In Practice 22: 176-187 (2000)
© 2000 British Veterinary Association

Bovine virus diarrhoea virus - strategic decisions for diagnosis and control

¹ The Department of Veterinary Pathology, The Royal Veterinary College
² RVC
³ Department of its Animal Health Group, BCVA

IN the 15 years since the last In Practice article on bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV) (Brownlie 1985), there has been an explosion in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of viral replication and mutation, especially those related to biotypic variation. Hand in hand has come a greater understanding of the importance of BVDV as a primary pathogen of cattle, particularly as a cause of reproductive loss. A BVDV vaccine is now available in the UK, giving better prospects for protection against infection. However, for the veterinary clinician, the strategic decisions regarding diagnosis, control and vaccination continue to pose difficult dilemmas and it is on these issues that this article focuses.

Note:

The authors' considerable gratitude goes to Dr Peter Nettleton who read the manuscript and made invaluable comments. His help in simplifying this complex subject is much appreciated. They also gratefully acknowledge the work and advice, over recent years, of Dr Geoff Pritchard and Dr George Gunn on the use and interpretation of bulk milk samples in the UK. This article contains the distillation of discussions with a large number of colleagues within the profession; their contribution is acknowledged and appreciated.