Investigation of the Role of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) in Undifferentiated Fever of Feedlot Cattle

Authors

  • P. T. Guichon Feedlot Health Management Services (FHMS), P.O. Box 140, # 7 - 87 Elizabeth Street, Okotoks, Alberta T1S 2A2
  • D. Haines University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4
  • G. K. Jim Feedlot Health Management Services (FHMS), P.O. Box 140, # 7 - 87 Elizabeth Street, Okotoks, Alberta T1S 2A2
  • C. W. Booker Feedlot Health Management Services (FHMS), P.O. Box 140, # 7 - 87 Elizabeth Street, Okotoks, Alberta T1S 2A2
  • O. C. Schunicht Feedlot Health Management Services (FHMS), P.O. Box 140, # 7 - 87 Elizabeth Street, Okotoks, Alberta T1S 2A2
  • B. K. Wildman Feedlot Health Management Services (FHMS), P.O. Box 140, # 7 - 87 Elizabeth Street, Okotoks, Alberta T1S 2A2
  • T. J. Pittman Feedlot Health Management Services (FHMS), P.O. Box 140, # 7 - 87 Elizabeth Street, Okotoks, Alberta T1S 2A2
  • T. Perrett Feedlot Health Management Services (FHMS), P.O. Box 140, # 7 - 87 Elizabeth Street, Okotoks, Alberta T1S 2A2
  • P. S. Morley Colorado State University, 3342 Dudley Way, Fort Collins, CO 80526
  • J. Ellis University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4
  • G. Appleyard University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4
  • K. West University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20064757

Keywords:

feedlot production, management practices, undifferentiated fever, bovine respiratory disease, epidemiologic, persistent infection, immunohistochemistry

Abstract

The undifferentiated fever (UF)/bovine respiratory disease (BRD) complex continues to be the single most important infectious disease entity in beef feedlot production. Current management practices have focused on successfully managing this disease complex through the use of prophylactic and therapeutic antimicrobial strategies, as well as vaccination programs targeting common viral and bacterial etiologic agents of feedlot UF/BRD described in the veterinary literature. In spite of these preventive and control strategies, there are substantial amounts of concrete and circumstantial epidemiologic, pathologic, serologic, and immunologic evidence that BVDV infection continues to play an important role in UF/BRD in commercial feedlot production, even though BVDV vaccination programs are in use.

The purpose of the project reported herein was to improve our understanding of the role that BVDV plays in the pathogenesis of pen-level UF/BRD. The specific objectives of this study were: to describe the frequency and character (Type I or Type II) of BVDV infections both persistent infection (PI) and acute infection (AI)) at feedlot arrival and at the time of initial UF diagnosis; to investigate the effects of BVDV PI animals on pen-level animal health and feedlot performance; to investigate the effect of BVDV viremia on subsequent animal health outcome; and to describe the frequency of BVDV identification in postmortem tissue samples using immunohistochemistry.

Cover image of the 39th Conference Proceedings: Three calves lying down in a pasture next to a white fence. Behind them, a rainbow spans over the distant hills. Yellow background.

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Published

2006-09-21

Issue

2006

Section

Research Summaries 3

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