Seroepizootiologic study of bovine respiratory syncytial virus in a beef herd.

A seroepizootiologic study of bovine respiratory syncytial virus in a beef herd was conducted from February 1983 through March 1984. During the study period, 3 separate respiratory tract disease epizootics were recognized in calves after they had been split into 3 groups. Bovine respiratory syncytial virus infection was diagnosed in each epizootic on the basis of serologic evidence, postmortem findings, and immunofluorescent examination of lung tissue. Additionally, there was serologic evidence for involvement of bovine adenovirus type 3 in the epizootics in 2 of the groups of calves, but not in the 3rd. In 2 groups of calves, respiratory tract disease occurred in 2 stages, with the 1st stage being mild followed by apparent recovery. The 2nd stage, which was associated with a change to colder weather, was clinically more severe, with death loss occurring.