FASTest® BCV Strip is a rapid immunochromatographic test for the qualitative detection of Bovine Coronavirus antigens in feces of cattle.

Bovine Coronaviruses (BCV) belong to the family Coronaviridae and are spread world-wide as diarrhoea pathogens for cattle. Normally, they appear together with other pathogens of the Neonatal Calf Diarrhoea Complex.

The prevalences can differ, depending on the stock. Mostly, calves of the age between 5 and 21 days are affected. In older animals, BCV are important for the so-called winter dysentery.

The route of transmission of the Bovine Coronaviruses is oronasal. After the intake, the viruses propagate in the alveolar epithelium of the lung, the small intestine (severe villous atrophy) and the colon (destruction of the epithelium cells). The resulting functional disorders lead to a malabsorption syndrome with partially severe diarrhoea, dehydration and metabolic acidosis. The morbidity is high, the lethality comes up to 20%. The pathogen is emitted mainly by feces, but also through the respiratory tract.

Caused by the high infectiveness, often a population problem arises. Here, asymptomatic carriers (especially older young animals and adults) are important, particularly in connection with the winter dysentery of older animals. Therefore, with a suspicion of a Coronavirus stock problem, all animals shall be diagnosed aetiologically, and the management of keeping and feeding shall be examined.

The FASTest® BCV Strip enables the veterinarian a fast and reliable on-site proof of Bovine Coronaviruses for a fast and targeted initiation of suitable therapy and prophylaxis measures and therefore a reduction of the calf loss rate or future infectious outbreaks.