title: Epidemiology of bovine viral diarrhoea among tropical small holder dairy units in Kerala, India.
abstract: Prevalence of bovine viral diarrhoea among 385 dairy cattle reared under a small holder system in Trichur District of Kerala State in India was determined through an ELISA targeting antibodies against p80-p125 non-structural protein of the virus. Prevalence was 24.7% among the total population, but was higher (52%) when 85 animals having infertility problems alone were considered. Significant serum biochemistry differences between animals could be noticed only in total protein, globulin and phosphorous, all of which were low in seropositive animals. All animals which were seronegative for antibodies were screened by another ELISA targeting the E(rns) protein of the viral nucleocapsid to detect persistently infected (PI) animals. The single, positive animal had only a transient period of antigens in the blood, indicating absence of PI animals in the study population. High prevalence of the disease in isolated small holder units even in the absence of PI animals is discussed in view of identifying the common source of infection and initiating control measures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Mannuthy, Trichur, Kerala, India, kvinodkuma@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vinodkumar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kulangara
authors.forename: Anumol
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Nandu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thrithamarassery
authors.forename: Asok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sivasailam
authors.forename: Latheef
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kalappurackal
authors.forename: Saranya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mattappillil
authors.forename: Radhika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Syam
authors.forename: Saseendranath
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mapranath
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001912:Bovine Virus Diarrhea-Mucosal Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002417:Cattle; D003612:Dairying; D001908:Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral