Synonyms

No known synonym

Name of the disease in English

Acute bovine viral diarrhea in calves

The disease in brief

BVD is a viral disease distributed worldwide and consists of two distinct biotypes [Non-Cytopathogenic (NC) and Cytopathogenic] and also of 2 distinct strains (I and I). The clinical forms depend both on the strain type, the biotype and the time of infection (time of gestation, young calf, etc.).

BVD infection usually goes unnoticed, but it can cause an acute disease, bovine viral diarrhea: The virulence of certain strains can explain the acute disease, as can certain circumstances: Calves are only susceptible if they have not received seropositive colostrum, i.e. a herd of seronegative mothers. In the field, this is the case when a calf is born IPI from a heifer raised far from the cows (same farm/several sites or introduced from outside), when a calf returns unsold from the market, etc.

Clinic & diagnosis

The disease is suspected by observing different associations:

- Diarrhea with an ulcerative lesion of the interdigital space (often more than one limb)

-Collective, febrile diarrhea, with congestion of the conjunctival mucous membranes, or ptyalism or watery eyes (epiphora)

-When vaccine prevention of calf diarrhea does not give good results in relation to the valences.

-Collective, febrile respiratory signs, such as discharge or nasal mucosa with erosions associated with an ulcerative lesion of the interdigital space (often more than one limb)

Typical sign of the disease

No description

Pictures

See below

Diagnostic formulas

No description

Differential diagnosis

- E. coli diarrhea in calves - other type of E. coli VX10.1

-VX11.1 coronavirus calf diarrhea

-calf diarrhea due to salmonella VX13

-Acute viral bronchopneumonia -RS26 onset

Confirm a suspicion?

Take blood on anticoagulant (EDTA) from a calf at the start of the disease, and send it to your laboratory to perform a PCR-BVD.

Prognosis and treatment

The prognosis is reserved, because some strains of the virus are very aggressive and can cause hecatombs in the nursery. It is illusory on IPI calves (reform them as soon as possible!). Honestly, these calves infected with BVD must be eliminated from the farm as quickly as possible. If, despite everything, treatment must be attempted, it will be symptomatic and adapted to the condition of each calf, as for any diarrhea:

1-Rehydration: Control of hydration and acid-base balance is essential; an assessment of this is made in the general condition section:

-Calves that are tonic and have a normal sucking reflex can receive oral rehydration, but this is a case that almost does not exist with this disease.

-The other calves are perfused: the volume and composition of the perfused liquid are defined either by clinical examination alone or by laboratory evaluation.

2-Anti-shock treatment

3-Antidiarrheal-antibacterial/oral route

4-Feed the calf:

Prevention

Protecting your herd from the introduction of the BVD virus means:

-Respect the accepted rules for the introduction of cattle concerning the BVD (guarantee of non-ipi cattle)

-Keep in mind that: When pregnant animals are introduced from outside or raised on a site other than the main herd, the calf born to these females can introduce the BVD virus into the main herd.

-Strategic vaccination, if necessary, of mothers before insemination.

References

- Rebhun's disease of dairy cattle; Various DJs, Peek SF 3^rd edition by Ed. Saunders Elsevier