NEW INSIGHTS INTO THE PATHOGENESIS OF MUC OSAL DISEASE (MD) OF CATTLE

Mucosal disease (MD) of cattle is a fatal course of the infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVD-virus). Only persistently infected r attle can succumb to MD. In these animals, MD can be induced experimen tally by superinfection with cytopathogenic BVD-virus. Some cattle suc cumb within two weeks (early-onset MD); others; show clinical symptoms several months after superinfection (late-onset MD). According to rec ent endings both courses of infection are due to different pathogenic mechanisms, This implies consequences for the veterinary practice when using live vaccines.