Homologous and heterologous antibody reactions in sera from cattle naturally infected with bovine ephemeral fever group viruses.

Four viruses belonging to the bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) group have been isolated from bovine blood. Infection of cattle with BEF virus was associated with neutralizing antibody responses to BEF, Kimberley (KIM), Berrimah (BRH) and Adelaide River (ADE) viruses, with highest antibody titres to BEF and KIM viruses. Infection of one cow with KIM virus was associated with a homologous neutralizing antibody response and nil or minimal responses to the other three viruses. Infection of a steer with ADE virus was associated with a rise in neutralizing antibody levels to ADE virus and to KIM virus, but not to BEF or BRH viruses. Infection of a steer with BRH virus was associated with marked neutralizing antibody rises to BRH and BEF viruses and small rises to KIM and ADE viruses. An antibody rise to BEF virus did not necessarily indicate recent BEF virus infection, and should be considered of diagnostic value only when taken in conjunction with clinical signs of disease.