Seroepidemiology of Bivens Arm virus infections of cattle in Florida, St. Croix and Puerto Rico.

Bivens Arm virus (BAV) is a newly discovered rhabdovirus infecting cattle and water buffalo in Florida. The virus is classified as a member of the Tibrogargan group, members of which have hitherto been found only in Australasia. They are considered to be transmitted by Culicoides species. Bivens Arm virus was first isolated from Culicoides insignis which suggests that BAV is also transmitted by this genus. A serological survey of two small groups of cattle raised in St. Croix and Puerto Rico, in the Caribbean, established that antibody to BAV, or a closely related virus, exists on both island. A retrospective analysis of seroconversions to BAV in sentinel calves in Florida, relative to populations of potential Culicoides vectors, failed to demonstrate any statistically significant correlation.