Development of a quantitative risk assessment of bovine viral diarrhea virus and bovine herpesvirus-1 introduction in dairy cattle herds to improve biosecurity

Abstract

A quantitative risk assessment model was developed to estimate the annual probability of introducing bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) at the farm level through animal movements. Data from 2017 official animal movements, biosecurity questionnaires, scientific literature, and expert opinion from field veterinarians were taken into consideration for model input parameters. Purchasing or introducing cattle, rearing replacement heifers offsite, showing cattle at competitions, sharing transport vehicles with other herds, and transporting cattle in vehicles that have not been cleaned and disinfected were considered in the model. The annual probability of introducing BVDV or BoHV-1 through infected animals was very heterogeneous between farms. The median likelihoods of BVDV and BoHV-1introduction were 12 and 9%, respectively. Farms that purchased cattle from within their region (i.e., local movements) and shared transport with other farms had a higher probability for BVDV and BoHV-1 introduction. This model can be a useful tool to support decision-making on biosecurity measures that should be prioritized to reduce the probability of introduction of these 2 diseases in dairy herds.

Seroprevalence of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in cattle from Sotaquirá, Colombia

“…Likewise, the grazing lease was established as a risk factor for the presentation of BVD in Sotaquirá town; possibly due to farm laborer's that implement management practices or transport animals from one grassland to another are exposed to other herds, which increases the risk of contagion by direct contact with infected animals or with contaminated surfaces, becoming a relevant factor on the transmission of the virus. However, it is important to clarify that transportation does not necessarily result in all cattle being infected by BVDV seropositive animals ( Benavides et al., 2020 ).…”

Promoting Judicious Antimicrobial Use in Beef Production: The Role of Quarantine

“…In the present study, beef cattle underwent a long travel from France to Italy (Veneto region) and a process of mixing both before travelling and at arrival to the fattening farms. Currin and Whittie [ 29 ] reported that transportation, especially during cross-country travels, is a stressful event for the animals, and Benavides et al [ 30 ] reported higher likelihood of cross-contamination among animals for bovine viral diarrhea virus when farms shared transport vehicles or animals were transferred in contaminated vehicles. The aforesaid stressful events combined to the process of adaptation to a new farm environment can increase animals’ susceptibility to diseases (e.g., BRD and bovine viral diarrhea virus) which in turn may affect their performance [ 25 , 31 , 32 ].…”

A Herd Investigation Tool in Support of the Irish Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Eradication Programme

“…This was highlighted by the European Commission's Animal Health Strategy for the European Union (2007-2013), which focused on "prevention is better than cure" (29). Previous studies have suggested that the probability of introducing BVDV and BoHV-1 could be reduced by the implementation of biosecurity measures (30). However, limited information is available on the biosecurity practices within Irish farms.…”