Experimental infection of sheep with ovine herpesvirus 2 via aerosolization of nasal secretions.
Ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2) is the causative agent of sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever in clinically susceptible ruminants, including cattle, bison and deer. Studies of OvHV-2 have been hampered by the lack of an in vitro propagation system. Here, the use of nasal secretions collected from OvHV-2-infected sheep experiencing intense virus shedding episodes as a source of infectious virus for experimental animal infections was examined. OvHV-2 uninfected sheep were nebulized with nasal secretions containing approximately 10(8) to 10(1) copies of OvHV-2 DNA. The time to detectable viral DNA in peripheral blood leukocytes (7-12 days post-infection) and virus-specific antibody in plasma (9-32 days post-infection) varied with the dose of inocula administered. Here, the use of nasal secretions as a source of infectious OvHV-2 was defined and the minimum infectious dose of a pool of nasal secretions that can be used in further studies of viral pathogenesis and vaccine development was determined.
Taus
Naomi S
NS
Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Washington State University, PO Box 646630, Pullman, WA 99164-6630, USA.
Traul
Donald L
DL
Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Washington State University, PO Box 646630, Pullman, WA 99164-6630, USA.
Oaks
J Lindsay
JL
Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
Crawford
Timothy B
TB
Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
Lewis
Gregory S
GS
US Sheep Experiment Station, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Dubois, ID, USA.
Li
Hong
H
Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Washington State University, PO Box 646630, Pullman, WA 99164-6630, USA.
D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*
D000336:Aerosols; D004279:DNA, Viral