VIOLIN: Vaccine Investigation and Online Information Network

I. General Information

1. NCBI Taxonomy ID:

2. Disease:

Respiratory Disease

3. Introduction

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is an RNA virus classified as a pneumovirus in the paramyxovirus family. This virus was named for its characteristic cytopathic effect—the formation of syncytial cells. In additional to cattle, sheep and goats can also be infected by respiratory syncytial viruses. Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is an important respiratory pathogen in infants and young children. Antigenic subtypes are known to exist for HRSV, and preliminary evidence suggests that there may be antigenic subtypes of BRSV. BRSV is distributed worldwide, and the virus is indigenous in the cattle population.
BRSV infections associated with respiratory disease occur predominantly in young beef and dairy cattle. Passively derived immunity does not appear to prevent BRSV infections but will reduce the severity of disease. Initial exposures to the virus are associated with severe respiratory disease; subsequent exposures result in mild to subclinical disease. BRSV is an important virus in the bovine respiratory disease complex because of its frequency of occurrence, predilection for the lower respiratory tract, and ability to predispose the respiratory tract to secondary bacterial infection. In outbreaks, morbidity tends to be high, and the case fatality rate can be 0-20% (Merck Vet Manual: BRSV).

4. Host Ranges and Animal Models

Cattle

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