Bovine viral diarrhoea virus antigen in foetal calf serum batches and consequences of such contamination for vaccine production.
A protocol to test foetal calf serum (FCS) for contamination with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) is described. Following this protocol, which combines cell culture methods and detection of pestivirus RNA, seven batches of FCS were tested. Infectious BVDV was detected in four of those batches. One of the remaining batches contained a relatively high number of non-infectious BVDV particles. A sample of this batch was formulated with aluminium hydroxide and aluminium phosphate as adjuvant into an experimental vaccine preparation. This product was injected twice into BVDV seronegative cattle with a 4 week interval. Blood samples taken 4 weeks after the second application were negative for BVDV specific antibodies. Our data stress that detection of BVDV RNA is not sufficient for a complete risk assessment on FCS. Discrimination between infectious and non-infectious BVDV is essential. This can only be achieved by cell culture methods.
Makoschey
B
B
Virological R&D Department, Intervet International b.v., Wim de Körverstraat 35, NL-5831 AN, Boxmeer, The Netherlands. Birgit.Makoschey@Intervet.com
van Gelder
P T J A
PT
Keijsers
V
V
Goovaerts
D
D
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D017931:DNA Primers; D001908:Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004340:Drug Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D044967:Serum / Q000821:virology*; D014612:Vaccines; D038301:Virus Inactivation
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D003470:Culture Media; D017931:DNA Primers; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014612:Vaccines