title: Endometritis in postparturient cattle associated with bovine herpesvirus-4 infection: 15 cases.
abstract: Suppurative, ulcerative endometritis associated with bovine herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4) infection was identified in 15 postparturient dairy cows from 5 separate dairies. Characteristic eosinophilic to amphophilic intranuclear viral inclusion bodies were identified within degenerate endometrial lining epithelium and endothelial cells. Bovine herpesvirus-4 was confirmed as the etiology by a combination of fluorescent antibody assays, viral isolation, heminested PCR, ultrastructural examination of the uterus and inoculated tissue culture cells, and negative-stain electron microscopy of tissue culture supernatant. Viral particles measuring 70-95 nm were demonstrated in uterine epithelial and endothelial cells by electron microscopy. Bacteria including Arcanobacterium pyogenes, Escherichia coli, and an alpha-Streptococcus isolate were isolated from all uteri. Bovine herpesvirus-4-associated endometritis has been previously reported in sporadic cases in Europe but has not been previously reported in the United States. Endometritis associated with BHV-4 appears to be an emerging syndrome in Georgia dairy herds.
authors.affiliation: University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory, 31973, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Frazier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pence
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mauel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liggett
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hines
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sangster
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Lehmkuhl
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Styer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Baldwin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004716:Endometritis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D026021:Herpesvirus 4, Bovine / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D049590:Postpartum Period; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014599:Uterus / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral