BOVINE EPHEMERAL FEVER

Synonyms: Three Day Sickness , three-day stiff sickness, three-day, sickness and dengue of
cattle,

Etiology and Nature of the disease

Bovine ephemeral fever (BEF or Bovine Epizootic Fever)  is a non contagious arthropod-borne
disease (arbovirus from the Rhabdoviridae family) of cattle, characterised by an acute fever of
short duration, with high morbidity and low mortality.
Susceptible species
Cattle and buffalo are believed to be the only significant hosts.
Distribution
BEF occurs widely across Africa and Asia, and in areas of northern and eastern Australia. It
does not occur in Europe or the Americas.

Pathogenesis
After entering the body, the three-day fever virus produces polynuclear neutrophils in the
blood 24 hours after infection. Infection of endothelial cells, which is associated with
hypocalcaemia, leads to the development of clinical signs and lesions. Inflammation and
toxaemia in the blood vessels, joints and mucosa are linked with the massive production of
interferon in cells infected with the virus, with plasma fibrinogen found in the joints and the
peritoneal, pleural and cardiac cavities. A sharp fall in blood calcium levels is responsible for the
signs of nerve paralysis observed.
Clinical signs 
Onset of clinical signs is usually rapid. Bulls and fat cows or bullocks tend to be worst affected,
with calves usually only mildly affected. Clinical signs include:
 Fever usually lasting only 1-2 days
 Stiffness, with a shifting lameness affecting one or more legs. Some animals become
recumbent and may remain down for up to a week
 Subcutaneous swelling in the sub-mandibular area or around limb joints
 Elevated respiratory rate and sometimes dyspnoea
 Nasal and ocular discharges
 Drooling of saliva
 Periorbital swelling
 Increased excitability and agitation.
  Severely affected animals lose condition, milking cows suffer a severe drop in production
and cows in advanced pregnancy may abort. In most cases the infection has a short duration with
a rapid recovery. However, occasional cases die and relapses can occur.
Differential diagnosis 
BEF can be suspected on the basis of its transient nature and rapid spread. In individuals it may
resemble conditions such as: 
 Traumatic reticulitis
  Acute laminitis
 Parturient paresis
In early stage 
Diagnosis 
Diagnosis is usually made on clinical grounds during major epidemics. Sporadic cases, or those
occurring early in a possible epidemic can be confirmed by virus isolation or serology. Paired
blood samples should be collected — one during the acute phase, with the second taken 2-3
weeks later.
Molecular Tests: PCR, real-time loopmediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP)
Serological Tests: ELISA, IFT, FAT
Transmission   
BEF is spread by infected insects. The virus has been isolated from a range of potential insect
vectors, including a number of species of Culicoides and several species of mosquito. There may
be a range of vectors involved in spreading the disease, including some that have not yet been
identified.
Risk of introduction   
As virus is only present in the blood for short periods during the acute stage of the diseases and
as cattle and buffalo are not considered to become carriers, BEF is unlikely to be introduced
through the importation of healthy cattle. Infected vectors are an important potential source of
introduction. Strong winds can transport vectors long distances, over land and water.
Establishment of the disease depends on suitable environmental conditions for the vector to
increase and spread.
Control / vaccines  
Animals generally recover quickly without treatment, however the disease is responsive to anti-
inflammatory drugs. These drugs must be given for the expected course of the clinical disease.
During fever, the paresis or paralysis responds to injected calcium borogluconate in the same
manner as parturient paresis (milk fever).
An effective vaccine is available, and can be used to protect animals in the face of an advancing
outbreak, or as a routine in endemic areas.
References
Bovine Ephemeral Fever, In Exotic Animal Disease, the grey Book, Bayer, 1998