What are some common conditions and terms related to beef diseases? Anaplasmosis: An often fatal infectious disease of cattle caused by a microscopic parasite of red blood cells, spread by horsefly bites or by reusing needles or instruments between animals. The risk of the disease is low in most areas but may be higher near river systems. Vaccines are available, but unless the risk is high, a routine vaccination for anaplasmosis is not recommended. Blackleg: A highly fatal disease of young cattle caused by one type of Clostridium bacteria. See Clostridial disease. BRSV (Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus): A virus which can cause severe, acute respiratory disease especially in young cattle. Brucellosis: An infection resulting in abortion in females and inflammation and damage to the testicles in males, caused by the bacterium Brucella abortus. Also known as Bang's disease. See Calfhood Vaccination. BVD (Bovine Virus Diarrhea): A disease caused by a virus, resulting in numerous problems, such as damage to the digestive and immune systems, pneumonia, abortions, calf deformities, and others. Incomplete vaccination programs, such as those omitting a needed booster vaccination, have led to BVD outbreaks in some herds. Calfhood Vaccination (Official Calfhood Vaccination): Vaccination with Brucella abortus Strain 19 for heifers between 4 and 10 months old. The best age is 5 months. Calfhood vaccination must be by a federally accredited veterinarian (Most large animal veterinarians are federally accredited). Vaccination is necessary for heifers being shipped into some states. Official calfhood vaccinates are marked in the right ear with an official orange ear tag and a special tatoo, denoting the quarter and year of vaccination. The decision to have heifer calves vaccinated for brucellosis should be based on the advice of the herd's veterinarian and depends on the marketing plan of the herd. Clostridial disease: Fatal disease of young cattle caused by one of the Clostridium bacteria. Blackleg is the most well known, but other clostridial diseases are also highly fatal. Currently, the most commonly used clostridial vaccination in cattle is the 7-way type which protects against Clostridium chauveoi (blackleg), Clostridium septicum and Clostridium sordelli (malignant ede-ma), Clostridium novyi (black disease), and three types of Clostridium perfringens (enterotoxemia). E. coli: A bacterium which can cause a life-threatening infection and diarrhea (scours) in newborn calves. Some "scours vaccines" given to pregnant females will contain E. coli. Vaccination raises the level of antibodies to E. coli in the dam's colostrum milk suckled by the calf after it is born. Antibodies from colostrum provide the calf's immunity for the first few weeks and months of life. IBR (Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis): A disease caused by a virus, resulting in respiratory signs, reproductive failure, and abortions. Sometimes called "red nose." Often implicated as an infection which initiates the shipping fever complex. Many IBR vaccines include the IBR/PI3/BRSV/BVD virus complex. Leptospirosis (5-varieties): A bacterium causing abortion in pregnant females and sickness in calves. The five varieties include: hardjo, icterohaemorrhagiae, canicola, pomona, and grippotyphosa. Breeding animals should be vaccinated with a 5-way Lepto vaccine at least once a year before the breeding season. Booster vaccination later in the year is recommended. Leptospirosis vaccine is often combined with Vibriosis vaccine. Pasteurella baemolytica: A bacterium causing "shipping fever" pneumonia, often after infection with one of the respiratory viruses such as IBR, PI3, BRSV, or BVD. PI3 (Parainfluenza virus): A virus which can cause respiratory disease, sometimes implicated as an infection which initiates the "shipping fever" complex. Rotavirus: A virus which can cause diarrhea (scours) and dehydration in young calves. Some "scours vaccines" given to pregnant females will contain rotavirus. Vaccination of the pregnant dam raises the level of antibodies to rotavirus in her colostrum, the first milk she produces which is suckled by the calf after it is born. Antibodies from colostrum provide the calf's immunity for the first few weeks and months of life. Trichomonas: A protozoan organism transmitted during breeding which causes failure of early pregnancy, an extended breeding season as females come back into heat, and, less commonly, abortion. Although a vaccine is available to raise the resistance to Trichomonas in the breeding herd, unless the condition has been positively diagnosed, the vaccine is not routinely recommended. Vibriosis: A bacterial disease caused by Campylobacter fetus venerealis, resulting in failure of early pregnancy and an extended breeding season as females come back into heat. Vaccinate breeding bulls and females at least once a year before the breeding season. Vibriosis vaccine is often combined with Leptospirosis in one vaccine. Intramuscular (IM): Injection in the muscle, that is with a needle penetrating directly into the muscle usually at least 1 inch. Subcutaneous (SQ or subq): Injection under the skin, not deep into the underlying muscle. If approved as a route of injection on the vaccine label, subcutaneous injection is the preferred route to avoid muscle damage. Source: Pasture to Market