Seroprevalence of infection with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, bovine leukemia virus, and bovine viral diarrhea virus in maritime Canada dairy cattle.
The purpose of this study was to survey the seroprevalence of infection with the agents of production-limiting diseases in dairy cattle in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. In 30 randomly selected herds per province, 30 cattle per herd were randomly selected and tested for antibodies to bovine leukemia virus (BLV) and Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (M. paratuberculosis), while 5 unvaccinated cattle over 6 months of age were tested for antibodies to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). For BLV, 20.8% (15.8% to 27.0%) of cows were positive, and 70.0% (60.3% to 79.7%) of herds had at least one positive cow. In BLV-positive herds, the average BLV prevalence was 30.9% (24.8% to 37.2%). For M. paratuberculosis, 2.6% (1.8% to 3.9%) of cows were positive, and 16.7% (8.8% to 24.5%) of herds had at least 2 M. paratuberculosis-positive cows. In M. paratuberculosis-positive herds, the average M. paratuberculosis prevalence was 8.5% (6.9% to 10.1%). For BVDV, 46.1% (35.5% to 56.7%) of herds had at least 1 BVDV-positive animal with a titer greater than or equal to 1:64.
Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1A 4P3.
J A
JA
VanLeeuwen
G P
GP
Keefe
R
R
Tremblay
C
C
Power
J J
JJ
Wichtel
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001912:Bovine Virus Diarrhea-Mucosal Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D001908:Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral / Q000276:immunology; D016583:Enzootic Bovine Leukosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D001909:Leukemia Virus, Bovine / Q000276:immunology; D016927:Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis / Q000276:immunology; D010283:Paratuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral