Bovine Viral Diarrhoeal Virus (BVDV), also known as Pestivirus, affects both beef and dairy herds. It affects cattle only and cannot be passed onto humans.

The primary way that this disease is spread is through persistently infected (PI) animals.

When a foetus contracts and survives the infection, the developing immune system does not recognise it as foreign and does not try to kill the disease. As a result the foetus will be infected for life, hence persistently infected (PI), the PI does not produce antibodies to the virus and some barely show signs of disease. Most PI animals often develop severe non responsive infections such as Ringworm, Mastitis, pneumonia, footrot, diarrhoea, Bovine Papular Stomatitis. The PI animals may be recognised as the slow maturing or those that die before 18 months of age, they show a dull coat, they grow at a slower rate than other calves their age, and are prone to illness. It is estimated that half of PI cattle die within the first 12 months of life and the rest often don’t make it to 2 years. However some PIs go on to spread disease and seem relatively healthy.

The PI cow excretes large amounts of the contagious virus through its normal bodily discharges (milk, tears, saliva, urine, semen, faeces). BVDV can survive for short periods in these discharges. Trucking, yarding and herding may accelerate the rate at which the virus spreads.

BVDV affects the immune system and PI animals are prone to ‘secondary infections’ majorly affecting the respiratory system.

BVDV reduces conception and pregnancy rates, delays conception date, causes foetal and embryonic death and causes immunosuppression.

For further information see the DELWP website or contact us at the clinic. To test for BVDV through an ear

notch sample, conact us at the clinic.