Bovine Viral Diarrhea
(BVD)
Dan Laufenberg
Amanda Wilding
Chuck Nora
The Case
 25 Original Angus Cattle
 5 abortions,1 stillborn,2 ataxic, 2
early neonatal deaths
 1 new purchased bred heifer brought
in that died with high fever, diarrhea
w/blood, sores in mouth
Herd
 Cows became anorexic and had
diarrhea after introduction of heifer
 Cows were bought at sale and
vaccinated by Mr. Lang himself without
previous records
Timeline of Events
Vaccinated 25
Cows
4 months heifer
dies
Cows ain’t
doin’ right
Abortions
Day
0
Introduced
Heifer
1-3 Months Late-Term
Mr. Lang Vaccination Program
For Herd:
 Killed BVD
 Lepto
 7-way Clostridia
 Modified-live
IBR/PI3
New Heifer’s PreSale Vacc:
 IBR/BVD/BRSV/PI3
 Blackleg
 Lepto
 Entertoxemia C&D
Irrelevant Vaccinations/Diseases




Lepto
7-way Clostridia
Modified-live IBR/PI3IBR/BRSV/PI3
Entertoxemia C&D
Symptoms of BVD





High fever (107-110° F)
Profuse diarrhea
Oral ulcers
Anorexia
Suppresses all immune function
Fetal Symptoms of BVD
 Death of fetus if infected in the first 120
days of pregnancy
 Abortion
 Congenital malformations of nervous
system and eyes; blindness and
underdeveloped brains
 Skeletal defects
 Fetus does not recognize BVD therefore it is
unable to fight the virus, resulting in death.
Cow survives if vaccinated.
Conclusions
 BVD would explain the abnormal
abortions in Mr. Lang’s herd.
 The new heifer must have been
infected with BVD before her
vaccinations (rendering them
useless.)
 The herd was improperly vaccinated.
A necessary 3-week booster was not
administered.
What Mr. Lang Should Do
 Segregate all new animals
 Follow vaccination instructions in the
future
 Promptly remove fetuses and
placentas as they may carry the
disease
 Test animals; cull those with 4x
elevated titers 30 days apart
Resources
 http://www.clemson.edu/edisto/beefdb/bc-7005.htm
 www.edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vm023
 http://www.pfizerah.com