Seroprevalence and associated factors of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and bovine viral diarrhea in dairy cows in the Caparaó region, Espírito Santo, Brazil

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the seroprevalence and associated factors of Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) and Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD), and to analyze the possible relationship between IBR, BVD, and the occurrence of mastitis. For this purpose, 854 crossbred dairy cows were evaluated from 69 properties allocated in the 12 municipalities that make up the Caparao region, Espirito Santo (ES), Brazil. The seroprevalence of IBR and BVD was determined using the indirect ELISA test. Associations between variables were estimated using the prevalence ratio (PR) with a 95% confidence interval. The chi-square test was used to verify the significance of the associations (P < 0.05). The average prevalence of IBR and BVD was 48.59% and 26.46%, respectively. Animals seroreactive for IBR were more likely to develop subclinical mastitis (P < 0.01; PR: 1.27), and cows that were seroreactive for BVD were more likely to develop clinical mastitis (P < 0.01; PR: 2.24). Mechanical milking was considered a factor associated with IBR (P < 0.01; PR: 1.36) and BVD (P < 0.01; PR: 1.25). Reproductive management by natural breeding was considered a factor associated with IBR (P < 0.01; PR: 1.22). Animals seroreactive for BVD were more likely to develop reproductive problems (P < 0.01; PR: 1.34). It was concluded that the agents that cause IBR and BVD are widely disseminated in dairy cattle herds in the municipalities of the Caparao region, ES, Brazil. The presence of IBR and BVD increased the chances of cows developing subclinical mastitis and clinical mastitis, respectively, and the cows that were mechanically milked were more likely to be seroreactive for IBR and BVD.