Evaluating Transmission of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus to Cattle by Exposure to Carcasses of Persistently Infected White- tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

deer ABSTRACT Infections with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) clinically analogous to cattle are described in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), but the epidemiologic role of persistently infected (PI) white-tailed deer is unknown. Persistently infected white-tailed deer shed BVDV, maintaining BVDV in groups of deer. Survival of PI white-tailed deer is reduced, and clinically ill or dead PI deer may be a source of BVDV. This study sought to determine if BVDV transmission