Article Review: Border Disease Virus Infection in Small Ruminants

Abstract

Border disease virus (BDV) belongs to the genus Pestivirus of the family Flaviviridae, is one of the most economically-threating pathogens in livestock; which causes a high rate of mortalities and morbidities in addition to difficulty in controlling the quick spread of the virus to result in long-lasting persisting infections. Reproductive alterations due to infection usually represent the biggest impact on farms. Pestivirus species can be transmitted between animal species because these viruses are antigenically related. However, transmission to susceptible animals usually requires direct contact (oro-nasal route) with infected animals. Another route, which is crucial for pregnant animals, is the vertical transmission via placenta, which may cause persistent infection in newborns because fetuses can be exposed to the virus while their immune system is still immature. Adult goats or sheep don’t show obvious signs of the infection. The spread of Pestivirus infections in small ruminant flocks has been detected by the usage of live vaccines derived from cell cultures, which were produced with Pestivirus contaminated fetal calf serum. Ideally, the control programs of Pestivirus infections should consist of identification and elimination of PI animals within the herds. However, no antigen ELISA kits for BDV for routine, diagnostic, serological screening could be recommended in terms of antibodies to determine BD infection in the herd. Generally, PI animals produced no antibodies; therefore, seronegative animals, especially ewes, in the flocks would be suspect. Therefore, furthermore studies are of great importance to indicate the actual prevalence of the disease and to lowering the impacts of the disease.