Percutaneous collection of fetal fluids for detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus infection in cattle.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a method for percutaneous collection of fetal fluid from cattle in the late stages of gestation and determine whether bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) can be isolated from such fluids.


METHODS
Case series.


METHODS
169 pregnant beef cattle.


METHODS
Animals were restrained in a squeeze chute, and hair was clipped from a region of the right flank. Pregnancy was confirmed, and fetal fluids were identified by means of abdominal ultrasonography. Fetal fluid was collected with a spinal needle. Virus isolation was performed on fetal fluids, WBC lysates from 160 live calves, and tissues from 12 calves that died or were aborted. Blood samples collected from adult cattle were assayed with an immunoperoxidase monolayer assay.


RESULTS
Fourteen animals aborted or delivered premature calves within 3 weeks after fetal fluid collection; however, it could not be determined whether this was a complication of the procedure or attributable to other factors. Results of BVDV isolation from fetal fluid samples were negative for 168 animals. However, a noncytopathic BVDV was isolated from fetal fluid obtained from a 2-year-old heifer; results of the immunoperoxidase assay of serum from this heifer were also positive, and a noncytopathic BVDV was isolated from tissue specimens from a stillborn calf produced by this heifer.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that fetal fluids can be collected percutaneously from cattle in the late stages of gestation and that virus isolation performed on fetal fluids can be used to identify fetuses infected with BVDV in utero. However, safety of the procedure could not be evaluated.
Callan
Robert J
RJ
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523-1620, USA.
Schnackel
John A
JA
Van Campen
Hana
H
Mortimer
Robert G
RG
Cavender
Jacqueline A
JA
Williams
Elizabeth S
ES
D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000209:etiology; D000649:Amniocentesis / Q000662:veterinary; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D001912:Bovine Virus Diarrhea-Mucosal Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002417:Cattle; D001908:Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D005333:Fetus / Q000821:virology; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000662:veterinary; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012449:Safety; D014463:Ultrasonography