A serologic epidemiological study of parainfluenza 1, 2, and 3 viruses in beef cattle and calves in Illinois

Beef cattle and calves in four Illinois populations were studied. Serum was tested by the hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test for antibodies to parainfluenza viruses (PIV) 1, 2, and 3. In all but group 3 a low level of antibody to PIV-1 and 2 was demonstrated. The highest prevalence and incidence of HI-antibodies was found for PIV-3, followed by PIV-1. There may have been a cross-reaction between PIV-1 and -3 in Group 1 calves. The low level of HI antibodies to PIV-1 and 2 may have resulted from infections early in life or colostral antibodies that decreased with age.