Studies on Virus Diarrhea and Mucosal Disease of Cattle

Outbreaks of virus diarrhea and mucosal disease were studied and certain clinical and pathological criteria applied in making a diagnosis of one or the other disease. An attempt was made to verify the diagnosis in each case by serological means in field outbreaks and by transmission of the disease experimentally in calves using post-mortem material.

Serological studies in field outbreaks produced inconclusive results. Quite consistent results were obtained from transmission trials. Experimental calves developed diphasic temperature rises, leukopenia, and oral hyperemia with or without erosions. Specific antibody induced in experimental calves was capable of neutralizing the standard Oregon C24V strain of virus diarrhea. It was therefore apparent that the viral isolates obtained from nine outbreaks in this study were closely related.

It was concluded that there were not two diseases, but one, and that according to priority should be called virus diarrhea.