Species:          Bovine

Specimen:       Serum

Container:       Red top or gel tube

Collection protocol: Venepuncture

Special handling/shipping requirements: Standard

General information about the disease:

Bovine respiratory syncytical virus is a cause of outbreaks of acute primary respiratory disease and contributes to the bovine respiratory disease complex in calves, with a peak incidence at 1-3 months of age. It also predisposes to bacterial pneumonia caused by organisms such as Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida and Histophilus somni by impairing lung defence mechanisms.  

General information about when this test is indicated: To determine a role for BRSV in bovine respiratory disease investigations.

Comparison with other related tests:

Additional diagnostic tests include virus isolation (referral test) and histopathology to look for characteristic viral cytopathic changes.

NOTE – This test is not performed by Awanui Veterinary and requires referral to an external reference laboratory.