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A Major Economic Problem
Respiratory disease complex is a general term for a major economic problem in cattle. Both viral and bacterial organisms are participants in the respiratory disease complex of cattle. Viral and bacteria organisms act in different capacities and in conjunction with environmental and management factors to cause a highly complex, difficult to diagnosis, and costly problem for cattle producers.
Environment, primarily weather, and management, such as crowded pens or long truck hauls, cause the stress that sets up a situation for damaging respiratory organisms to establish themselves in otherwise healthy cattle. Stressed cattle are more vulnerable to organisms that weaken an animal's immune system. A weakened immune system allows certain respiratory organisms to incubate. Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) is an example of a virus that weakens immune systems of cattle and sets the stage for other microorganisms to cause tissue damage, pneumonia, and/or inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.
The most common microorganisms associated with respiratory disease in cattle are Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR), Bovine Virus Diarrhea (BVD), Parainfluenza (PI3), and Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV). These organisms are viruses. Bacteria typically included as having a role in respiratory disease complex are Pasteurella multocida, Mannheimia haemolytica, Haemophilus somnus, Mycoplasma bovis , Mycoplasma dispar, and Actinomyces pyogenes.
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