Cattle are a potential reservoir of bubaline herpesvirus 1 (BuHV1)

Abstract

In the present work, controlled experimental infection and transmission studies in domestic cattle (Bos taurus) and water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) were carried out to study the in vivo behaviour of bubaline herpesvirus 1 (BuHV1). Two bovine and two buffalo calves were infected with BuHV1 (20287N isolate) by intranasal aerosolisation. Two sentinel cattle did not receive the virus challenge, but were housed with infected buffaloes to evaluate horizontal transmission. All experimentally inoculated animals showed viral infection and respiratory clinical signs. BuHV1 experimentally infected calves showed intermittent viral excretion between 2 days and 18 days postinfection (dpi) with a maximum titre of excretion of 106 TCID50/ml and moderate rhinitis between 2 dpi and 20 dpi. BuHV1 experimentally inoculated buffaloes showed mild respiratory signs, which consisted mainly of serous nasal secretions during the infection period. Sentinel calves showed mucosal specific IgG1 antibodies at seven days postcontact. Viral DNA was detected by PCR and sequencing in both buffaloes and sentinel calves, which could be associated with latency. In conclusion, this study showed the susceptibility of cattle to BuHV1 after both experimental infection and contact with infected buffaloes. These data increase the scarce knowledge on the pathogenesis in natural host and the susceptibility of cattle to BuHV1 experimental infection.

Molecular characterization and virulence of an alphaherpesvirus isolated from a BoHV1 gB-seropositive and gE-seronegative Italian buffalo

“…The BuHV1 described in this study has been isolated from nasal and vaginal swabs from an infected buffalo after glucocorticoid treatment. The virus caused mild disease when inoculated in an uninfected and unvaccinated buffalo; it is thus possible that this virus spreads among animals without obvious clinical signs but causing seroconversion, as reported also for other different ruminant species (Maidana et al, 2016;Camero et al, 2017).…”

“…Decision (2004/558/EC) does not regard bubaline animals, however this study suggests that cattle infected by this BuHV1 strain could result gB-positive by BoHV1 ELISA tests. Although herpesviruses are generally species-specific, BuHV1 infection in cattle and goats has been recently reported (Maidana et al, 2016;Camero et al, 2017) and cross-infection cannot be ruled out.…”

A Qualitative PCR Assay for the Discrimination of Bubaline Herpesvirus 1, Bovine Herpesvirus 1 and Bovine Herpesvirus 5

“…It was found in the trigeminal ganglia of experimentally infected water buffaloes, even if the virus reactivation was not observed. Conversely, cattle were shown to be susceptible to BuHV-1 infection even though the infected animals did not develop severe clinical signs [ 5 , 11 , 27 , 28 , 30 ]. Therefore, the increased interest in IBR eradication and control plans is related to a high probability of interspecies circulation of alphaherpesviruses in ruminants [ 31 ].…”

Evaluation of Hematological Profiles and Monocyte Subpopulations in Water Buffalo Calves after Immunization with Two Different IBR Marker Vaccines and Subsequent Infection with Bubaline alphaherpesvirus-1

“…Bubaline alphaherpesvirus- 1 (BuAHV-1) and Bovine alphaherpesvirus-1 (BoAHV-1) are respiratory pathogens that can cause infection in both buffalo and bovine species [ 4 ].…”