
Tag Archives Animal virology

Canadian Food Inspection Agency seeks proposals for vaccine matching
Research: News Roundup from the September 30, 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) seeks proposals from small businesses on developing a computer model that predicts which vaccine strain would best control foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in cattle, sheep and swine. Foot-and-mouth is highly contagious, making it a serious threat to the agriculture industry. Viral strains can be stored in vaccine banks, but right […] Read more

BVD testing in cattle
How cattle can be exposed and what measures to take if they test positive
BVD (bovine viral diarrhea) virus is a tricky pathogen that can affect cattle in different ways. It can cause abortion, mummification of a fetus, birth defects, stillborn full-term calves, normal-looking calves with immune deficiencies, and acute or chronic illness. BVD is an indirect cause of many other types of disease because it has adverse effects […] Read more

BRSV (bovine respiratory syncytial virus) is a deadly viral cause of pneumonia
Health: Know the signs and what actions you should take if you suspect the virus
I am sure most cattlemen have had the odd diagnosis of BRSV in their herds over the years, either individual animals or outbreaks, generally in cattle under one year of age. BRSV is suspected with pneumonias that do not respond to antibiotics or produce lots of fluids and frothing as well as runny eyes. Temperatures […] Read more

Malignant catarrhal fever — learn about it; guard against it
Animal Health: Most sheep in North America are assumed to be carriers
“It took her piece by piece. Without a doubt it is the most devastating (cattle) disease we have ever dealt with,” says a member of a farm family who finally had to euthanize a valuable young purebred cow after two months of intensive therapy and investigation. Laboratory tests confirmed malignant catarrhal fever (MCF). The only […] Read more

Calves from vaccinated dams did better in the feedlot
Canadian study looked at protection from respiratory and viral diseases
A uniquely Canadian study provides the first comprehensive look at feedlot health outcomes for calves from dams vaccinated before conception with Express FP. Dr. Tye Perrett, a managing partner with Feedlot Health Management Services, Okotoks, Alta., oversaw the project that reviewed Canadian feedlot records on 1.4 million calves born between 2007 and 2014 to compare […] Read more

Pre-breeding vaccinations for cows and bulls
Health with Heather Smith Thomas
Some diseases affect reproduction, interfering with the cow’s ability to carry a calf to term. It’s best to try to prevent these diseases by making sure cows and bulls have adequate immunity before breeding season. These vaccinations will vary, depending on specific risks in a certain herd, and timing will vary, depending on the calving/breeding […] Read more

Intranasal vaccines get around maternal antibodies
Animal Health: Maternal antibodies unpredictable
Calves are born without fully functioning immune systems, making them reliant on passive immunity from maternal antibodies for disease protection. As a result, we assumed for a long time that vaccinating calves at an early age was a complete waste of time and money as the maternal antibodies would attack any pathogens introduced in the […] Read more

Vet Advice: Emergency response is about learning the right things
Nothing in the beef industry flames fear more intensely than the spectre of foreign animal disease and the inevitable shutdown of export markets. The emergence of BSE and collapse of Canada’s beef markets in 2003 shaped a decade-long economic slump that exposed an industry unprepared. Emergencies in the cattle business cover the spectrum of missed […] Read more

Intranasal vaccination could protect young calves from BRD
News Roundup from the May 2016 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a major animal health problem in feedlot cattle. Presently, BRD makes up about 65 to 80 per cent of feedlot diseases and 45 to 75 per cent of deaths in many lots. The financial toll of BRD on North America’s cattle industry is more than $1 billion per year. Previously, […] Read more
Animal Health: Be skeptical about linking BLV with cancer in humans
News Roundup from the December 2015 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Bovine leukemia virus (BLV or leukosis) is a bovine retrovirus that targets lymphocytes (white blood cells). It is present in many parts of the world, including Canada, the United States, and Eastern Europe. Infection with the virus usually doesn’t present with clinical signs, but around 30 per cent of the infected animals experience an abnormal […] Read more