Seroprevalencia y factores de riesgo asociados al virus de la diarrea vírica bovina (VDVB) en bovinos de leche y doble propósito en Ecuador.

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection in nonvaccinated dairy and dual-purpose cattle herds from Ecuador. A total of 2,367 serum samples from 346 herds were collected from June 2008 through February 2009. A questionnaire, which included variables related to cattle, health, management measures, and the environment, was filled out in each herd. A commercial indirect enzymelinked immunosorbent assay test was used to determine the seropositivity. A logistic regression model was used to determine risk factors at herd level. The individual seroprevalence for BVDV in non-vaccinated herds in Ecuador was 36.2% (857/2,367). The herd prevalence was 74% (256/346) and the intra-herd prevalence ranged between 11.1% and 100% (mean=51.6%). The logistic regression model showed that the density of cattle farms in the area (more than 70%) and the altitude (higher than 2,338 m above sea level) are potential risk factors associated with BVDV infection.