Epidemiology of endemic bovine viral infections

Abstract

Epidemiology unravels the mechanisms of disease distribution in populations and relates them to disease control strategies. There are concepts of viral epidemiology which impact on the diagnosis and handling of outbreaks, vaccination decisions, and discussions of control of bovine viral diseases.

Consideration of the epidemiology of bovine viral diseases requires a temporary shift in thinking to allow control considerations to overshadow individual treatment. Control emphasis is necessary because few viral chemotherapeutic agents are available and because viral infections are acute and subtle, so effective individual treatment (if available) would likely be too late. In addition, the economic impact of viral infections frequently follows inapparent primary infection and is not observed until after the viral infection has subsided.