Seroprevalence and associated factors of viral agents of the bovine respiratory disease complex in buffaloes of Colombia

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The bovine respiratory disease complex causes sizable losses for livestock producers. Its presentation involves the interaction among multiple viral and bacterial pathogens. Viral agents include: bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), bovine alphaherpesvírus 1 (BoHV-1), bovine parainfluenza virus (bPI3v) and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV); so far, these viruses have been little studied in the buffalo population. This study is aimed to assess the presence of these viruses in buffalo populations of the department of Córdoba, Colombia. A transversal study was conducted upon assessment of 37 farms and 861 buffaloes. Seroprevalence in animals were as follows: 21.7% (BVDV), 51.5% (BoHV-1), 73.6% (bPI3v) and 58.9% (BSRV), while seroprevalence in farms stood at: 94.6% (BVDV), 100% (BoHV-1), 100% (bPI3v) and 100% (BSRV). Conversely, the multiple seropositivity in buffaloes or past coinfection of viral agents amounted to 23.3% for a single virus, 31.8% for two viruses, 29.4% for three viruses and 7.1% for four viruses; only 8.4% of buffaloes were seronegative for four viruses. This is the first regional epidemiological study in the buffalo populations of Colombia and the results showed viral circulation and multiple seropositivity in animals; in addition, the high prevalence found pose a concerning epidemiological threat.