Clinical observations and significance of BHV-1 infection in smallholders of cattle in Al-Ahsa region, ksa

Abstract EN

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (bohv-1), classified as an alphaherpesvirus, is a major pathogen of cattle.

Primary infection is accompanied by various clinical manifestations such as infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, abortion, infectious pustular vulvovaginitis, and systemic infection in neonates.

In this study a total of 259 animal in small holder cattle sector in al-ahsa region, ksa were under investigation form april, 2007 till april 2010.

The total number of observed cattle was 259 (159 females and 100 males).

The clinical signs of the disease was observed in 74 (46.6 %) females and 24 (24 %) males.

The clinical symptoms are described in both male and female animals as well as young calves.

Bhv-1 infection was confirmed by isolation and serological identification of the virus.

It can be concluded that the sector of smallholders cattle breeding constitutes an important part for cattle production on both dairy and beef cattle in kingdom saudi arabia.

The economic losses in this sector due to infectious diseases are really high but unfortunately not estimated.

Bhv-1 infection in cattle is one of the problems that threads and persist in small holders cattle causing sever economic losses and constitutes a major source of infection to industrial cattle farms.

This is probably due to the absence of application of control program for infectious diseases as for example regular vaccination and isolation of infected animals.