Infection of cattle with Border disease virus by sheep on communal alpine pastures

Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd. 2013 Feb;155(2):123-8. doi: 10.1024/0036-7281/a000428.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether sheep grazing communal alpine pastures with cattle can transmit Border disease virus (BDV) to cattle. A total of 1170 sheep and 923 cattle were tested for BDV using RT-PCR (sheep) and for pestivirus antibodies using an ELISA (cattle), respectively, before being moved to one of 4 pastures (A, B, C and D). Eight sheep from pasture C were viraemic. 396 of 923 cattle examined before the pasture season were seronegative. The latter were re-examined after the pasture season and 99 were seropositive or indeterminate. Antibody specificity was determined in 25 of these using a serum neutralization test (SNT). BDV infection was confirmed in 10 cattle and was considered likely in 8 others. BVDV infection was confirmed in 4 cattle and considered likely in 3 after pasturing. The study has shown that the transmission of BDV from sheep to cattle is possible on communal alpine pastures.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Border Disease / epidemiology
  • Border Disease / transmission*
  • Border Disease / virology
  • Border disease virus / genetics
  • Border disease virus / immunology*
  • Cattle
  • Cattle Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cattle Diseases / virology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
  • Female
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • Risk Factors
  • Seasons
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Sheep
  • Switzerland / epidemiology
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • RNA, Viral