A systematic review of financial and economic assessments of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) prevention and mitigation activities worldwide

Abstract

Infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) results in major economic losses either directly through decreased productive performance in cattle herds or indirectly, such as through expenses for control programs. The aim of this systematic review was to review financial and/or economic assessment studies of prevention and/or mitigation activities of BVDV at national, regional and farm level worldwide. Once all predefined criteria had been met, 35 articles were included for this systematic review. Studies were analyzed with particular focus on the type of financially and/or economically-assessed prevention and/or mitigation activities. Due to the wide range of possible prevention and/or mitigation activities, these activities were grouped into five categories: i) control and/or eradication programs, ii) monitoring or surveillance, iii) prevention, iv) vaccination and v) individual culling, control and testing strategies. Additionally, the studies were analyzed according to economically-related variables such as efficiency, costs or benefits of prevention and/or mitigation activities, the applied financial and/or economic and statistical methods, the payers of prevention and/or mitigation activities, the assessed production systems, and the countries for which such evaluations are available. Financial and/or economic assessments performed in Europe were dominated by those from the United Kingdom, which assessed mostly vaccination strategies, and Norway which primarily carried out assessments in the area of control and eradication programs; whereas among non-European countries the United States carried out the majority of financial and/or economic assessments in the area of individual culling, control and testing. More than half of all studies provided an efficiency calculation of prevention and/or mitigation activities and demonstrated whether the inherent costs of implemented activities were or were not justified. The dairy sector was three times more likely to be assessed by the countries than beef production systems. In addition, the dairy sector was approximately eight times more likely to be assessed economically with respect to prevention and/or mitigation activities than calf and youngstock production systems. Furthermore, the private sector was identified as the primary payer of prevention and/or mitigation activities. This systematic review demonstrated a lack of studies relating to efficiency calculations, in particular at national and regional level, and the specific production systems. Thus, we confirmed the need for more well-designed studies in animal health economics in order to demonstrate that the implementation and inherent costs of BVDV prevention and/or mitigation activities are justified.

Epidemiological factors and mitigation measures influencing production losses in cattle due to bovine viral diarrhoea virus infection: A meta‐analysis

“…In the present study, we analysed BVDV production losses and covariate data in the period from 1960 to 2015, provided by Pinior et al, () and Richter et al, (). The literature research was extended to the period from January 2015 to June 2018 with the following predefined search terms ((bovine viral diarrh* OR bovine virus diarrh* OR bvd OR bvdv) AND (economic* OR financial OR cost*)) in order to identify the greatest possible number of recent publications concerned with the monetary level of BVDV production losses.…”

Global knowledge gaps in the prevention and control of bovine viral diarrhoea ( BVD ) virus

“…The unique ability of pestiviruses to cross the placenta and infect the developing foetus has been shown to lead to a wide array of reproductive losses. When a dam becomes transiently infected prior to mating or during early gestation (0–100 days of gestation), infection can result in reduced conception rates and foetal loss, either as a result of early embryonic death, abortion or absorption (Pinior et al., ; Richter et al., ). While foetal death is most common with BVD infections which develop during early gestation, foetal death can occur at any time throughout pregnancy following transient infection of the dam (Grooms, ).…”

“…Despite the many socio‐economic benefits of controlling BVD in cattle production systems (Pinior et al., ) and the availability of effective control measures (Lindberg & Alenius, ), only a small number of countries have so far attempted national BVD eradication (Ståhl & Alenius, ). This suggests problems in translating fundamental BVD science into real‐world action against the disease.…”

Development of a new method based on unmodified gold nanoparticles and peptide nucleic acids for detecting bovine viral diarrhea virus-RNA

“…BVDV is responsible for respiratory disorders, growth retardation, congenital defects, and increased mortality in cattle (Pinior et al 2017; Houe 1999). BVD can be prevented by detecting and removing the infection source, in particular, in animals that may transfer the virus to uninfected animals (Pinior et al 2017; Houe et al 2006). Cattle with persistent infection (PI) of BVD often appear to be healthy; therefore, a sensitive and specific diagnostic test is essential.…”