Viral aetiologies for bovine respiratory disease.

Abstract Extract Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a major health problem of cattle all over the world. Financial losses arise from the loss in production, cost of treatment and mortality. Incidence varies with seasons, the highest occurring in autumn and winter. Virus infections such as infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), parainfluenza 3 (P13) and bovine respiratory syncytial (BRS) viruses have all been incriminated as causes for BRD. It has been suggested that bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus may also contribute to BRD because of its immunosuppressive effects, thus increasing the susceptibility of the host to other respiratory pathogens.