title: Natural in utero infection of neonatal calves with bovine viral diarrhoea virus on a large dairy farm in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: The dairy industry  is a large and important business in Saudi Arabia. Although farms are  administered to high international standards, some reproduction problems, of uncertain  aetiology, are encountered. The most frequently seen are conception failures, abortions,  stillbirths and the birth of weak or malformed calves. These conditions are suggestive of bovine  viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) infection. Unfortunately, very little published information is  available regarding the impact of this disease on cattle populations in Saudi Arabia. As a  consequence, the present study was carried out and is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia  and the Gulf region. The aim of the study was to elucidate the role of in utero BVDV infection leading to the birth of weak or malformed calves on a large dairy farm in Saudi Arabia. The study was divided into two parts. Firstly, apparently healthy neonatal calves were sampled  for the detection of pre-colostral serum antibodies to BVDV. The presence of these antibodies  indicates exposure of the foetus to BVDV during the last two trimesters of gestation. Secondly,  tissue samples from malformed neonatal calves were examined for the presence of BVDV  antigens. Detection of such antigens confirms exposure of the foetus to the virus during the  first trimester of gestation. The results of the investigation indicated that 36.1% of the neonatal  calves were exposed to BVDV infection in utero. This is higher than what has been reported  in the literature and suggests that dairy farmers in the Arabian Peninsula need to be made  aware of the dangers of BVDV infections in their herds. The epidemiological significance of  the results is discussed.
authors: King Fahad Medical Research Centre, King   Abdulaziz University. eabuelzein@yahoo.com.
authors: Eltayb M
authors: EM
authors: Abuelzein
authors: Mofeed A
authors: MA
authors: Al-Khaliyfa
authors: Ahmed A
authors: AA
authors: Gameel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001912:Bovine Virus Diarrhea-Mucosal Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D002417:Cattle; D003126:Colostrum / Q000276:immunology; D003612:Dairying; D001908:Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000662:veterinary*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral