A survey of virus infections of the respiratory tract of cattle and their association with disease

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Abstract
A total of 1590 calves were investigated between May 1972 and December 1975. Twenty-two per cent were treated for respiratory disease and 2·5% died of pneumonia. Almost 80% of the respiratory illness occurred in six sharp outbreaks. Samples for virology were collected routinely from 127 healthy calves and from 354 calves treated for respiratory signs and comprised 1143 nasopharyngeal swabs and 1069 sera. Virus infections were detected on 540 occasions including 135 by parainfluenzavirus type 3 (Pi-3), 78 by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), 103 by rhinovirus, 49 by bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV), 29 by adenoviruses, 53 by reoviruses and 88 by enteroviruses. The seasonal and age distribution of infections differed between viruses. Only infections by RSV, Pi-3 and BVDV were significantly associated with disease.