Bovine Coronavirus Infections in Transported Commingled Beef Calves and Sole Source Ranch Cattle

Bovine respiratory diseases (BRD) occurring in the feedlot represent the major disease entity during the feeding period. Several bacteria, viruses, and Mycoplasma spp are reported as causative agents. Feedlot BRD may occur at various times, although the early disease appearing after arrival and processing often receives the most attention. In addition to bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1), bovine viral diarrhea viruses (BVDV), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), bovine parainfluenza-3 virus (PI-3V), bovine coronavirus (BC) infections have been found in BRD cases. Potentially the case can be made for the use of vaccines to control BCV disease. There are no USDA APHIS CVB licensed vaccines for respiratory disease in the US. The purpose of this study was to: 1) determine the presence of BCV in cattle entering the feedlot from auction markets commingled and shipped to the feedlot and the dynamics of infection over time, and 2) determine the BCV antibody levels in ranch raised (direct from the ranch and not commingled with other cattle) cattle entering the feedlot.