ACTUAL CONTROL PROGRAMS OF INFECTIOUS-DIS EASES IN HUNGARY - BOVINE HERPES VIRUS-1 (BHV-1) - INFECTIOUS BOVINE-RHINOTRACHEITIS (IBR) AND INFECTIOUS PUSTULAR VULVO-VAGINITIS (IPV)

Apparent (with respiratory symptoms, conjunctivitis, abortion, alterat ions of the external genitals and nervous symptoms), as well as inappa rent disease forms of IBR/IPV with virus carrier state have been repor ted and analyzed. Approx. 20 to 25 years ago the infection was low in the Hungarian cattle population. High incidence of the infection at pr esent was thought to the significant cattle import from North-America, the relatively large size of the stocks, neglect of the importance of infection and the lack of the control of animal movement from that re spect. Economic importance of direct and indirect losses has been poin ted out. Most important and final goal of the control is the eradicati on, that started in Hungary during the second half of 1980's. Since th e economical difficulties in 1990, as well as the unfavourable economi cal and public-health position of cattle breeding have slowed down the sporadic trials. Of the eradication methods, the safe but very expens ive method of ''depopulation and repopulation with a free stock'' can not be carried out. Owing to the low contagiosity of the virus, the mo st useful methods are the ''classical'' selection with purposeful sepa ration, as well as the ''repopulation of old stock with a new generati on'' because of the Hungarian system of calf rearing and growing cattl e management that results in a low infection rate in growing cattle. T he ''modern'' selection eradication method under the umbrella of marke r vaccination has not been yet a practice in Hungary, the biotechnolog ical method however can only be proposed in case of animals with an ex tremely high breeding value. In the selection of methods to be followe d, representative serological survey of aborted, recently calved cows, 3 to 6 months old calves and pregnant heifers can be of decisive impo rtance, Results of serological surveys in case of non-vaccinated (erad ication by selection) or vaccinated stocks (repopulation of old stock with a new generation), ensuring the personal and technical conditions , as well as the application of specific and/or non-specific control m ay lead to the eradication. In case of a successful eradication, organ ization of systematic control is an essential condition of to maintain the free state.