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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #295956
Title: Diverse outcomes of bovine viral diarrhea virus infections in a herd naturally infected during pregnancy - a case study

Author
item FULTON, ROBERT - Oklahoma State University
item REZABEK, GRANT - Oklahoma State University
item GRANT, RYAN - Oklahoma State University
item Ridpath, Julia
item BURGE, LURINDA - Oklahoma State University

Submitted to: Bovine Practitioner Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/8/2014
Publication Date: 6/1/2014
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/61251
Citation: Fulton, R.W., Rezabek, G.B., Grant, R., Ridpath, J.F., Burge, L.J. 2014. Diverse outcomes of bovine viral diarrhea virus infections in a herd naturally infected during pregnancy - a case study. Bovine Practitioner. 48(2):95-98.

Interpretive Summary: Infection of pregnant animals with bovine viral diarrhea viruses can result in a number of different outcomes or clinical presentations. Because the clinical presentation may differ even in the same outbreak, producers and field veterinarians sometimes don’t realize that BVDV infections are causing a number of different problems in a herd. This report describes a case in which a producer bought two groups of animals in order to increase his herd size. He did not test these animals for BVDV infections before he added them to his herd and therefore didn’t know that one of the purchased calves was infected with BVDV. In the following calving season a number of different clinical presentations were observed including abortions and deformed fetuses. This case illustrates the importance of screening cattle for BVDV before adding them to a herd and of including a BVDV test when diagnosing the cause of reproductive problems.

Technical Abstract: A beef producer purchased Angus crossbred cattle that were pregnant with nursing calves. The purchased cattle, their nursing calves, and subsequent born calves were not initially tested for BVDV. Bovine viral diarrhea virus subtype 2a (BVDV2a) was isolated from an aborted bovine fetus, 6.5 months, with multiple congenital malformations including arthrogryposis, kyphosis, scoliosis, polydactylism, and cardiac over riding aorta. Testing by immunohistochemistry and virus isolation resulted in the detection of a PI yearling co-hort and a PI calf born in the same calving season. The viruses isolated from the fetus, the yearling co-hort, and a PI calf born the same calving season were identical. These malformations observed in the fetus were similar to arthrogryposis multiplexa and contractural arachnodactyly diseases with association with genetic defects in the Angus breed. The owner had purchased cattle that were pregnant and nursing calves, but were not tested for BVDV and with an unknown vaccination history. This case illustrates that suspect malformations should also be tested for BVDV. Also the case underscores the potential for disease after failed or inadequate biosecurity.