[Perspectives on BVD eradication in Germany].
Infections with the bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD) virus are endemic with high seroprevalence in many countries of the European Union (EU). The significant economic damage caused by BVD infections has led to a paradigm shift with respect to a possible control. In some EU Member States control programmes have been initiated mostly on a voluntary basis and some compulsory. The most important element of all control efforts is the identification and removal of persistently infected (PI) animals. The subsequent steps depend on the respective seroprevalence and cattle density. Sweden was one of the first countries to introduce a national control program (1993), that is now being used as standard procedure in other countries. The starting position for the program was comparatively favorable since the country's cattle density is low and vaccination was not allowed. BVD infected herds were screened using a bulk milk ELISA and subsequently the PI animals in positive herds were identified and removed. The goal of the control program is the cattle population's certified freedom of BVD. The Scandinavian model is not applicable for most regions of Germany, since BVD virus prevalence and cattle density are unfavorably high. Here the primary goal is to minimize the economic losses caused by BVD and to lower the infective pressure. Therefore a Federal guideline was issued and some Federal States have provided additional regulations for compensation of PI animals and additional costs, respectively. Primary goal of the guideline is the eradication of PI animals and the systematic vaccination of all female offspring in order to avoid further economic damage and the emergence of new PI animals in case of re-infection of the herd. Goal of this strategy is the BVD unsuspicious herd with a high immune status.
Moennig
Volker
V
Institut für Virologie, Tierärztliche Hochschule, Bünteweg 17, D-30559 Hannover.
Greiser-Wilke
Irene
I
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001912:Bovine Virus Diarrhea-Mucosal Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002417:Cattle; D003612:Dairying / Q000592:standards; D001908:Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D005858:Germany; D008892:Milk / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral