Generation of Reagents to be Used in the Detection and
Control of Viral Pathogens in Alpaca with
Particular Emphasis on Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus
Julia Ridpath, PhD, National Animal Disease Center
Midwest Area, USDA, Ames Iowa
$22,840
10/1/08-9/30/10While bovine viral diarrhea viruses (BVDV) have long been recognized as economically important pathogens of cattle, the infection of alpacas with BVDV has, until recently, been considered inconsequential. However, there has been an increase in the reporting of BVDV associated reproductive disease and persistent infection in alpacas. High genetic similarity among the BVDV isolated from these outbreaks suggests that the increase is not due to increased transfer of BVDV from cattle to alpaca but rather due to the adaptation of a few BVDV strains to improved replication in alpaca. Thus far these new BVDV are not widely dispersed among alpaca populations. However, to prevent these strains from becoming widespread, a BVDV control program in alpaca should be instituted. The goal of this proposal is to generate reagents, namely alpaca cell cultures and alpaca based ELISA's, that are necessary to the development of such a control program.