Serologic and reproductive findings after a herpesvirus-1 abortion storm in goats.
METHODS
An abortion storm occurred in a goat herd, resulting in 75 aborted kids and 1 neonatal death from December 2004 to February 2005.


RESULTS
Aborted fetuses ranged from being premature to past term. Laboratory findings in 4 of 5 aborted fetuses were consistent with herpesvirus abortion. A virus that yielded positive results with a fluorescent antibody test for bovine herpesvirus-1 was isolated and identified as caprine herpesvirus-1 (CpHV-1) via DNA sequence analysis.


RESULTS
Many does that aborted were rebred for kidding in late summer. Most of the young wethers born in 2005 were sold; however, all of the young does were kept for breeding in fall. In November 2005, all 241 goats in the herd were tested for antibodies against CpHV-1 to identify goats that had seroconverted during the outbreak. No complications attributable to CpHV-1 were identified during kidding in 2006.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of serologic findings, infection with CpHV-1 was not associated with reduced reproductive success in the subsequent breeding.
McCoy
Morgan H
MH
Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, PO Box 14125, Lexington, KY 40512-4125, USA.
Montgomery
Donald L
DL
Bratanich
Ana C
AC
Cavender
Jacque
J
Scharko
Patricia B
PB
Vickers
Mary Lynne
ML
D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006041:Goats; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018140:Varicellovirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral