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Experimental Studies of the Epidemiology of Bovine Herpes Mammillitis

1973; Elsevier BV; Volume: 14; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0034-5288(18)33902-x

1532-2661

E. Paul J. Gibbs, R.H. Johnson, A. D. Osborne,

Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology

The teat shin of newly calved cows in their first lactation was infected with bovine herpes mammillitis (BHM) virus, using inoculation procedures that enabled virus to be introduced to the different cell layers of the epidermis and dermis. It was found that the intact shin was resistant to infection and that virus had to be inoculated into the dermis before severe BHM, similar to naturally occurring injections, was produced. When BUM virus was rubbed into pseudocowpox lesions or inoculated via the teat canal into the udders of cattle, no clinical reaction followed. These results suggest that the milking machine may be of little significance in the transmission of this disease. The common stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans L.) was used for studies on insect transmission but it was not possible to inject susceptible cattle in this way. However, this does not invalidate the likelihood of insect transmission, since the insects, which were laboratory bred, were extremely reluctant to feed on the teat skin. It is suggested that some cows may become carriers, shedding BHM virus at times of stress, and that the seasonal incidence of overt disease is a reflection of the active periods of insect vectors.