Seroprevalence and comparison of isolates of endometriotropic bovine herpesvirus-4

• Published in: Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation 2002-11, Vol.14 (6), p.457-462
• Main Authors: Frazier, KS, Baldwin, CA, Pence, M, West, J, Bernard, J, Liggett, A, Miller, D, Hines, ME, 2nd
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal productions; Animal viral diseases; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cats; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - epidemiology; Cattle Diseases - pathology; Cattle Diseases - virology; DNA, Viral - analysis; Endometritis - pathology; Endometritis - veterinary; Endometritis - virology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Herpesviridae Infections - epidemiology; Herpesviridae Infections - pathology; Herpesviridae Infections - veterinary; Herpesvirus 4, Bovine - genetics; Herpesvirus 4, Bovine - isolation & purification; Herpesvirus 4, Bovine - pathogenicity; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Terrestrial animal productions; Tumor Virus Infections - epidemiology; Tumor Virus Infections - pathology; Tumor Virus Infections - veterinary; Vertebrates; Viral diseases; Zoonoses
• ISSN: 1040-6387; 1943-4936
• DOI: 10.1177/104063870201400602

College of Veterinary Medicine, Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory, University of Georgia, 31973, USA. Sixty-eight cases of suppurative, ulcerative endometritis associated with Bovine Herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4) in postparturient dairy cows (62 Holsteins and 6 Jerseys, mean age 4.2 years) were confirmed by a combination of histopathology, fluorescent antibody assays, electron microscopic evaluation of uterus, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All cases occurred in the 3- to 28-day postpartum period, and histologic lesions among various cows were consistent when compared with postpartum interval. The endometrial lining epithelium was necrotic and ulcerated from 3 to 7 days postpartum, with only mild inflammation in the lamina propria and submucosa. From 1 to 4 weeks postpartum, the ulcers were confluent to diffuse. Epithelium was replaced by fibrinonecrotic, suppurative mats, resulting in severe bacterial pyometra by day 24. Seroprevalence to BHV-4 in one dairy with a history of 18 mortality cases was 36% (107 of 296). In a random sample of 8 cows from this herd, none had serologic titers in blood sampled 2 weeks prepartum, but 3 of 8 seroconverted with significant titers of 1:8 to 1:16 at 2 weeks postpartum. By 10 weeks postpartum, all 8 cows returned to negative serologic status. Two of 6 cats from the premises also had positive titers. Random serum samples taken from 480 dairy cattle at sale barns indicated 76 (16%) were positive by serum neutralization. Clinical signs, postparturient timing, and histologic lesions were very similar to those previously reported in Belgium with BHV-4. But sequence analysis of PCR products of the glycoprotein B region of 4 separate field isolates of endometriotropic BHV-4 suggests these field isolates were more closely related to the North American nonvirulent strain DN-599 than to the endometriotropic European strain V.