Molecular Detection of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV) Infection Among Cattle in Daura Zone, Katsina State, Northwest, Nigeria.

Abstract:

Bovine viral diarrheal virus (BVDV) infection causes a diverse range of clinical outcomes from being asymptomatic, or a transient mild disease, to producing severe cases of acute disease that leading to animal death. The infected animals may suffer from mild diarrhoea or respiratory symptoms or else show no signs of infection at all. BVDV is a small, enveloped single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus, measuring about 12.5kb that belongs to the Pestivirus genus and Flaviviridae family. Proper control of BVDV involved the removing of infected animals from the herd, this can achieved through proper detection of BVDV infected animals. This study aimed at molecular detection of BVDV infection among rearing cattle in Daura zone, Katsina State, Northwestern Nigeria. 125 blood samples were analyses for the presence of BVDV using RT-PCR according to manufacturer information. An overall prevalence rate of 10.4% was obtained, and diarrhoea, nasal and eye discharge remained a major sign of the infection. The study suggest the need for improving sanitary politics in the veterinary sector to prevent potential transmission the BVDV infection among the cattle and other domestic animals in the study area.