[The role of virus infections in bovine mastitis].
Mastitis is an often occurring disease in dairy cattle with an enormous economic impact for milk producers worldwide. Despite intensive research, which is historically based on the detection of bacterial udder pathogens, still around 20-35% of clinical cases of bovine mastitis have an unknown aetiology. Due to the high number of unknown causes of clinical mastitis, studies were undertaken to gain more insight into the role of viruses in this important disease. This review deals with the role of viruses in the aetiology of bovine mastitis, including the results of the recently performed study on the role of bovine herpesvirus 4 (BHV4) in this aetiology. We conclude that viral infections can play a direct or indirect role in the aetiology of bovine mastitis; therefore their importance and their economic impact needs further attention.
Divisie Infectiezieken en Ketenkwaliteit, Instituut voor Dierhouderij en DiergezondheidID-Lelystad, Postbus 65, 8200 AB, Lelystad. G.J.Wellenberg@id.wag-ur.nl
G J
GJ
Wellenberg
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D026021:Herpesvirus 4, Bovine / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008414:Mastitis, Bovine / Q000821:virology*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology