title: Molecular Characterization of the First Bovine Herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) Strains Isolated from In Vitro Bovine Embryos production in Argentina.
abstract: Bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) is increasingly considered as responsible for various problems of the reproductive tract. The virus infects mainly blood mononuclear cells and displays specific tropism for vascular endothelia, reproductive and fetal tissues. Epidemiological studies suggest its impact on reproductive performance, and its presence in various sites in the reproductive tract highlights its potential transmission in transfer-stage embryos. This work describes the biological and genetic characterization of BoHV-4 strains isolated from an in vitro bovine embryo production system. BoHV-4 strains were isolated in 2011 and 2013 from granulosa cells and bovine oocytes from ovary batches collected at a local abattoir, used as "starting material" for in vitro production of bovine embryos. Compatible BoHV-4-CPE was observed in the co-culture of granulosa cells and oocytes with MDBK cells. The identity of the isolates was confirmed by PCR assays targeting three ORFs of the viral genome. The phylogenetic analyses of the strains suggest that they were evolutionary unlinked. Therefore it is possible that BoHV-4 ovary infections occurred regularly along the evolution of the virus, at least in Argentina, which can have implications in the systems of in vitro embryo production. Thus, although BoHV-4 does not appear to be a frequent risk factor for in vitro embryo production, data are still limited. This study reveals the potential of BoHV-4 transmission via embryo transfer. Moreover, the high variability among the BoHV-4 strains isolated from aborted cows in Argentina highlights the importance of further research on the role of this virus as an agent with the potential to cause reproductive disease in cattle. The genetic characterization of the isolated strains provides data to better understand the pathogenesis of BoHV-4 infections. Furthermore, it will lead to fundamental insights into the molecular aspects of the virus and the means by which these strains circulate in the herds.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Virología, Departamento de Producción Animal, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Balcarce, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: González Altamiranda
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Virología y Genética Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales Sede Trelew, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Chubut, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Julieta M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Manrique
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), Sede Tandil, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Sandra E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Producción de Embriones, Departamento de Producción Animal, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Balcarce, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Glenda L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Ríos
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Virología, Departamento de Producción Animal, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Balcarce, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Anselmo C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Odeón
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Virología, Departamento de Producción Animal, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Balcarce, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: María R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Leunda
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Virología y Genética Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales Sede Trelew, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Chubut, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Leandro R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Virología, Departamento de Producción Animal, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Balcarce, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004285:Dogs; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology*; D026021:Herpesvirus 4, Bovine / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D061985:Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology*; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral