Comparative Analysis of the Prevalence of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in Cattle Populations Based on Detection Methods: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Infectious diseases of cattle, including bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), pose a significant health threat to the global livestock industry. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infections in cattle populations through a systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were systematically searched for relevant articles reporting the prevalence of and associated risk factors in studies published between 1 January 2000 and 3 February 2023. From a total of 5111 studies screened, 318 studies were included in the final analysis. BVDV prevalence in cattle populations was estimated using various detection methods. The analysis detected heterogeneity in prevalence, attributed to detection techniques and associated risk factors. Antibody detection methods exhibited a higher prevalence of 0.43, reflecting the cumulative effect of detecting both active and past infections. Antigen detection methods showed a prevalence of 0.05, which was lower than antibody methods. A prevalence of 0.08 was observed using nucleic acid detection methods. The health status of the examined cattle significantly influenced the prevalence of BVDV. Cattle with bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) exhibited higher antibody (prevalence of 0.67) and antigen (prevalence 0.23) levels compared to cattle with reproductive problems (prevalence 0.13) or diarrhea (prevalence 0.01). Nucleic acid detection methods demonstrated consistent rates across different health conditions. Age of cattle influenced prevalence, with higher rates in adults compared to calves. Risk factors related to breeding and reproduction, such as natural or extensive breeding and a history of abortion, were associated with increased prevalence. Coinfections with pathogens like bovine herpesvirus-1 or Neospora caninum were linked to higher BVDV prevalence. Management practices, such as commingling, introducing new cattle, and direct contact with neighboring farms, also influenced prevalence. Herd attributes, including larger herd size, and the presence of persistently infected cattle, were associated with higher prevalence. These findings indicated the importance of detection methods and risk factors in BVDV epidemiological studies.