Some studies of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus infection in calves.

Six dairy calves, six and one-half to nine months old, were exposed to a strain of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus of bovine fetal origin by one of the various routes - nasal, vaginal, preputial or contact. Neither after initial exposure nor following challenge of their immunity did any of these animals manifest the IBR respiratory syndrome, although two of them (inoculated per vagina/prepuce) developed pustular vulvovaginitis or balanoposthitis. Also, one five-day old dairy calf which had received colostrum and milk of its IBR-immune dam, was inoculated intranasally with the same strain of IBR virus. This animal exhibited severe signs of IBR. The virus was recovered from all but three of the seven calves after initial exposure and from all but one animal following challenge of their immunity. Immune responses of these calves resembled those of adult cattle.