Assessment of a Rapid Semi-Quantitative Immunochromatographic Test for the Evaluation of Transfer of Passive Immunity in Calves.

Calves are born agammaglobulinemic and they rely on transfer of passive immunity (TPI) through ingestion of colostrum from the dam. Ensuring the effectiveness of TPI through blood serum immunoglobulins (IgG) quantification is of critical importance for the prevention of calf diseases. The main objective of this study was to assess the performance of a novel on-farm immunochromatographic quick assay (SmartStrips, Bio-X Diagnostics, Rochefort, Belgium) compared to the ELISA reference method to directly measure serum IgG concentration and assess TPI status in beef and dairy calves.

The role of roughage provision on the absorption and disposition of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol and its acetylated derivatives in calves: from field observations to toxicokinetics.

A clinical case in Belgium demonstrated that feeding a feed concentrate containing considerable levels of deoxynivalenol (DON, 1.13 mg/kg feed) induced severe liver failure in 2- to 3-month-old beef calves. Symptoms disappeared by replacing the highly contaminated corn and by stimulating ruminal development via roughage administration.

Reconstruction of the Schmallenberg virus epidemic in Belgium: Complementary use of disease surveillance approaches.

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) emerged across Europe in 2011 and Belgium was among the first countries affected. In this study, published findings are combined with new data from veterinary surveillance networks and the Belgian reference laboratory for SBV at the Veterinary and Agrochemical Research centre (CODA-CERVA) to reconstruct the epidemic in Belgium. First retrospective cases of SBV were reported by veterinarians that observed decreased milk yield and fever in dairy cattle in May 2011.