U.S. BVDV Symposium to be held Jan. 25-27

TSCRA Daily News Update, Oct. 28, 2008

U.S. BVDV Symposium to be held Jan. 25-27

The 4th U.S. BVDV Symposium will be held Jan. 25-27, 2009, directly before the National Cattlemen's Beef Association Annual Convention. The Symposium will be held at the Four Points Hotel by Sheraton Phoenix North, Phoenix, Ariz.

Following in the footsteps of the successful meeting in 2005, the symposium on bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is open to producers, researchers, and practicing, technical services and Extension veterinarians who are interested in the latest information on bovine viral diarrhea virus epidemiology, pathogenesis prevention and control.

"This meeting will bring together internationally recognized basic and applied BVDV researchers to discuss the latest in epidemiology, disease and control research," says conference organizer Christopher Chase, DVM, PhD. "In addition, veterinarians and producers will speak on their experience with successful BVDV control programs. This makes this meeting special because we have the marriage of basic knowledge and the practical approaches that work."

Since the previous meeting, new statewide testing and control programs have been developed. "In addition, this meeting will discuss the role of wildlife as a potential point source which is important as we begin developing eradication schemes," Chase adds.

The intensive two-day sessions and poster session will feature the most current BVDV information by noted experts.

Day 1: Range, transmission and virulence

Session 1's program on Monday, Jan. 26 will feature BVDV in zoos, wildlife parks, wild ruminants and alpacas. New information on testicular infection in cattle will be discussed as well as BVDV diagnostics and epidemiology.

Session 2 will cover fetal and maternal gene expression during fetal infection, BVDV in feedlots, BVDV and immunology, pathogenesis and genetics.

Day 2: Vaccination and control

Day 2, Tuesday, Jan.27, will continue with a morning session (Session 3) featuring vaccination, prevention and control. BVDV research needs among industry-affiliated groups will also be discussed.

Day 2: BVDV Applied Session

The BVDV Applied Session on Integrated BVDV control plans for beef operations will take place on Tuesday, Jan.27, starting at 1 p.m. and directly following Session 3 of the BVDV Symposium.

It is geared toward producers, Extension veterinarians and practitioners interested in implementation of BVDV control strategies. The presentations will provide information on planning control programs using effective tests, vaccines and management strategies with the goal of preventing new infections as well as eliminating existing herd infections. This program will also feature a cattlemen-veterinarian panel on eliminating and controlling BVDV in cattle herds.

Since their inception in 2002, the U.S. BVDV Symposia have been a great opportunity for researchers, practitioners and clinicians involved in all aspects of BVDV research – from basic virology to control – to meet and share ideas.

The registration fee for "BVDV Variability: Impact on Virulence, Host Range and Control" is $275 ($300 if BVDV Applied Session is added). The registration fee for "Integrated BVD Control Plans for Beef Operations Applied Session" alone is $50.

For more information on registration, lodging and a complete agenda, visit www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=10851.