Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex

Question 1

What is BRDC?

Answer 1

An infection of the repiratory sysem caused by viral, bacterial and stress factors (Tilmon, 1996). Generally the disease develops due to the result of multiple factors (Kahn 2010)

Also known as shipping fever.

Question 2

What can cause BRDC?

Answer 2

Viral
     - Parainfluenza virus 3 (PI3)
     - Bovine Virus Diarrhoea (BVD)
     - Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR)
Bacterial
     -Pasturella
     -Haemophuils
Stress
     -Heat
     -Dehydration
     -irritant Gases
     -Cold/ Dampness
     -Nutritional deficiencies
     -Hunger
     -Anxeity

Question 3

What are the symptoms of BRDC?

Answer 3

Increased resp. rate
Pyrexia
Droopy ears
Purulent nasal discharge
Lethargy  depression
Loss of appetite
Soft or harsh cough (dependent of pathogen)
Can result in death if not treated

Question 4

What categories can BDRC be divided into?

Answer 4

Upper respiratory tract infections
Diphtheria
Pneumonia (Bagley, 1997)

Question 5

What do URT infections do?

Answer 5

Inflammations of the nostrils, pharynx and trachea.
Mild signs that usual involve fever, coughing, and decreased appetite.
Sometime pyrexia may occur

(Bagley, 1997)

Question 6

What is diphtheria and what does it involve?

Answer 6

It is swelling of the larynx which therefore restricts breathing. If swelling is severe, air flow can be restricted which leads to death.

(Bagley, 1997)

Question 7

How do you treat BRDC?

Answer 7

There are no drugs that are effective against viral agents, but you can treat for 2ndary bacterial inf. with antibiotics which is generally put in the animals water.

Generally there is a poor response in treatment if over 50% of the lung is infected.

Need early disease recongition so can be treated and moved to a sick pen
Treat for up to 48hrs after signs have abated
Good nursing of the animal.
Generally it is important to isolate the animal away from others.

Question 8

How can you prevent BRDC?

Answer 8

Management

• Reduce and eliminate the possible causes
• Alternative housing if possibe (put outside where can)
• Be aware where all animals conregate and keep this area clean.
• Avoid co-mingling cattle from diff. sources.
• Control dust and mud and dont over crowd.

Vaccination

• Available but complicated due to diffo strains.
• Good to vacc. before weaning so less stressed.

Question 9

What is pneumonia and what does it involve?

Answer 9

Lower respiratory tract infection which is often due to extension of infection from URT or failure of mechanisms which are designed to protect the lungs.
It can cause damage to the mucouc membranes leading to inflam.
Pneumonia is usually secondary to URT infec.

Question 10

Which 6 causing agents of BRDC are there vaccines available for?

Answer 10

Infectious bovine rhinotracetisis (IBR)

• Viral infection of UR & present in most herds but only illness in unexposed animals or animals with lowered immune systems are effected.
• Vacc, available are MLV and attenuated, some for IM and some IN.

Parainfluenza-3

• Viral that is mild on own, but severe if combined.
• Icluded with IBR vacc.

Bovine virus Diarrhea (BVD)

• Viral, present in most herds
• Effects resp., digestive & repro.

Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV)
- Problem in weaner animals
MLV & attenuated

Pastueurella

• Bacterial
• Major cause of shipping fever
• P. heamolytica & P. multocida
• MLV & attenuated

Haemophilus

• Bacterial virus that can also cause brain fever (TEME)
• Attenuated vaccine prio to weaning required

(Bagley, 1997)
-MLV & attenuated