Detection of Bovine Herpesvirus 1 from Semen by Real-time PCR to Prevent the Spread of Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis Infection

Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) can be transmitted by livestock seeds and semen, through the process of artificial insemination. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the presence of the Bovine Herpesvirus 1 (BHV1) in semen through artificial insemination and breeding centers of Indonesia. The current study aimed to detect the presence of the virus in semen as a source of IBR disease transmission in Indonesia. A total of 27 semen samples from artificial insemination and breeding centers (Sembawa, Lembang, Ungaran, and Sleman) in Indonesia have been examined and identified using the real-time PCR (qPCR) technique. The result showed that all samples were negative to BHV1. This indicated that semen from Ungaran, Sembawa, Sleman, and Lembang was safe to be used as a semen source for artificial insemination.

Overview of Cattle Diseases Listed Under Category C, D or E in the Animal Health Law for Which Control Programmes Are in Place Within Europe

The COST action “Standardising output-based surveillance to control non-regulated diseases of cattle in the European Union (SOUND control),” aims to harmonise the results of surveillance and control programmes (CPs) for non-EU regulated cattle diseases to facilitate safe trade and improve overall control of cattle infectious diseases. In this paper we aimed to provide an overview on the diversity of control for these diseases in Europe. A non-EU regulated cattle disease was defined as an infectious disease of cattle with no or limited control at EU level, which is not included in the European Union Animal health law Categories A or B under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2002. A CP was defined as surveillance and/or intervention strategies designed to lower the incidence, prevalence, mortality or prove freedom from a specific disease in a region or country. Passive surveillance, and active surveillance of breeding bulls under Council Directive 88/407/EEC were not considered as CPs. A questionnaire was designed to obtain country-specific information about CPs for each disease. Animal health experts from 33 European countries completed the questionnaire. Overall, there are 23 diseases for which a CP exists in one or more of the countries studied. The diseases for which CPs exist in the highest number of countries are enzootic bovine leukosis, bluetongue, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, bovine viral diarrhoea and anthrax (CPs reported by between 16 and 31 countries). Every participating country has on average, 6 CPs (min–max: 1–13) in place. Most programmes are implemented at a national level (86%) and are applied to both dairy and non-dairy cattle (75%). Approximately one-third of the CPs are voluntary, and the funding structure is divided between government and private resources. Countries that have eradicated diseases like enzootic bovine leukosis, bluetongue, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and bovine viral diarrhoea have implemented CPs for other diseases to further improve the health status of cattle in their country. The control of non-EU regulated cattle diseases is very heterogenous in Europe. Therefore, the standardising of the outputs of these programmes to enable comparison represents a challenge.

SEROPREVALENCE OF INFECTIOUS BOVINE RHINOTRACHEITIS (IBR) IN NORTH EASTERN (NE) STATES OF INDIA

Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) is an infectious disease caused by BoHV-1 and belongs to the Herpesviridae family. IBR is endemic in India including north eastern states of the country. Hence the study was undertaken to understand the seroprevalence of IBR in north eastern parts of the country. A total of 3125 cattle (Holstein Friesian crossbred) serum samples from 35 districts of five north eastern states (Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Sikkim) of India were screened for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus antibodies using Avidin biotin ELISA. A two-stage random sampling methodology was followed for the collection of samples. Results from the present study revealed that the overall seropositivity was reported around 29.50% while the highest and lowest seropositivity of 43.39% and 16.66% were reported in the states of Sikkim and Assam respectively, followed by Mizoram (42.16%), Manipur (29.86%) and Meghalaya (27.40%). Cattle of higher age groups showed the highest seropositivity compared to younger ones. A higher percent of IBR antibodies in cattle of NE states is a cause of concern and a detailed study on IBR prevalence comprising of a large number of the bovine population need to be undertaken.

Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis Control Program in Slovakia

As for other European countries, IBR is a significant cause of financial losses in cattle in Slovakia. The State Veterinary and Food Administration of the Slovak Republic prepared a voluntary IBR control program for cattle farms in 1995, which was implemented in 1996. In subsequent years, 48-119 farms/year enrolled in the voluntary IBR control program. Since the end of 2006, the IBR control program became compulsory by law for all cattle farms in Slovakia. Serology was used to identify infected animals using a conventional ELISA amongst non-vaccinated cattle and a gE specific ELISA in cattle vaccinated with marker vaccine. Eradication is based on culling when the serological prevalence of IBR in a herd is below 15%. When the prevalence is higher than 15%, the culling is combined with the application of a marker vaccine. A radical method where all animals are slaughtered is used with the agreement of the farmer when appropriate, especially for very small herds. Depending upon the selected eradication method, the antibody positive cattle can be gradually replaced in the herds to eliminate financial losses due to the disease. The movement of cattle is under strict control requiring a health certificate issued by the state veterinary authority and the movement must be recorded in the central livestock registry. The next step for herds is monitoring to achieve official IBR-free status. Based on the official figures from The State Veterinary and Food Administration, 60.2% herds were free of IBR in Slovakia in 2020.

Epizootic situation on IRT of cattle in the territory of the Moscow and Tver regions

Currently, despite all the measures taken by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation and the Rosselkhoznadzor to regionalize the territory of the Russian Federation for infectious animal diseases, the status of subjects for many of them has not yet been determined. As of March 09, 2021, the status of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis has not been determined for 69 subjects of the country, including for the Moscow and Tver regions. At the same time, the official veterinary literature indicates the widespread distribution of cattle IRT in our country. In fact, the current epizootic situation for this disease both on the territory of the whole country and in individual subjects remains unknown. In this paper, we tried to clarify the epizootic situation of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis in the Moscow and Tver regions of the Russian Federation using active monitoring methods. As a result of sample studies in farms located on the territory of these regions, it was found that the results of serological studies do not always correlate with the status of vaccination of animals. In some farms, animals are vaccinated against cattle IRT, however, the results of serological studies in these farms indicate that the young animals in these farms are not immune to IRT. This fact clearly indicates the weak effectiveness of anti-epizootic measures aimed at specific prevention of infectious rhinotracheitis of cattle in individual livestock farms and the lack of a unified approach to the organization of this issue as a whole. Nevertheless, we found that the livestock farms in which the circulation of the cattle IRT virus is registered are not evenly located on the territory of the surveyed regions. Such farms are located in the north, north-west, south-west and east of the Moscow Region. In the Tver region - in the south-west, north-west, north-east and east of the region.

Colostral immunity as an analytical factor in predicting the development of acute respiratory viral infections in calves

To reduce the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections in cattle, routine vaccination of mother cows is carried out. There is a direct dependence of the passive immunity level in calves on the vaccination efficacy in cows. The paper presents the results of a study of colostral immunity in calves and post-vaccination immunity in cows against the agents of acute respiratory viral infections in agricultural facilities located on the territory of the Ural and Volga Federal Districts. In the farms under study (n = 10), cattle are vaccinated with inactivated vaccines: “COMBOVAC” and “COMBOVAC-R” (OOO Vetbiokhim, Russia), “HIPRABOVIS® 4” (Laboratorios Hipra, S. A., Spain). The study of postvaccinal immunity level in cows showed that the levels of antibodies to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (5.3–8.0 log2), bovine viral diarrhea virus (3.5–4.8 log2), bovine parainfluenza-3 virus (6.8–8.5 log2) and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (4.2-4.5 log2) in cattle confer protection. When evaluating the results of serological diagnostics of passive immunity in calves to acute respiratory viral infections, it was found that the level of colostral antibodies in them is lower than the level of post-vaccination antibodies in cows: to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus by 34.2–58.8%; to bovine diarrhea virus by 37.5–45.0%; to bovine parainfluenza-3 virus by 14.7–35.4 and to bovine respiratory syncytial virus by 23.5-42.2%. To ensure epizootic favourable situation, it is proposed to adjust the schedules of vaccination against bovine diseases in herds, infected by acute respiratory viral infections for dairy farms under study.

Impact of Overuse and Sexually Transmitted Infections on Seminal Parameters of Extensively Managed Bulls

Natural service remains the main breeding method in extensively managed beef herds. Although the bull might be the most important factor in determining herd fertility, its importance has been largely overlooked, focusing instead on female fertility. Management of the bull is critical to maximize the opportunities for cow conception. Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) and bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) are infections associated with reduced conception rates. This study aimed to determine the effect of both IBR and BVD infection, and bull: cow ratio on seminal parameters in the bull and herd fertility. The presence of antibodies to IBR and BVD, seminal parameters (volume, concentration, mass, and progressive motility), and herd fertility were analyzed in 158 extensively managed bulls. Sperm concentration and mass motility, as well as herd fertility, were significantly lower in BVD-positive bulls. No significant differences were found between IBR-positive and -negative bulls in any reproductive parameter. Sperm concentration was negatively affected by BVD infection in both Charolais and Limousin bulls, whereas mass motility and herd fertility were reduced in Limousin bulls only. No differences were observed in the cow: bull ratio between BVD+ and BVD- bulls. A significant negative correlation was detected between the number of cows per bull and herd fertility, which was negatively affected when herds had more than 40 cows per bull. In conclusion, BVD and bull overuse negatively affect the reproductive performance of the herd.