Dr. Maria Guelbenzu

BVD & IBR Programme Manager, Animal Health Ireland (AHI)

Maria Guelbenzu is Programme Manager for BVD and IBR with Animal Health Ireland since May 2018. Prior to that, she was Head of the Disease Surveillance and Investigation Branch in the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI).

After graduating, Maria gained five years of experience in mixed practice in Northern Ireland before joining AFBI as a Veterinary Research Officer.

She was awarded a PhD from Queens University, Belfast, in 2015 for research on BVD.

IBR: Impacts and Control

Summary

Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) is a highly infectious respiratory disease of cattle.
Infected animals typically recover but become carriers of the virus. Under stress, they may start shedding virus and infecting other animals.
Approximately 75% of Irish herds contain animals that have been exposed to IBR and are carriers.
Irish suckler herds involved in the BETTER Farm Beef Programme that participated in the Pilot IBR Programme had 30 animals tested for IBR per herd (snapshot test).
Results showed that over 50% of the tested herds had a negative snapshot test, indicating the absence or low number of IBR-positive animals in the herd.
Snapshot testing can be used to get an initial indication of the herd’s IBR status, providing information to better manage risk, improve biosecurity and inform decisions on vaccination at herd level.

Download the full paper: IBR – impacts and control

Download the presentation: Maria Guelbenzu – IBR Impacts and Control – Presentation