Summary of the impact
Impact: Animal Health and Welfare, Economics: The BVD vaccine
associated with emergence of BNP was withdrawn from sale.
Significance: BNP cases have been reported worldwide. On affected
farms, the case fatality rate is very high, with losses of up to 5% of
calves in a herd being reported. Despite the vaccine being withdrawn,
cases continue to be found in some calves born to dams that have been
historically vaccinated. In addition, reporting has increased due to
increased awareness and Zoetis subsidising post-mortem examinations.
However, as an indirect measure, the number of cases being diagnosed at
post-mortem at SRUC fell by 42% between 2012 and 2013.
Beneficiaries: Livestock Industry, Animal Health Company, Farmers.
Attribution: Work performed by University of Edinburgh (Penny,
Morrison, Sargison, Bell) and SRUC (Hosie, Howie, Kerr, Caldow) identified
BNP as a new disease entity, elucidated the cause, and developed
strategies to reduce the incidence. This also involved a collaboration
with the Moredun Research Institute (Willoughby)
Reach: BNP is recognised world-wide (a peak of 4500 cases in 2011)
including France, Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium,
Luxembourg, Italy, and Spain. The disease is unknown in countries which do
not vaccinate against BVD (Denmark, Austria, and Switzerland)