Besnoitiosis

Bovine besnoitiosis is a vector-transmitted disease caused by the protozoan parasite Besnoitia besnoiti. The disease spreads from one animal to another by insect vectors—specifically, biting flies such as Tabanus and Stomoxys. All cattle breeds, independent of sex or age, can be infected.

Bovine Corona Virus (BCV)

BCV is an enveloped, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus belonging to the Coronaviridae family that causes intestinal and respiratory infections in ruminants worldwide. Infection can cause winter dysentery in adult animals, as well as calf enteritis and enzootic pneumonia complex in calves. Bovine coronavirus is transmitted via the oral-fecal or respiratory routes, and infected animals will typically shed the virus in their feces, particularly during parturition.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)

TSEs are infectious diseases of the brain that affect animal species in various forms, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, affecting cattle), scrapie (affecting goats and sheep) and chronic wasting disease (CWD, affecting deer). The diseases are caused by altered prion proteins that are resistant to chemicals and heat, and are very difficult to decompose biologically, often surviving in soil for several years.

Bovine tuberculosis (TB)

Bovine tuberculosis is a respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis. It is a major infectious disease found worldwide in domestic animals, particularly cattle, as well as in certain wildlife populations.

Airborne transmission is the primary pathway for infection of M. bovis within and between species; however, animals may also become infected if they ingest large quantities of the bacterium.

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD)

The BVD virus is a small, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the genus Pestivirus. Two other animal viruses belong to this genus, namely the viruses that cause border disease (BD) in sheep and classical swine fever (CSF) in pigs.The virus that causes bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) was first identified in 1946. The disease is found throughout the world and its prevalence among animals exposed to the virus ranges from 30–80% in different countries and regions.

Brucellosis

Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by Brucella bacteria. Brucella species of major concern are B. abortus, primarily affecting cattle; B. melitensis, primarily affecting sheep and goats; and B. suis, primarily affecting pigs. All these Brucella species are non–host-specific and may be transmitted to other animal species or humans under appropriate conditions.

Brucellosis is commonly transmitted to susceptible animals by direct contact with infected animals or in an environment that has been contaminated with discharge from infected animals. Brucellosis is thus a herd or flock problem.

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)

FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that affects all cloven-hoofed animals, and is widespread throughout the world. FMD cannot be differentiated clinically from other vesicular diseases such as swine vesicular disease (SVD).

The virus is a member of the genus Apthovirus in the family Picornaviridae. There are seven serotypes of FMD virus: O, A, C, SAT 1, SAT 2, SAT 3, and Asia 1. Infection with any one serotype does not confer immunity against other serotypes.

Paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease)/MAP

Paratuberculosis, also known as Johne’s disease, is caused by the presence of Myobacterium avium spp. paratuberculosis (sometimes abbreviated MAP) in the small intestine of ruminants. It is a worldwide animal health problem, especially affecting beef and dairy herds.

Paratuberculosis is a chronic debilitating enteritis, and its presence in an animal herd can have serious effects on production.