Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis in Indian Cattle: A Review of Seroprevalence, Epidemiology, and Control Strategies

Abstract

Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), caused by BoHV-1, remains an important viral disease of cattle with respiratory and reproductive manifestations. The infection may present as IBR, infectious pustular vulvovaginitis in females, or infectious balanoposthitis in males. This review synthesises evidence on the seroprevalence, epidemiology, pathogenesis, latency, reproductive consequences, economic impact, and control of BoHV-1 in India. Available Indian studies indicate persistent serological evidence of infection across multiple cattle-rearing states and in buffalo populations, supporting the endemic status described in the manuscript. Direct contact, respiratory secretions, semen, and artificial insemination are relevant routes of transmission, while lifelong latency and stress-associated reactivation complicate detection and control. Reproductive consequences described include infertility, endometritis, abortion, and adverse effects on oocytes, embryos, and semen. The review also examines eradication approaches used in European countries, including surveillance, removal of seropositive animals, biosecurity, and marker-vaccine strategies. In India, control is concentrated mainly in bovine semen-production centres through quarantine, repeated testing, segregation, culling where required, and testing of semen from seropositive bulls. The manuscript highlights the practical difficulty of applying large-scale culling in a country with a large, predominantly smallholder cattle sector. Strengthened surveillance, biosecurity, semen-station control, and appropriate DIVA-based strategies may support progressive, economically feasible control of IBR in India.