title: Bovine herpesvirus 4-associated postpartum metritis in a Spanish dairy herd.
abstract: In more than 10 Spanish dairy cows, a bovine herpesvirus 4 (BHV4) associated postpartum metritis was confirmed by virus isolation, BHV4-glycoprotein B (gB) PCR and/or serology. In this study, 12 cows with, and, at the time of sampling, 3 cows without clinical signs of acute postpartum metritis from one large dairy herd in Spain were examined for bacterial and viral infections. Blood, placenta/caruncles and uterine contents were collected between day 1 and day 20 post-calving, and examined for the presence of bacteria and for viruses by virus isolation, BHV4 DNA by BHV4-gB PCR and/or BHV4 antibody titres. Bovine herpesvirus 4 was detected in 83% of the cases with clinical signs of acute postpartum metritis by virus isolation and/or BHV4-gB PCR. An increase of BHV4 antibodies was detected in all examined postpartum metritis cows and in the 3 cows without clinical metritis. Two of these 3 cows developed severe metritis a few dayss after collecting the first blood sample. A concurrent infections of BHV4 and bacteria, mainly Arcanobacterium pyogenes and Streptococcus sp., were detected in 73% of the examined uterine contents collected from postpartum metritis affected cows. This case-report study showed a clear association between BHV4 infections and acute postpartum metritis in dairy cows. In addition, the BHV4-associated postpartum metritis appeared to be an emerging syndrome in this Spanish herd.
authors.affiliation: Amavet S.L, C/Virgen del Espinar 18, Guadalix de la Sierra, 28794 Madrid, Spain. amavet@terra.es
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monge
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Elvira
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Astiz
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Wellenberg
mesh_terms: D000191:Actinomycetaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary; D004716:Endometritis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D026021:Herpesvirus 4, Bovine / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology