Rapid detection of bovine respiratory disease pathogens

Summary

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most important disease of feedlot cattle in Australia with losses estimated at approximately $60 million per year. BRD is a multifactorial disease with multiple viral and bacterial pathogens interacting with environmental conditions all playing roles in increasing the susceptibility to disease. In recent years, vaccines have become available for three of the microbial (two viral and one bacterial) components of BRD. Essential to the adoption of vaccines for the control of a pathogen is the concurrent assessment of the epidemiology of the targeted pathogens. In addition, the capacity to rapidly identify pathogens will enable the development and adoption of techniques to reduce their negative effects in the production environment. The rapid detection methods for BRD pathogens developed in this project will contribute to improved diagnosis of these pathogens and understanding of the roles they play in the development of BRD. This information will be crucial in developing more effective management strategies, such as vaccination, to minimise the negative economic impacts of BRD in the Australian feedlot sector.