab- and Ag+/Ab+).     

牦牛病毒性腹泻病研究进展

牦牛感染牛病毒性腹泻病毒(Bovine viral diarrhea virus,BVDV)后常发生胃肠炎等消化系统疾患和呼吸系统疾患、繁殖障碍,造成机体损伤,给牦牛产业发展造成一定影响。基于5"-UTR的差异将BVDV分为BVDV-I和BVDV-II两种基因型,牦牛源BVDV的主要基因型为BVDV-1型;根据BVDV对宿主细胞的致病性,分为致细胞病变型(Cy-topathogenic,CP)和非致细胞病变型(Non-cytopathogenic,NCP)两个生物型,牦牛源BVDV既有CP型又有NCP型,且这两种生物型能相互转化。牦牛生活的高原地区风、鸟类的迁徙等因素可能都会导致牦牛BVD传播范围广泛,牛群中大量的BVDV携带者和牦牛特殊而又复杂的生态系统导致了BVDV种间传播的巨大潜力,影响着牦牛产业的健康发展和养殖经济收益。针对本病在牦牛群中的感染流行等情况未发现相关详细的研究报道,笔者就牦牛BVD病原学、流行病学调查、实验室诊断、综合防治等方面研究进展情况进行整理,供同仁在研究和防控中参考借鉴。     

Perspectives on BVD eradication in Germany

Infections with the bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD) virus are endemic with high seroprevalence in many countries of the European Union (EU). The significant economic damage caused by BVD infections has led to a paradigm shift with respect to a possible control. In some EU Member States control programmes have been initiated mostly on a voluntary basis and some compulsory. The most important element of all control efforts is the identification and removal of persistently infected (PI) animals. The subsequent steps depend on the respective seroprevalence and cattle density. Sweden was one of the first countries to introduce a national control program (1993), that is now being used as standard procedure in other countries. The starting position for the program was comparatively favorable since the country's cattle density is low and vaccination was not allowed. BVD infected herds were screened using a bulk milk ELISA and subsequently the PI animals in positive herds were identified and removed. The goal of the control program is the cattle population's certified freedom of BVD. The Scandinavian model is not applicable for most regions of Germany, since BVD virus prevalence and cattle density are unfavorably high. Here the primary goal is to minimize the economic losses caused by BVD and to lower the infective pressure. Therefore a Federal guideline was issued and some Federal States have provided additional regulations for compensation of PI animals and additional costs, respectively. Primary goal of the guideline is the eradication of PI animals and the systematic vaccination of all female offspring in order to avoid further economic damage and the emergence of new PI animals in case of re-infection of the herd. Goal of this strategy is the BVD unsuspicious herd with a high immune status.     

Evaluation of producer and consumer benefits resulting from eradication of bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) in Scotland, United Kingdom

In this paper we evaluated the distributional effects on actors in the milk market of a hypothetical programme to eradicate bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) from the Scottish dairy herd. With this in mind, we applied an economic welfare methodology which utilizes data on price, on output quantity, on elasticities of supply and demand and on simulated cost and yield effects of an eradication programme. Our analysis is based on Markov-chain Monte Carlo simulation of BVD spread in the dairy herd. We found that consequent upon the eradication of the disease milk yield per cow increased for all herd sizes in Scotland whereas milk price received by farmers fell. Consequently, milk consumers gained around pound11 million in discounted economic surplus and producers with infected herds gained around pound39 million whereas producers with un-infected herds lost around pound2 million in discounted surplus. On balance, however, the eradication programme generated around pound 47 million in discounted economic gain for Scotland. We found that the results are sensitive to changes in yield gains made by owners of the infected herd.     

Bovine viral diarrhea virus in New World camelids.

A virus known to cause multiple problems in cattle, bovine viral diarrhea virus, was isolated from 3 different cases in New World camelids. Virus isolation, immunoperoxidase staining, and fluorescent antibody staining were used to detect the virus. The herds involved were screened for antibody titers to bovine viral diarrhea and virus isolation from the buffy coat. Bovine viral diarrhea virus should be considered as a cause of death in young and old New World camelids.     

Bovine viral diarrhea virus subgenotype 1b in water buffalos (Bubalus bubalis) from Brazil

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Serological studies have characterized the presence of the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection in water buffalo herds worldwide. However, the...