Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) is a significant economic concern due to the risk of persistent infection and complex epidemiology in cattle-producing countries, including Ethiopia. This study aimed to identify the circulating BVD virus type in dairy cattle, investigate seroprevalence, and assess associated risk factors in Jimma town, Oromia regional state, Southwestern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2023 to April 2024, involving 48 randomly selected dairy farms out of 130 registered ones. In total, 383 serum samples from BVD virus (BVDV) nonvaccinated animals were tested for BVD virus antibodies and antigens using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit (ID Screen BVD p80 antibody). Additionally, a one-step reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the viral genome in pooled swab samples. Analytical statistics, including chi-square and multivariable logistic regression, were employed for data analysis using SPSS, Version 26. The study revealed that 72 animals (18.8%) and 20 farms (41.7%) tested positive for BVDV antibodies. All the tested samples were negative for BVDV antigen and viral genome. Age, history of respiratory problems, breeding system, and housing system were statistically associated with seroprevalence (p p p = 0.02). Animals with respiratory issues and those housed in head-to-tail arrangements had 2.7 (p = 0.205) and 4.8 (p = 0.021) times the odds of being seropositive, respectively. In conclusion, a substantial proportion of dairy cattle in the study area are exposed to BVD virus. However, no evidence of persistent infection was found among the dairy farms. Effective management strategies are crucial, including vaccination, biosecurity measures, and housing management.
Seid et al. (Thu,) studied this question.