Seroprevalence of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus and Factors Associated with the Serological Status in Dairy Cattle in Western Region of Thailand

Background: Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) causes productive losses and reproductive failure in dairy farms. This study defined the seroprevalence and determined the factors associated with BVDV infection in dairy cows in the western region of Thailand.
Methods: Blood samples were collected from 732 cows in 30 randomly selected dairy herds. The BVDV antibody was detected using a commercial indirect ELISA kit (IDEXX®BVDV Total Ab, IDEXX Laboratories Inc., Maine, USA). A questionnaire about the herd management was used to collect data via interviews with farm owners. The variables identified by Fisher’s Exact Test (p less than 0.20) were then analyzed using multivariate logistic regression.
Result: Individual prevalence of BVDV infection was 36.89% (270/732), while herd prevalence was 93.33% (28/30). Significant risk factors of BVDV based on the univariate analysis were identified as area, herd size, feeding type, history of abortion, pen of calving, biosecurity and pet on farm (p less than 0.05). Biosecurity using no disinfectant (p=0.02) (OR, 1.32; CI 95%, 1.038-1.669), pet on farm (p=0.03) (OR, 4.72; CI 95%, 1.142-19.501) and history of abortion (p=0.00) (OR, 0.02; CI 95%, 0.004-0.140) were significant, based on multivariate regression analysis. Pen of calving (p=0.01) (OR, 0.24; CI 95%, 0.084-0.667) was a protective factor for BVDV infection. BVDV infection in dairy cattle herds was distributed throughout the western region of Thailand.
