Published on 9 February 2026

Blog Katja Moser – The bovine viral diarrhoea BVD

“The aim was to develop a diagnostic test that allows antibodies against BVDV and BDV to be differentiated more quickly than with the only differentiation method currently in use”

Eradication of BVD in Switzerland: from basic research to the successful development of diagnostic testing

The bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) is a pestivirus that affects bovines. It has been part of the Swiss eradication programme since 2008. Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) in cattle is now almost eradicated. However, the closely related border disease virus (BDV) remains a challenge. This is particularly common in sheep, but can also affect bovines and be mistakenly identified as BVDV.

Pestiviruses, such as BVDV and BDV, can cause significant economic losses. Because both are animal diseases, affected farms are put under quarantine. However, the length of the quarantine is not the same for BVDV and BDV. Differentiation of BVDV and BDV antibodies is important to identify the source of infection and thus to support the BVD eradication programme, and also to determine how long a farm needs to be placed under quarantine.

It is currently only possible to differentiate these two antibodies using the time-consuming and resource-intensive cross-serum neutralisation test (cross-SNT).

Interview with veterinarian Dr Katja Moser

• What was the aim of your doctoral thesis?

  The aim was to develop a luciferase immunoprecipitation system (LIPS) assay on the E2 surface protein of the pestiviruses, which allows us to differentiate between BVDV and BDV antibodies. The developed test had to manage without cell cultures and had to be quicker to conduct than the only differentiation method currently in use, cross-SNT. The objective here is for the LIPS test to replace the cross-SNT in future.

• What are the main findings of your thesis?

  The LIPS assay was able to identify seropositive bovine sera with a high level of accuracy. It also successfully differentiated BVDV and BDV antibodies with a very high concordance rate of 96% compared with cross-SNT. Remarkably, the LIPS test only needed two virus strains, compared to the three virus strains in the cross-SNT, which further simplifies testing.
  
  Although many more bovine sera need to be tested to confirm and validate the results, the LIPS test has great potential to replace the cross-SNT in the near future.

• To what extent will your findings help to advance research?

  The results from the E2-LIPS test were very promising with regard to differentiation of BVDV and BDV antibodies and in terms of replacing the previously used cross-SNT. The LIPS test can be carried out much more quickly and is also economical as no cell cultures are needed.
  
  The LIPS method was already known as a rapid method of serological testing (detection of antibodies) in the blood and sometimes even to distinguish between different antibodies (for example between tick-borne encephalitis and West Nile fever in dogs).
  
  My thesis validated the scope of application of the LIPS test to differentiate between antibodies against different virus strains. LIPS tests can also tell whether antibodies come from vaccination or infection. They could therefore be used to distinguish antibodies against other virus strains. The method would also be advantageous for serological tests against viruses for which no cell culture model exists or where high biosafety conditions apply (BSL-3 and BSL-4).

• What aspect of this work are you particularly proud of?

  Besides the positive and promising results, I’m proud of the way we successfully saw the project through to completion and stayed positive throughout, despite a number of obstacles and an ambitious schedule.

• What did you especially like about working on your thesis?

  I really enjoyed working in the lab and carrying out the various experiments. I didn’t have that much previous lab experience, and so I was able to learn a great deal in this area.

• How was your time at the IVI?

  I had a really good time at the IVI – I got to learn a lot and meet some great people. I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you for the opportunity and also to everyone who helped me with the work.

• What’s next for you?

  I’d like to get something else published. However, for that, a few more LIPS experiments need to be conducted first.
  I personally will be stepping away from the lab and working as a vet in a small animal practice.

Information about BVD

• Eradication of bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) in Switzerland
• Bovine Virus-Diarrhoe BVD BLV (German)