HEMORRHAGIC COURSE OF BOVINE VIRUS DIARRHEA

Depending on time of infection, virus strain and virus biotype infecti ons with the BVD virus (BVDV) cause variable clinical signs. From the 1028 cattles which were dissected in the Tierarztliche Ambulanz Schwar zenbek, 116 were found to be infected with BVDV. In eight cases, hemor rhagic signs of various degrees could be observed such as extensive ge neralised bleeding into the subcutis, the musculature of the thoracic and abdominal wall and the caudal area of the back. Upon opening of th e thorax and abdomen, disseminated focal to extensive and diffuse blee ding into the parietal and visceral serosa, the wall of the small and large intestine as well as the heart was discovered. In seven cases no n cytopathogenic BVDV biotype could be detected. Due to the peracute c ourse of the disease, no clinical studies could be performed. In case of signs in cattle BVDV-infection should therefore always be a differe ntial and tests for BVDV should be initiated.