Characterization of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (B VDV) Genetics, Antibody Response and Viremia from a Group of B VDV Persistently Infected Calves

摘要

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infections cause major problems in the US cattle industry. BVDV persistent infections are the result of fetal infections in the first trimester of pregnancy. Persistently infected animals are a major reservoir of thevirus in nature and are extremely efficient at spreading the virus among cattle populations. Understanding the nature of persistent infections and developing diagnostics and surveillance schemes that eliminate PI animals is vital to the control of BVDV. In this study we look at variations in clinical presentation, viral spread, immune response and viral stability in a large group of calves infected with the same BVDV strain.