MICROBIOLOGICAL, SEROLOGICAL AND CLINICAL EXAMINATIONS OF CROWDING DISEASE IN CATTLE

During winter 1994/95 a field study was conducted in Styria on acute o utbreaks of crowding disease. Seventeen farms were designated ''infect ed farms'' and 15 farms as controls. The animals were examined clinica lly, serologically and microbiologically. Climatic measurements of the animal accomodation and meteorological conditions were recorded Serol ogy indicated a high prevalence (42.3%) of BRSV, but only mild clinica l signs were observed. Elevated antibody titres against parainfluenza 3-virus, BVD-vints and bovine adenoviruses 1 and 4 were detected in le ss than 10% of animals. In the control farms, specific antibodies were detected against BRSV in 71.7% of animals, parainfluenza 3-virus in 8 8.3%, BVD virus in 28.3% and bovine adenoviruses 1 and 4 in 71.4% and 53.3% respectively. Bacteriological examination revealed some species of Pasteurella and Mycoplasma together with other respiratory tract ba cteria. Antibiotic sensitivity rests indicated that these were suscept ible to Lincospectin, enrofloxacin and gentamicin. Climatic conditions in the animal accomodation and changes in meteorological conditions w ere important predisposing factors for respiratory diseases in cattle.