Abstract

Nine, 4 to 5-week old calves were examined for clinical signs, serum antibody titres to four viruses and serum levels of type I interferon (IFN) after arrival at a rearing unit. All calves had fever and/or diarrhoea within five days after arrival. Serum IFN was detected in all calves within 2 to 6 days after arrival. Commonly, IFN was detected in serum before, or coinciding with, the development of diarrhoea. None of the calves showed any rise in IgG antibody titres to bovine virus diarrhoea virus, parainfluenza type 3 virus or bovine respiratory syncytial virus. All calves were seropositive to bovine corona virus (BCV) at arrival and two calves showed a rise in IgG titre to the virus. However, from one week after arrival and subsequently, all calves showed an IgA, and all but one an IgM, response to BCV. This study shows that IFN can be used as a ''non-specific'' indicator of an early virus infection in calves and demonstrates the advantage of measuring virus-specific IgA and IgM antibodies over Ige antibodies for the diagnosis of ongoing virus infections in calves with colostrum-derived immunity.

Published in

Swedish Journal Of Agricultural Research
1996, Volume: 26, number: 2, pages: 101-104
Publisher: SCANDINAVIAN UNIVERSITY PRESS

SLU Authors

• Fossum, Caroline

  • Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Tråven, Madeleine

  • Department of Cattle and Sheep Diseases, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Pathobiology


Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/106625