Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis Control Program in Slovakia

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Health Management
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) poses significant economic challenges for cattle farming in Slovakia.
• A voluntary IBR control program was initiated in 1996, transitioning to a mandatory program in 2006.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the evolution and implementation of the compulsory IBR control program in Slovakia.
• To present the serological monitoring and eradication strategies employed.
• To report the IBR-free herd status achieved in Slovakia by 2020.

Main Methods:

• Serological testing using conventional ELISA for non-vaccinated cattle and gE-specific ELISA for marker-vaccinated cattle.
• Eradication strategies included culling (prevalence <15%), culling combined with marker vaccination (prevalence >15%), and in some cases, complete herd slaughter.
• Strict control of cattle movement with health certificates and central registry recording.

Main Results:

• The IBR control program evolved from voluntary participation to a mandatory requirement for all cattle farms.
• Diverse eradication methods were applied based on herd serological prevalence.
• By 2020, official figures indicated that 60.2% of cattle herds in Slovakia had achieved IBR-free status.

Conclusions:

• The compulsory IBR control program in Slovakia has been effective in increasing the number of IBR-free herds.
• Strategic application of serological testing, culling, vaccination, and movement control are key components of successful IBR eradication.
• Continued monitoring and adherence to control measures are essential for maintaining and expanding IBR-free status across the national cattle population.