FIVM Seminar Series presents: Impact and control of ruminant pestiviruses in domestic and wildlife species

There are few simple answers in the world of bovine viral diarrhea (BVD).  This “disease” is actually a collection of poorly defined clinical presentations affecting the enteric, respiratory, reproductive and immune systems.  The severity of BVD may range from mild to severe depending on viral strain, reproductive status, age, stress and the presence of secondary pathogens.  To further add to the confusion, BVD may be caused by one of three different species of pestiviruses (BVDV1, BVDV2 and HoBi-like viruses).

Regardless of clinical presentation, BVD outbreaks are always associated with the destruction of immune tissue, its biggest threat to animal health and welfare.  Successful eradication programs in Europe, based on the removal of persistently infected cattle, have been demonstrated to be cost effective.  In North America, control programs are more likely to be based on the use of vaccines.  While vaccination has been shown to be efficacious in individual herds, the incidence of BVD within the beef and dairy industries of Canada and United States remains remarkably steady.

On Friday, January 19, Dr. Julia Ridpath will discuss the duration and breadth of immunity offered by vaccination, the sensitivity and specificity of current diagnostics and testing methods, the risks of newly emerging bovine pestiviruses and the development of new approaches to BVD control in North America. 

Dr. Ridpath is internationally recognized as an expert in BVDV and has presented more than 20 keynote addresses at national and international meetings on the topic.  She was co-editor for two books addressing BVDV infections; “BVDV: Diagnosis, Management and Control” and “Control of Pestivirus Infections in the Management of Wildlife Populations”. Dr. Ridpath serves on the BVDV committees for the National Cattleman’s Beef Association, the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and the US Animal Health Association.

Prior to her retirement in December of 2016, Dr. Ridpath was the lead scientist of the Intervention Strategies to Control Viral Diseases of Cattle Research Project of the Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Unit at the National Animal Disease Center in Ames, IA.  Her research group focused on the characterization and control of viruses associated with bovine respiratory disease.