Species
Persistently Infected Calves: The Typhoid Marys of Your Herd
Persistently Infected Calves: The Typhoid Marys of Your Herd

Persistently Infected Calves: The Typhoid Marys of Your Herd

Quietly Spreading the Virus for a Lifetime

PI calves can be devastating to a herd. One in 12 herds have a BVDV-positive case, but they might not be aware of it.1

An icon of cells representing cattle fetus being infected with BVDV.

Calves become infected while in the uterus

Cow heads in grey with eyes crossed out showing those infected with BVDV

About 50% of PI calves will be “poor doers” and die before about 1 year of age

Chart in dark grey showing the downward trend of a cows immune system with BVDV

The virus suppresses the immune system, making calves more susceptible to other diseases

Grey image of a cow and spy glass showing how it's hard to see if a calf has BVDV

Other PI calves often show no signs of disease when they’re born

One cow in grey and multiple cows in blue showing how BVDV can be spread

They’ll continue to shed the virus daily, exposing other cattle

Circle with 70-100% in it showing how many cows can be infected with BVDV from a PI calf

70-100% of non-vaccinated or immunocompromised cattle become infected when exposed to a PI calf2,3

Signs There May Be PI Calves in Your Herd

  • Increase in sick calves
  • Increase in respiratory disease (pneumonia) and scours
  • More open cows
  • Delayed calving periods
  • Abortions
  • Birth defects
  • Weak or dead calves at birth/Calves dying post weaning

 

Deadly Mucosal Disease

A highly fatal form of BVDV, mucosal disease occurs when PI calves are infected with a cytopathic (cell-damaging) form of BVDV, or the virus may have mutated within the animal.

 

Signs include:

  • Severe diarrhea
  • Death within days
  • Fever
  • Loss of appetite
  • Severe ulcerative lesions in nose, mouth and digestive tract

BVDV Prevention: A Three-Pronged Approach

Your veterinarian can help design a BVDV prevention program that’s tailored to the risks of your operation. Most programs will include three prevention strategies:

References

1 Givens MD, Marley MSD, Jones CA, et al. Protective effects against abortion and fetal infection following exposure to bovine viral diarrhea virus and bovine herpesvirus 1 during pregnancy in beef heifers that received two doses of a multivalent modified-live virus vaccine prior to breeding. JAVMA 2012;241(4):484–495.

2 Fulton RW, Briggs RE, Ridpath JF, Saliki JT. Transmission of bovine viral diarrhea virus 1b to susceptible and vaccinated calves by exposure to persistently infected calves. Can J Vet Res 2005;69(3):161–169.

3 Fulton RW, Johnson BJ, Briggs RE, et al. Challenge with bovine viral diarrhea virus by exposure to persistently infected calves: protection by vaccination and negative results of antigen testing in non-vaccinated acutely infected calves. Can J Vet Res 2006;70(2):121–127.

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