The pandemic caused by the new coronavirus (Covid-19) has brought reflections and questions related to the most diverse areas such as health, economic and social education, becoming a unique health problem. Cattle, for example, are affected by a coronavirus, called BCoV, which is different from the Covid-19 virus. BCoV only affects cattle and is not transmitted to humans through contact with animals and consumption of meat and its by-products. The clarification is made by researchers from the Department of Agriculture and Supply of the State of São Paulo, who work at the Biological Institute (IB-APTA).
BCoV brings economic losses to producers, whether in beef or dairy farming, by causing neonatal diarrhea in calves and winter dysentery in adult cattle, associated in some cases with respiratory diseases, according to IB researchers. “Covid-19, caused by Sars-CoV-2 and is restricted to transmission between humans, although the presence of this agent has already been identified in dogs, cats, tigers and lions, always associated with transmission from humans to animals. Animal coronaviruses are species-specific, that is, dogs only affect dogs, cats only affect cats, and so on. In this way, cattle are also affected by coronavirus, in this case called BCov”, explains Liria Hiromi Okuda, researcher at the Institute.
According to IB researchers, Liria Hiromi Okuda and Adriana Hellmeister de Campos Nogueira Romaldini, BCoV belongs to the Coronaviridae family, Alphabetacoronavirus genus, while Sars-CoV-2 belongs to the Betacoronavirus genus. Distributed worldwide, BCoV is considered endemic and its frequency is influenced by breeding systems and type of exploitation, with intensive management leading to a higher rate of transmission between animals.
“The first description of BCoV in Brazil was reported in 2002 on dairy farms in the State of São Paulo, with a higher frequency of diarrhea being observed in young calves, aged between one and three weeks of age. Gastroenteritis is also observed in adult cattle in winter, demonstrating the seasonal characteristic of the disease among cattle and associated with respiratory problems such as fever, dyspnea and bronchopneumonia”, says Liria.
Some animals do not show symptoms of BCoV and end up transmitting the infection, they are called asymptomatic carriers. “Factors such as low temperatures, poor ventilation, incidence of ultraviolet light and humidity, management practices, age, presence of other enteropathogens, immunity and nutritional status of the host can enhance the transmission of the disease in the herd”, explains Adriana.
IB researchers say that the form of transmission of bovine coronavirus is mainly via the oral-fecal route, but that the presence of droplets and ingestion of contaminated water and feed are also potential carriers. “The transmission of BCoV from wild ruminants to domestic ruminants, such as cattle, has been reported by some researchers,” says Liria.
As with other species of coronavirus, there is no treatment for BCoV, only supportive therapies. “There are vaccines on the market for bovine coronavirus, which can be applied according to the manufacturer. As a containment measure, the producer can separate the sick animal from the herd and introduce supportive therapies to avoid dehydration and opportunistic secondary infections, which can worsen the condition. The animal dies due to other complications and not due to bovine coronavirus”, says Adriana.
Diagnosis
The Biological Institute diagnoses bovine coronavirus using electron microscopy and conventional RT-PCR techniques in the electron microscopy laboratories and Bovine Virus Laboratory, located in São Paulo, Capital. The Institute's Laboratory is accredited by the international standard ISO 17025, related to quality, and is accredited by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA).
Carrying out laboratory diagnosis is important to identify the causal agent and establish control measures in animals. In the case of viral enteric diseases, bovine rotavirus stands out as a differential.
According to IB researchers, for laboratory diagnosis, producers must send feces collected directly from the rectal ampoule and, in the case of respiratory conditions, they can send tracheobronchial lavage and/or nasal swab, kept in saline solution. The material can be sent refrigerated or frozen, duly identified and packed in Styrofoam boxes with recyclable ice, together with the exam request form containing the greatest amount of information about the problem, such as the onset and evolution of the clinical condition, symptoms, vaccines and treatments performed. The address for sending samples is Av. Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves, 1252, Vila Mariana, São Paulo (SP), 04014-900
Source: agrolink
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