Background: Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (IBR/IPV) is a
significant disease among domestic and wild cattle. The BHV-1 infection was first detected in
Finland in 1970; presumably it was imported in 1968. The infection reappeared in the large-scale
bulk-tank milk surveillances which started in 1990, and was eradicated in 1994. Our aim is to
describe the epidemiology of this infection in Finland, and its eradication.
Materials and methods: The official sources of pertinent information, the legal basis for the
disease control and the serological methods for the detection of the infection are described.
Results and conclusion: Ten AI bulls were found to be seropositive in 1970–1971. The total
number of herds with BHV-1 antibody positive animals in the large-scale surveillance in 1990 and
subsequent epidemiological investigations in 1991 was five, and the total number of seropositive
animals was 90. The five herds formed three epidemiological units; semen of at least one bull
seropositive in 1971 had been used in each unit. This remained the only plausible route of infection
in each of the three units. Using the 'test and slaughter' approach and total stamping out in one
herd the infection was eradicated in 1994