Risk factors for the introduction of bovine viral diarrhea virus in the context of a mandatory control program in Dutch dairy herds

ABSTRACT: Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a common viral disease in cattle, causing economic losses in naive herds where the virus is introduced. In the Netherlands, a BVDV control program has been in place from 1998 onward, evolving from voluntary to mandatory participation for dairy herds fr...

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Main Authors: P.I.H. Bisschop, E.E.C. Strous, H.W.F. Waldeck, L. van Duijn, M.H. Mars, I.M.G.A. Santman-Berends, P. Wever, G. van Schaik
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Dairy Science
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030224011895
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author P.I.H. Bisschop
E.E.C. Strous
H.W.F. Waldeck
L. van Duijn
M.H. Mars
I.M.G.A. Santman-Berends
P. Wever
G. van Schaik
author_facet P.I.H. Bisschop
E.E.C. Strous
H.W.F. Waldeck
L. van Duijn
M.H. Mars
I.M.G.A. Santman-Berends
P. Wever
G. van Schaik
author_sort P.I.H. Bisschop
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT: Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a common viral disease in cattle, causing economic losses in naive herds where the virus is introduced. In the Netherlands, a BVDV control program has been in place from 1998 onward, evolving from voluntary to mandatory participation for dairy herds from April 2018 onward. Participation in the BVDV control program is not mandatory for nondairy farms. The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for new introduction of BVDV into certified BVDV-free herds in the context of a national BVDV control program in dairy herds. In this retrospective case-control study, survey data were collected from 149 dairy farms that lost their BVDV-free status (case herds) and 148 matched dairy farms that maintained their BVDV-free status (control herds) between 2018 and 2021. The survey captured information about potential risk factors and herd characteristics in the 2 yr leading up to the loss of BVDV-free status (case herds, virus detection in at least one animal or when seroconversion was detected) or remaining BVDV-free (control herds). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression with a backward selection and elimination procedure were used to identify potential risk factors associated with losing BVDV-free status. Risk factors were quantified as an odds ratio (OR) with the associated 95% CI. The risk factor with the highest OR for losing BVDV-free status was purchasing cattle from herds without BVDV-free status (OR 1.25, CI 1.10–1.41), followed by the farmer having another profession that resulted in contact with other cattle (OR 1.25, CI 1.06–1.47), housing young calves and adult cows in the same barn (OR 1.22, CI 1.08–1.38), having a permanent employee on the farm (OR 1.17, CI 1.04–1.31), having a group calving pen (OR 1.16, CI 1.03–1.32), escaped cattle from other farms that mingled with own cattle (OR 1.16, CI 1.01–1.33), and nearest distance to a nondairy farm (OR 1.15, CI 1.03–1.28). Although the BVDV status of most dairy herds can be checked in an open register, approximately one-half of the farmers indicated that they purchased cattle from BVDV-free herds although they were actually purchasing from non-BVDV-free farms. Farmers should be stimulated to actively check the true BVDV status of the herd from which cattle are purchased to further reduce the risk of introduction. In addition, indirect contact with cattle from other farms through either the farmer or other on-farm staff should be avoided. It is strongly advised to work in these situations with proper biosecurity measures such as changing boots and coveralls. The results can be used to improve BVDV control programs to further decrease the prevalence.
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spelling doaj-art-7521aac45bc74c6d95b01964e36580592024-12-26T08:52:10ZengElsevierJournal of Dairy Science0022-03022025-01-011081821834Risk factors for the introduction of bovine viral diarrhea virus in the context of a mandatory control program in Dutch dairy herdsP.I.H. Bisschop0E.E.C. Strous1H.W.F. Waldeck2L. van Duijn3M.H. Mars4I.M.G.A. Santman-Berends5P. Wever6G. van Schaik7Royal GD, 7400 AA Deventer, the Netherlands; Corresponding authorRoyal GD, 7400 AA Deventer, the NetherlandsRoyal GD, 7400 AA Deventer, the NetherlandsRoyal GD, 7400 AA Deventer, the NetherlandsRoyal GD, 7400 AA Deventer, the NetherlandsRoyal GD, 7400 AA Deventer, the NetherlandsRoyal GD, 7400 AA Deventer, the NetherlandsRoyal GD, 7400 AA Deventer, the Netherlands; Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3508 TD Utrecht, the NetherlandsABSTRACT: Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a common viral disease in cattle, causing economic losses in naive herds where the virus is introduced. In the Netherlands, a BVDV control program has been in place from 1998 onward, evolving from voluntary to mandatory participation for dairy herds from April 2018 onward. Participation in the BVDV control program is not mandatory for nondairy farms. The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for new introduction of BVDV into certified BVDV-free herds in the context of a national BVDV control program in dairy herds. In this retrospective case-control study, survey data were collected from 149 dairy farms that lost their BVDV-free status (case herds) and 148 matched dairy farms that maintained their BVDV-free status (control herds) between 2018 and 2021. The survey captured information about potential risk factors and herd characteristics in the 2 yr leading up to the loss of BVDV-free status (case herds, virus detection in at least one animal or when seroconversion was detected) or remaining BVDV-free (control herds). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression with a backward selection and elimination procedure were used to identify potential risk factors associated with losing BVDV-free status. Risk factors were quantified as an odds ratio (OR) with the associated 95% CI. The risk factor with the highest OR for losing BVDV-free status was purchasing cattle from herds without BVDV-free status (OR 1.25, CI 1.10–1.41), followed by the farmer having another profession that resulted in contact with other cattle (OR 1.25, CI 1.06–1.47), housing young calves and adult cows in the same barn (OR 1.22, CI 1.08–1.38), having a permanent employee on the farm (OR 1.17, CI 1.04–1.31), having a group calving pen (OR 1.16, CI 1.03–1.32), escaped cattle from other farms that mingled with own cattle (OR 1.16, CI 1.01–1.33), and nearest distance to a nondairy farm (OR 1.15, CI 1.03–1.28). Although the BVDV status of most dairy herds can be checked in an open register, approximately one-half of the farmers indicated that they purchased cattle from BVDV-free herds although they were actually purchasing from non-BVDV-free farms. Farmers should be stimulated to actively check the true BVDV status of the herd from which cattle are purchased to further reduce the risk of introduction. In addition, indirect contact with cattle from other farms through either the farmer or other on-farm staff should be avoided. It is strongly advised to work in these situations with proper biosecurity measures such as changing boots and coveralls. The results can be used to improve BVDV control programs to further decrease the prevalence.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030224011895bovine viral diarrhea virusrisk factorscontrol programthe Netherlands
spellingShingle P.I.H. Bisschop
E.E.C. Strous
H.W.F. Waldeck
L. van Duijn
M.H. Mars
I.M.G.A. Santman-Berends
P. Wever
G. van Schaik
Risk factors for the introduction of bovine viral diarrhea virus in the context of a mandatory control program in Dutch dairy herds
Journal of Dairy Science
bovine viral diarrhea virus
risk factors
control program
the Netherlands
title Risk factors for the introduction of bovine viral diarrhea virus in the context of a mandatory control program in Dutch dairy herds
title_full Risk factors for the introduction of bovine viral diarrhea virus in the context of a mandatory control program in Dutch dairy herds
title_fullStr Risk factors for the introduction of bovine viral diarrhea virus in the context of a mandatory control program in Dutch dairy herds
title_full_unstemmed Risk factors for the introduction of bovine viral diarrhea virus in the context of a mandatory control program in Dutch dairy herds
title_short Risk factors for the introduction of bovine viral diarrhea virus in the context of a mandatory control program in Dutch dairy herds
title_sort risk factors for the introduction of bovine viral diarrhea virus in the context of a mandatory control program in dutch dairy herds
topic bovine viral diarrhea virus
risk factors
control program
the Netherlands
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030224011895
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