Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection in relation to fertility in heifers.
In this study, blood serum and leukocyte samples were collected from 400 Holstein heifers, all of which appeared to be healthy. Antibodies (Ab) against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) were detected in 57 serum samples, and BVDV antigen (Ag) was detected in 38 leukocyte samples. There were statistically important differences between the average first insemination ages (FIT) of the BVDV (Ag-/Ab+) heifers (p<0.0001) (pregnant p<0.05, nonpregnant p<0.0001) and BVDV (Ag-/Ab-) heifers. The average conception rates (CR) of BVDV (Ag-/Ab+) heifers and BVDV (Ag-/Ab-) heifers were not significant statistically. There were statistically important differences in average FIT between persistent infected (PI) BVDV (Ag+/Ab-) heifers (p<0.0001; PI pregnant p<0.05, PI nonpregnant p<0.0001) and BVDV (Ag-/Ab-) heifers. No significant differences in average CR between PI BVDV (Ag+/Ab-) heifers and BVDV (Ag-/Ab-) heifers were found. The differences in average FIT between BVDV (Ag+/Ab+; p<0.0001; nonpregnant p<0.0001) and BVDV (Ag-/Ab-) heifers were important statistically. Although there were no BVDV (Ag+/Ab+) pregnant heifers, the differences in average CR between BVDV (Ag+/Ab+) pregnant heifers and BVDV (Ag-/Ab-) heifers were found to be statistically important (p<0.0001). We conclude that fertility is affected in heifers with BVDV (Ag-/Ab+, Ag+/Ab- and Ag+/Ab+).
Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Burdur,Turkey. drmkalex@yahoo.com
Mehmet
M
Kale
Sibel
S
Yavru
Ayhan
A
Ata
Mesih
M
Kocamüftüoglu
Orhan
O
Yaplcl
Sibel
S
Haslrcloglu
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001912:Bovine Virus Diarrhea-Mucosal Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D002417:Cattle; D001908:Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral; D005260:Female; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D011247:Pregnancy
D000914:Antibodies, Viral