A total of 1745 healthy cattle from 295 farms in Saskatchewan and Alberta was tested by ELISA for
antibodies to four viruses.
Antibodies to
infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus were found in 37.8% of sera (59.5% of properties), to
parainfluenza 3 (PI3) virus in 93.9% of sera (99.7% of properties), to bovine respiratory syncytial (BRS) virus in 78.5% of sera (86.6% of properties), and to bovine viral
diarrhea (BVD) virus in 40.6% of sera (66.7% of properties)The prevalence of PI3
viral antibodies among Saskatchewan cattle was not affected by district of origin, breed, sex, age, or vaccination practices, though BRS
viral antibodies appeared less frequent in young, male, and unvaccinated animals.
Antibodies to IBR and BVD viruses were less prevalent in the Prince Albert/Tisdale districts and in young, male, and unvaccinated animals, but were more common in Holstein cattle.
Antibodies to IBR virus appeared less frequent in Herefords.
Antibodies were more prevalent in cattle which had been vaccinated against IBR, BRS, and BVD
virus infections.The relatively small number of cattle sampled from Alberta had a similar prevalence of
antibodies to PI3 and BRS viruses to that seen in cattle in Saskatchewan, though IBR and BVD prevalence rates were lower.