Disease control programmes rely on herd- or animal-level tests to determine the biatas of a herd, writes Dr Maria Guelbenzu LV PhD MRCVS and BVD Programme Manager with Animal Health Ireland (AHI).Two major diagnostic approaches are normally adopted within BVD control programmes. One focuses on the identification of persistently infected (PI) animals for removal from the herd through direct diagnostic methods targeting the virus or antigen. The other focuses on surveillance at herd level, usually applying indirect diagnostic methods that target antibodies to the virus. The Irish BVD programme has until now focused on the detection of virus in young calves.
展开▼
