title: Evaluation of pregnant rabbits as a laboratory model for bovid herpesvirus-4 infection.
abstract: A field strain (87-8363) of bovid herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4) isolated from an aborted bovine fetus was used to inoculate pregnant rabbits. Eleven rabbits in midgestation were alloted to 4 groups consisting of 3 infected groups and 1 control group. Rabbits were inoculated with BHV-4 or mock-infected cell culture preparations via IV, intravaginal, and intrauterine routes. Mild vulvovaginitis and endometritis were observed after intravaginal and IV inoculation of BHV-4, whereas intrauterine inoculation of BHV-4 resulted in abortion of hemorrhagic fetuses and nonsuppurative endometritis. Virus was successfully isolated from organ explants of fetal tissues. Rabbits seroconverted 1 week after infection as detected by results of an indirect immunofluorescence assay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul 55108.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Naeem
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Caywood
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Werdin
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Goyal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011817:Rabbits; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014623:Vaginal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*