Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) is a highly contagious, infectious respiratory disease that is caused by Bovine Herpesvirus-1 (BVH-1). It can affect young and older cattle.
In addition to causing respiratory disease, this virus can cause conjunctivitis, abortions, encephalitis, and generalized systemic infections.
IBR is characterized by acute inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.
After the first infection, the virus is never fully removed. It stays behind in nerve cells in the brain as a life-long latent (hidden) infection. However, at times of stress, the virus can begin to multiply again and maybe re-excreted, generally from the nose and the eyes; an animal that has been infected can never be considered safe.
The purchase of infected animals is the main source of new infections.
Diseases caused by the virus can be serious; therefore it is a barrier to international trade. Cattle with BoHV-1antibody cannot be exported to BoHV-1-free countries. Neither can they be accepted into the artificial insemination (AI) centers.
Symptoms; Fever, Coughing, Depression, Loss of appetite, Hyperaemia of the mucosae, Mucosa lesions, Nasal discharge, Conjunctivitis, Drop in milk production, Infertility, Abortion
There is no direct treatment for viral diseases. Infected animals should be isolated from the rest of the herd and treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics for secondary infections if necessary.
Carrier cattle should be identified and removed from the herd.
Control of the disease is based on the use of vaccines. . Since BVH-1 is a ubiquitous, highly contagious virus, vaccination is recommended as soon as passive immunity in calves has disappeared, usually around four to six months of age. Currently available vaccines for IBR include modified-live-virus (MLV) vaccines and inactivated or killed-virus (VK) vaccines.
The timing of vaccination is at least as important as the choice of the vaccine. Since maximum protection does not generally occur until approximately three weeks after vaccination, calves should be vaccinated two to three weeks before weaning at which time they start to be at risk of infection. Single vaccination will reduce the severity of the disease, but not provide complete protection.
For more information Talk to a vet doctor
