Control of bovine virus diarrhoea virus.

Bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD) virus is ubiquitous in cattle populations throughout the world. Strategies for controlling BVD virus infections are continually evolving. Current control procedures are based on identification and elimination of persistently infected cattle, which are a primary source of virus for non-infected cattle, and immunisation with killed or modified live virus vaccines. Additional concerns for control are the possible contamination of semen, embryos and biologicals with virus. In the near future, genetically engineered nucleic acid probes and subunit vaccines containing selected elements of the BVD virus may be available for incorporation into control procedures.