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A parainfluenza 3 virus outbreak on a Dutch Veal Farm
Kuijk, H.; Kleinjan, H.; Tolboom, R...
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Objectives: Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is a multifactorial disease that can affect cattle of all ages but is predominantly seen in young cattle. Affected animals are highly infectious and shed large quantities of virus and bacteria through nasal discharge. The BRD pathogens are endemic in the Dutch cattle population. Calves may have serological antibodies in the absence of clinical disease. These antibodies may come from passive protection (e.g. colostrum) or as an active response to field infection or vaccination. A serological screening of healthy animals for several BRD antibodies, may give more clarity on the importance of these pathogens, as well as an indication to which level antibodies may have an influence on primovaccination. The latter may help to develop an adapted vaccination schedule against respiratory disease.
In this field study, antibody titers against the BRD pathogens Parainfluenza 3 virus (PI3), Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV), Mannheimia haemolytica and Mycoplasma bovis were determined in healthy calves on a Dutch rosé veal farm without major BRD problems. No vaccinations against BRD pathogens were performed on farm. The objective of the study was to determine major infectious risk factors for BRD.
Materials and Methods: Eleven randomly selected calves were blood sampled every 4 weeks from arrival (February 19th, 2019) until week 24 after arrival (August 30th 2019). The eleven sampled calves were situated in a group of 220 animals. This group changed housing once in week 9 after arrival and was always separately housed from other groups on the farm. The group received 3 times an antibiotic treatment for 5 days starting from February 21st, March 4th and March 19th with respectively doxycycline, tilmicosin and doxycycline. All animals were monitored by the farmer and veterinarian as usual on this commercial veal farm.
All the collected samples were analysed at the Centre for Diagnostic Solutions (MSD Animal Health, Boxmeer, The Netherlands) by ELISA for antibodies against Mannheimia haemolytica, BRSV, PI3 and Mycoplasma bovis. An in-house test was used to measure Mannheimia haemolytica and BRSV antibodies, whereas for PI3 and Mycoplasma bovis a commerical kit was used from respectively IDEXX and Bio-X.
Results: Antibodies against all 4 pathogens were present in the selected samples. All the samples (each calf and each time point) were positive for Mannheimia haemolytica antibodies. The average titers for Mannheimia haemolytica increased over time to very high levels at week 20. Most of the samples (91%) were positive for PI3 antibodies. The average titers decreased gradually over time which may reflect the reduction of colostral antibodies over time. The majority of samples (97%) were positive for BRSV antibodies, however most of the BRSV titers (80%) were very low. The average titers also gradually decreased which clearly reflected the reduction of colostral antibodies over time. Only 1 animal was positive for Mycoplasma bovis antibodies at arrival. However, at a later stage, each animal was at least once positive for Mycoplasma bovis antibodies with variable titers. This could mean that the passive protection at arrival was very low and that animals get infected with Mycoplasma bovis over time gradually.
A surprising event at this well managed farm without major BRD problems was a BRD outbreak at week 21 after arrival. The animals were treated for 5 days with chlortetracycline. This outbreak was clearly reflected in the analyzed samples, as titers for PI3 antibodies increased exponentially at week 24 compared to week 20. This confirms PI3 infection as etiology for a BRD outbreak.
Although on this farm BRD complications and potential losses due to the PI3 outbreak could be avoided by antibiotic treatment, the serological analyses convinced the veterinary practitioner and farmer about the important role of PI3 in the BRD complex.
Conclusion: Serological analyses for BRD pathogens on veal farms are essential to understand the infectious pressure and design an appropriate BRD management program including vaccination. Vaccination against PI3 virus could have reduced the complications and potential losses of a BRD outbreak and improved the wellbeing of the animals on this farm.
Keywords: Bovine Respiratory Disease, Parainfluenza 3, veal, Netherlands.
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Affiliation of the authors at the time of publication
MSD Animal Health, Boxmeer, Netherlands;
Dierenkliniek Den Ham, Den Ham, Netherlands.
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