Seroprevalence and comparison of isolates of endometriotropic bovine herpesvirus-4.
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.
Frazier
Kendall S
KS
College of Veterinary Medicine, Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory, University of Georgia, 31973, USA.
Baldwin
Charles A
CA
Pence
Mel
M
West
Joe
J
Bernard
John
J
Liggett
Alan
A
Miller
Debra
D
Hines
Murray E
ME
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004716:Endometritis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D026021:Herpesvirus 4, Bovine / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015047:Zoonoses
D004279:DNA, Viral