A Clinical Trial of Recombinant Bovine Interferon α₁ for the Control of Bovine Respiratory Disease in Calves

Abstract

The effects of recombinant bovine interferon α₁ (rBoIFNα₁) on the incidence of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) were examined in 60 young male cattle. Each group of clinically healthy 30 male cattle was injected intramuscularly with either rBoIFNα₁ (5mg/head) or physiological saline 5 times in 6 months. They were examined daily for the clinical symptoms of respiratory distress. The clinical signs of respiratory distress in rBoIFNα₁-treated cattle were significantly less severe than those of the placebo group. The incidence rate, relapse rate and mean sick days of respiratory disease in the rBoIFNα₁-treated group were 23%, 14% and 4.43 days, respectively, whereas those in the placebo group were 80%, 46% and 6.42 days, respectively. Furthermore, the mean increase of body weights in rBoIFNα₁-treated group and placebo group were 1.365 kg/day and 1.340 kg/day, respectively. These results suggest that rBoIFNα₁ has a potentially preventive effect on the incidence of BRD.