Bovine Ephemeral Fever

(Three-day Sickness)
Muhammad Hasnain
2020-dvmje-029

1
Etiology and Epidemiology of Bovine
Ephemeral Fever
 Bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV)
 Genus: Ephemerovirus
 Family: Rhabdoviridae
 Single-stranded, negative sense RNA
 The virus is ether-sensitive and readily inactivated at pH levels below 5 and
above 10
 Single serotype
 Several closely related ephemeroviruses (including Berrimah virus, Kimberley
virus, Malakal virus, Adelaide River virus, Obodhiang virus, Puchong virus,
Kotonkan virus, Koolpinyah virus, and Mavingoni virus) have been identified.

2
Etiology and Epidemiology of Bovine
Ephemeral Fever
 Only Kotonkan virus (isolated in Nigeria) has been associated with clinical
ephemeral fever in cattle.
 Bovine ephemeral fever is most prevalent in the wet season in the tropics
and in summer to early autumn in the subtropics or temperate regions
(when conditions favor multiplication of biting insects); it disappears
abruptly in winter.
 Animals are affected within days or 2–3 weeks.
 Morbidity: 80% ; Mortality: 1%-2% ( higher in lactating cows, bulls in good
condition, and fat steers (10%–30%).)
 Mortality in outbreaks have exceeded 10%.

3
Transmission

 Transmission by contact or fomites does not occur.

 No infection from virus culture.
 Virus spread appears to be associated with winds and transportation of
animals.
 Culicoides species and from anopheline and culicine mosquito species
collected in the field, the identity of the major vectors has not been proved.

4
Clinical Findings in Bovine Ephemeral
Fever
Biphasic to polyphasic fever (40°–42°C [104°–107.6°F])
shivering
inappetence
tearing
serous nasal discharge
drooling
pulmonary emphysema
increased heart rate
tachypnea or dyspnea
atony of forestomachs
depression
stiffness and lameness
 a sudden decrease in milk yield

5
Clinical Findings

https://images.app.goo.gl/D13GCQGuZHgAnmSu5

https://images.app.goo.gl/ZmqWpJ53iogsXtK47
6
Clinical Findings in Bovine Ephemeral
Fever
 Milder in water buffalo.
 Affected cattle may become recumbent and paralyzed for 8 hours to >1 week.
 Milk production recovery failure.
 The virus does not appear to cross the placenta or affect the fertility of the
cow.
 Apparently, bulls, heavy cattle, and high-lactating dairy cows are the most
severely affected.
 Decreased muscle mass and lowered fertility in bulls.

7
Lesions

 Bovine ephemeral fever is an inflammatory disease. The most common

lesions include:
 Polyserositis affecting pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal surfaces.
 Serofibrinous polysynovitis, polyarthritis, polytendinitis, and cellulitis.
 Focal necrosis of skeletal muscles.

 Histomorphologic abnormalities in peripheral nerves and brain have been

detected as well. Generalized edema of lymph nodes and lungs, as well as
atelectasis, also may be present.

8
Diagnosis

Clinical signs
 PCR identification of the virus

 A differential WBC count on blood smears can either support or refute a

presumptive field diagnosis.
 Plasma fibrinogen rises on the day of peak fever and remains elevated for at
least 7 days.
 Hypocalcemia may occur one day after fever onset.

9
Treatment and Control of Bovine
Ephemeral Fever
 NSAIDs( Phenylbutazone 10ml per animal/cattle)
 Supportive care for recumbent cows

Complete rest is the most effective treatment for Bovine Ephemeral Fever, and animal should not be worked
because relapse is likely.
Control:
“BOVINE EPHEMERAL FEVER VACCINE ・ K-KB”, an inactivated vaccine for bovine ephemeral fever in Pakistan.
Attenuated BEF vaccine effective.
Inactivated virus vaccine; no long-term protection.
Vector control uncertain; because the insect vectors have not been fully identified.
No zoonotic evidence.

10
Key Points

Bovine ephemeral fever is a disease of cattle and water buffalo caused by a

rhabdovirus and transmitted by flying, biting insects.
Because of the inflammatory nature of the disease, NSAIDs are very effective at
relieving clinical signs and pain.
 Vaccine effectiveness varies. Inactivated vaccines provide only short-term
immunity and should be administered at least three times to gain some
effectiveness in prevention of clinical signs.

11
 Reference: MSD
 https://www.msdvetmanual.com/generalized-conditions/bovine-ephemeral-
fever/bovine-ephemeral-fever#v3275671

12