Blocking cattle disease BHV1 erupted

Outbreak of bovine disease BHV1 in Bavaria for the first time in more than two years

25/12/2013

In the Bavarian Möttingen (Danube-Ries district) the cattle disease BHV1 has broken out. A restricted area was set up around the affected fattening farm in the district of Balgheim. For more than two years, this is the first outbreak of cattle disease in Bavaria.

Most recently, BHV1 was detected in October 2011 in Bavaria. Since then, the Free State, according to the official assessment of the EU Commission as a BHV1-free region. „Unfortunately, it has come to a new outbreak“, reports the district Donau-Ries. More than 100 cattle of the Mastbestand in Möttingen must be killed in order to avoid a spreading of the exciters. Even the established Sperrbezirk serves to contain the pathogens. In the village Balgheim „From now on, cattle may only be taken out of the restricted area with permission. Applications for authorization must be submitted to the Veterinary Office“, so the message of the district Donau-Ries.

BHV1 for cattle, sheep, goats and other ruminants a danger
Bovine herpes virus 1 (BHV1) is quite dangerous for cattle but also for sheep, goats and wild ruminants. In cattle, the virus leads to severe „Respiratory diseases, sometimes fatal, and fertility disorders“, reports the district Donau-Ries. In addition, a spread of the pathogens is extremely critical because „a cattle infected with these viruses lifelong carriers of the virus“ remains. Once the animals have passed through the infection, the BHV1 viruses nest in the so-called ganglion cells of the central nervous system without further proliferating or causing any symptoms. Also will be „In this phase no viruses are eliminated so that no other animals can be infected“, so the official message of the district.

Viruses remain in the organism for a lifetime after infection
However, from now on „at any weakening of the immune system (for example, by transport, stable change, disease, childbirth, bad housing conditions)“ the risk of another disease outbreak, including excretion of viruses, reported the district Donau-Ries on. Here, the bovine herpes viruses do not differ from the herpes viruses that are also common in humans - such as herpes zoster (trigger the chickenpox in initial infection, trigger a shingles on reuptake) or herpes simplex viruses (cold sores). Bovine herpes virus 1 is, according to the district, however „completely harmless for humans.“

Respiratory disease typical consequence of BHV1 infection
Cattle that suffer from BHV1 infection usually show symptoms in the upper respiratory tract (nose and trachea) and high fever, reaching body temperatures up to 42 degrees Celsius. Also, serous nasal discharge mixed with blood is considered a prominent indication of BHV1 infection. Frequently, hyperaemia (excessive blood supply) occurs in the mastoid and nasal mucous membranes, which can lead to discernible dark red discoloration. Also, at the beginning of the disease, a decrease in milk yield is often observed, reports the district of Donau-Ries. In the later course of the disease, coughing and ocular discharge are usually part of the symptoms. Occasionally „On the nasal mucosa also pinhead-sized, pustular elevations recognizable“ According to the message of the district. The incubation period is two to six days, the acute or infectious phase of the disease takes on average ten to 14 days.

Search for the source of infection
The affected fattening stock in Balgheim will be completely killed, according to the competent veterinary office. However, the farmers will be paid a financial compensation by the Bayerische Tierseuchenkasse. All farmers in Ries advise the authorities, „currently exercise caution when making purchases or completely renounce it.“ Also, non-employees such as veterinarians, insemination technicians or cattle dealers should always wear clean boots and clean protective clothing before entering the stable. If there is a suspicion of bovine BHV1 infection, it should be reported immediately to the Veterinary Office (tel. 0906 / 74-422) as it is a notifiable disease. „The official veterinarians of the veterinary office will then initiate corresponding further investigations as soon as possible“, reports the district Donau-Ries. This also happened in the current case. At present, environmental investigations were still carried out in the affected locality, but according to the district authorities, the results have not yet been available. For local farmers, it is particularly important to identify the source of BHV1 infections as quickly as possible in order to protect themselves or their stock as effectively as possible from the threat. Whether and by what means an external entry of the pathogens has taken place remains open to date. (Fp)