Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR)
Areas of Expertise:
Animal Health and Welfare
Service:
Diagnostic & Analytical
IBR programmes within AFBI Cattle Health Scheme
Agent/cause
- Caused by Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV)
Disease
- Pneumonia, which can be particularly severe in housed beef cattle
- Pneumonia and reduced milk yields in dairy herds
- Abortions may also occur.
- Some strains cause only mild symptoms.
- Recovered cattle remain carriers and can excrete virus when when stressed.
Introduction and spread
- Purchase of carrier animals including bulls is the main source of new infections
- Spread is mainly by the respiratory route
Impact
- Losses due to disease
- Recovered (carrier) bulls are excluded from AI centres as they may shed virus in their semen
- Barrier to the export of live cattle to other regions or countries within Europe, where the disease has already been eradicated.
Control programme
- Testing programme using blood and milk samples to identify and remove carrier cattle.
Screening and eradication - Appropriate biosecurity to avoid reintroduction.
Biosecurity - Vaccination is an effective means of control, but does not stop carrier animals shedding virus
- Marker vaccines can be used as part of an eradication program.
- Marker vaccines allow vaccinated and naturally infected cattle to be distinguished (this is not possible with conventional vaccines).