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. 2012 Oct;90(10):381-6.
doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2012.00978.x. Epub 2012 Aug 16.

Coronavirus infection in intensively managed cattle with respiratory disease

P M Hick  1 , A J Read, I Lugton, F Busfield, K E Dawood, L Gabor, M Hornitzky, P D Kirkland
Affiliations

Coronavirus infection in intensively managed cattle with respiratory disease

P M Hick et al. Aust Vet J. 2012 Oct.

Abstract

Background: A detailed laboratory investigation identified bovine coronavirus (BCoV) as the aetiological agent in an outbreak of respiratory disease at a semi-intensive beef cattle feedlot in south-east Australia. The outbreak caused 30% morbidity in the resident population and also affected two cohorts of cattle that were newly introduced to the property.

Methods: At slaughter, pulmonary consolidation and inflammatory lesions in the trachea were identified in 15 of 49 animals. Pasteurella multocida or Histophilus somni was cultured from 3 of 7 animals with lesions. Histopathological examination revealed multifocal non-suppurative bronchointerstitial pneumonia with formation of epithelial syncytial cells, sometimes associated with suppurative bronchopneumonia.

Results: BCoV was detected in nasal swabs and pulmonary lesions using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay and virus isolation. There was serological evidence of previous exposure to bovine viral diarrhoea virus, bovine respiratory syncytial virus and bovine parainfluenza virus type 3, but not to bovine herpesvirus type 1. None of these viral pathogens or Mycoplasma bovis was identified by qRT-PCR.

Conclusion: This is believed to be the first report of BCoV in association with bovine respiratory disease complex in Australia.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Lung of a steer infected with bovine coronavirus, showing consolidation of the cranioventral lobes with multifocal to coalescing bronchopneumonia. (b) Trachea from a steer infected with bovine coronavirus showing petechial haemorrhages on the mucosa and mucopurulent exudate.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Sample of the lung of a steer infected with bovine coronavirus showing multinucleate epithelial syncytial cells in a collapsed bronchiole (arrowheads). (b) Sample of the lung of a calf infected with bovine coronavirus showing marked hyperplasia of the bronchiole‐associated lymphoid tissue, with hyperplasia and focal disruption of the bronchiolar epithelium by infiltrating lymphocytes. (Haematoxylin and eosin staining.)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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