Bovine Respiratory Disease in Finland

Abstract

Materials and methods The study was conducted in 1998-1999. It included 18 cattle herds which had problems with bovine respiratory tract disease complex. Four to five diseased calves from each farm were chosen for closer examination. A thorough clinical examination and tracheobronchial lavage were done. Blood samples were taken from the calves at the acute phase and 3-4 weeks later. In addition, 10 blood samples from cattle of different age were taken from the same herds. Because bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) does not exist in Finland and also bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV) is very rare, serum samples were tested for antibodies to bovine parainfluenza virus3 (PIV-3), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), bovine coronavirus (BCV), bovine adenovirus-3 (BAV-3) and bovine adenovirus-7 (BAV-7). Some samples were also tested for antibodies to BVDV. ELISA-test was used for antibodies against PIV-3, BRSV, BCV and BVDV. Virus neutralization test was used for BAV-3 and BAV-7. Bacteria were cultured from lavage fluid and in vitro susceptibility for selected antimicrobials (ampicillin, penicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, gentamicin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin) tested. One calf was autopsied.