Symptoms and Treatment of Bovine Viral Diarrhea

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) is a viral infectious disease characterized by acute fever, rapid breathing, sudden high fever, excessive salivation, lameness, and other symptoms. Many farmers are not familiar with this disease, so let's discuss the symptoms and treatment of bovine viral diarrhea.

Symptoms and Treatment of Bovine Viral Diarrhea

I. Epidemiological Characteristics

Bovines experience sudden high fever, with temperatures reaching 40°C to 42°C, lasting for 2-3 days. They may exhibit rapid heart rate, panting, red eyes, tearing, foamy linear drooling, pulmonary edema, muscle tremors, anorexia, and cessation of rumination. Some infected cattle may develop diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, gastric ulcers, bloody stools, or neurological symptoms such as limb weakness, lameness, paralysis, or sudden cardiac arrest. Pregnant cows may experience miscarriages or premature births.

II. Clinical Symptoms

1. This disease mainly affects cattle, beef cattle, dairy cows, and water buffalo. Cattle aged 3 to 5 years, beef cattle, and dairy cows are more susceptible, while water buffalo and calves are less prone to the disease.

2. Infected cattle serve as the source of infection, and the virus is primarily transmitted through biting insects. It is also believed that the virus can spread through respiratory infection.

3. The disease exhibits obvious seasonality, occurring more frequently from June to September when there is abundant rainfall and hot weather. Although the disease has a high incidence rate, causing a large number of cattle to become infected within a short period, the mortality rate is low, with a fatality rate of no more than 1%, and most cases have a benign course.

III. Treatment Methods

1. Use antibacterial drugs to prevent secondary infections. Administer streptomycin at a dose of 2-3 million units and penicillin at a dose of 3-3.2 million units, mixed together for intramuscular injection, twice daily.

2. If the infected cattle have a high fever, administer 50-60 ml of anadin injection or 40-50 ml of compound aminopyrine injection intramuscularly, once daily, twice a day.

3. Administer 20 ml of 20% sodium caffeine injection, 1500-2000 ml of 5% glucose saline, 20 ml each of vitamin C and vitamin B1 intravenously, twice daily.

4. If pulmonary edema occurs, administer 1000 ml of 20% mannitol injection intravenously.

5. If there is joint pain in the limbs, administer 150-200 ml of 10% sodium salicylate injection intravenously.

6. For cattle with respiratory distress, administer 10-20 ml of nicotinamide injection subcutaneously or intramuscularly.

7. In the recovery period, strengthen nursing care, regulate gastrointestinal function, improve drug efficacy, and promote the rapid recovery of infected cattle.

Conclusion

Above is an introduction to the symptoms and treatment of bovine viral diarrhea. This disease is usually not severe and rarely leads to cattle death. Most infected cattle recover within two to three days, but farmers should still pay attention to prevention and control.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Bovine Viral Diarrhea

1. What is bovine viral diarrhea (BVD)?

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) is a viral infectious disease that affects cattle. It is characterized by acute fever, respiratory distress, excessive salivation, lameness, and other symptoms.

2. How is BVD transmitted?

BVD is primarily transmitted through biting insects. However, it can also spread through respiratory infection.

3. What are the clinical signs of BVD?

The clinical signs of BVD include sudden high fever, rapid heart rate, panting, red eyes, tearing, foamy drooling, pulmonary edema, muscle tremors, anorexia, and cessation of rumination. Some cattle may also experience diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, or neurological symptoms.

4. How is BVD treated?

Treatment for BVD involves using antibacterial drugs to prevent secondary infections, administering medications to reduce fever and alleviate symptoms, and providing supportive care to promote recovery.

5. Can BVD be prevented?

Yes, BVD can be prevented through vaccination, proper management practices, and controlling biting insects in the cattle environment.

6. What is the prognosis for cattle with BVD?

Most cases of BVD have a benign course, and the mortality rate is low, with a fatality rate of no more than 1%. Cattle typically recover within two to three days.