Prevention and treatment of Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex (BRDC)

Good management and the use of effective vaccines is important to minimize losses caused by BRDC.

Prevention

General measures

• As stress plays a central role in the etiology of BRDC, reduction of stress is essential in the prevention bovine pneumonia.
• At birth sufficient intake of colostrum should be ensured as high maternal antibodies can help to reduce the severity of disease.
• Adequate housing - Avoid wet bedding and drafts.
• Sanitary measures and quarantining of animals can help to reduce the infectious pressure.

Vaccination

Vaccination is widely applied to protect against BRDC. Due to the complex etiology of the disease, multivalent vaccines are preferred. A number of live and inactivated vaccines with different combinations of viral antigens are commercially available. Moreover, one inactivated vaccine containes M. haemolytica antigen as well as inactivated BRSV and PI3.

Vaccination programs should start at an early age e.g. from two weeks onwards to protect the young calves. In situations, where protection is required for more than one winter season, it is advisable to re-vaccinate the animals at least 15 days prior to the risk period.

Treatment

Treatment is limited to the use of antimicrobials and anti-inflammatory drugs. Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections. It is often required to start the therapy before results of the bacteriological investigation are available and the resistance patterns are determined. Consequently, the bacteria exhibit increasing resistance to a large number of antimicrobial agents. Preferably, antimicrobials which are active against Pasteurellae should be used.