Bovine respiratory tract disease caused by bovine viral diarrhea virus

Although several viruses and bacteria are capable of inducing bovine respiratory tract disease, a pivotal organism in the cause of this complex disease may be bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Circumstantial evidence has long supported this hypothesis. It is frequently present in diseased respiratory tract tissues often together with other viruses or bacteria. Field observations suggest marked synergism occurs. Researchers have confirmed that, in most instances, the virus itself elicits only a mild respiratory tract disease in susceptible calves, but some strains may be much more pneumo-pathogenic than others. Experimental evidence now supports the hypothesis, that BVDV markedly enhances respiratory tract disease caused by IBRV, BRSV, or Pasteurella haemolytica; that it impairs pulmonary immunity; and that it, by itself, may produce mild respiratory tract disease.