Quantification, risk factors, and health impact of natural congenital infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus in dairy calves

Abstract

The unexpectedly high proportion of apparently healthy calves found to be congenitally infected provided an estimate of the amount of fetal infection via exposure of dams and thus virus transmission in the herds. Findings indicate that congenital infection with BVDV may have a negative impact on calf health, with subsequent impact on herd health.