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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Genetics and Animal Breeding » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #325707
Title: Bovine coronavirus antibody titers at weaning negatively correlate with incidence of bovine respiratory disease in the feed yard

Author
item Workman, Aspen
item McDaneld, Tara
item Kuehn, Larry
item Chitko-Mckown, Carol
item LOY, JOHN - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/6/2016
Publication Date: 6/18/2016
Citation: Workman, A.M., McDaneld, T.G., Kuehn, L.A., Chitko-McKown, C.G., Loy, J.D. 2016. Bovine coronavirus antibody titers at weaning negatively correlate with incidence of bovine respiratory disease in the feed yard [abstract]. American Society for Virology 35th Annual Meeting, June 18-22, 2016, Blackburg, VA. Poster No. P9-9.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) is a multifactorial disease caused by complex interactions among viral and bacterial pathogens, stressful management practices and host genetic variability. Although vaccines and antibiotic treatments are readily available to prevent and treat infection caused by many of the common BRDC pathogens, the disease burden remains high. Currently licensed viral vaccines include modified-live or killed formulations of bovine herpesvirus-1, bovine viral diarrhea virus 1 and 2, bovine respiratory syncytial virus, and parainfluenza-3 virus. Not included, is bovine coronavirus (BCV), which has been increasingly implicated as contributing to BRDC and reduced growth performance in feed yard cattle. Therefore, to determine the contribution of BCV to BRDC in fully vaccinated animals, four herds of beef calves (n=890) were serially sampled (serum and nasal swabs) from birth through the first 5 weeks after feed yard entry. While only a small fraction of the calves were found to be shedding BCV during the pre-weaning period, the majority (>88%) were seropositive at feed yard entry. However, significant differences were observed in the mean antibody titers between the four herds, indicating differences in pre-weaning BCV exposure. Furthermore, the mean antibody level for a group of calves at entry was inversely related to the subsequent incidence of BRDC in the feed yard. These results suggest that a BCV vaccine administered before feed yard entry could provide protective immunity against BCV and reduce BRDC incidence in the feed yard.