Detection of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in the Ovaries of Cattle Acutely Infected with Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus

Abstract

Abstract. Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is recognized worldwide as a major cause of economic loss in cattle. Infection with BVDV can result in several clinical outcomes. However, the reproductive consequences may be the most important. Infertility, early embryonic death, abortion, and congenital anomalies have all been reported following acute infection with BVDV. The cause of infertility following acute BVDV infection is not known. BVDV has been isolated from the bovine ovary and has been associated with chronic oophoritis. The purpose of this study was to identify the ovarian cell types infected with BVDV following acute infection. Twelve heifers were acutely infected with noncytopathic BVDV, and ovariectomies were performed between 4 and 60 days postinfection. BVDV was isolated on days 6 and 8 postinfection. Viral antigen was detected in macrophage-like cells and stromal cells in the ovarian cortex and oophoritis was evident from 6 to 60 days postinfection. These findings indicate that acute infection with BVDV may result in changes in ovarian function that could lead to reduced fertility.Infection of cattle with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) can result in many clinical manifestations. 7 Reproductive effects may be the most important consequence following acute infection of susceptible cattle. Reduced fertility, early embryonic death, abortions, and various congenital anomalies have been reported to occur following acute BVDV infection. 25 Reduced fertility in cattle with BVDV infection has been reported and is often a significant complaint in herds where BVDV has been identified. 17,23 Although the mechanism of this reduced fertility has not been determined, several suggested explanations include failure of fertilization, 14 early embryonic death, 5 and ovarian dysfunction. 19 Herd fertility problems have also been associated with poor quality semen originating from bulls persistently infected with BVDV. 21 BVDV has been isolated from the ovaries of cattle experimentally infected with BVDV 27 and from ovaries collected from abattoirs. 8 Chronic oophoritis has also been described following acute infection with BVDV. 27 These findings could lead to changes in ovarian function, resulting in a reduction in fertility. Previous studies have suggested that ovarian function may be changed in cattle acutely 19 or persistently 15 infected with BVDV. The purpose of this study was to identify, using immunohistochemistry, ovarian cell types that are infected with BVDV following acute infection. Received for publication August 18, 1997.With an understanding of the cell types involved in BVDV infection of the ovary, hypotheses concerning potential causes of infertility manifested at the level of the ovary can be formulated. Materials and methodsTwelve postpubertal Angus heifers were determined to be BVDV negative by virus isolation and BVDV seronegative by virus neutralization assay. The heifers were infected intranasally with 5 ml of tissue culture medium containing 10 5 CCID 50 /ml of noncytopathic BVDV isolate...

Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Infections

“…51 Oophoritis, characterized by the presence of virusinfected macrophages, was seen following acute infection of heifers. 66 Follicular growth in ovaries from acutely infected heifers was impaired during the 2 subsequent estrous cycles after acute infection. 65 …”

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from field cattle immune to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) are permissive in vitro to BVDV

“…Ncp BVDVs are the prominent biotypes in the field and cause persistent infection, vital for transmission and survival of BVDV. BVDV infection in susceptible cattle can lead to either acute infection in immuno-competent animals, persistent infection in developing, immunologically naïve bovine fetus or a chronic infection within immune-privileged sites (testicular tissue, ovarian tissue and central nervous system's tissue) following transient infection (Voges et al, 1998;Grooms et al, 1998;Givens et al, 2003;Blas-Machado et al, 2004). Cattle with prolonged BVDV infection will develop a significant immune response accompanied by high neutralizing antibody titers (Voges et al, 1998;Givens et al, 2003).…”

Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) Infection in Relation to Fertility in Heifers

“…Brownlie et al [5] determined the existence of BVDV Ag in all ovaries of PI heifers. Some researchers [16] explained that the BVD virus in acutely infected animals can cause infertility by affecting ovarian function. In this study, the CR of PI BVDV (Ag+/Ab-) heifers was found to be 53.85%, and that of uninfected animals was found to be 61.21%; no statistical significance was determined between the two groups.…”