The outcome of widespread use of semen from a bull persistently infected with pestivirus

Abstract

During the certification of the bulls at an artificial breeding centre for freedom from pestivirus infection, a single viraemic bull was identified, and further testing confirmed that it was persistently infected. The two-year-old bull was healthy and of similar bodyweight to its peers. Its semen was of normal quality on the basis of density, motility and morphological criteria. Approximately 600 doses of semen had been distributed for sire evaluation purposes to 97 dairy farms. An examination of the breeding records indicated a first service conception rate of 38 per cent. All but one of the 162 cows inseminated with the bull's semen were seropositive compared with 95 of 143 cows (66.4 per cent) inseminated with semen from other bulls. Virological studies of the 61 calves sired by the persistently infected bull revealed that two were persistently infected, but that the others were healthy and uninfected. It was concluded that the semen from this bull was a potential source of pestivirus infection for 'clean' herds.

Prevalence of bovine viral diarrhea virus infection in bulls in artificial insemination centers in Poland

“…Also acutely infected cattle shed virus in excretions and secretions during viremia (Houe, 1995). BVDV is also excreted in semen in both acutely and persistently infected bulls (Whitmore et al, 1978;Meyling and Jensen, 1988;Paton et al, 1989;Kirkland et al, 1991Kirkland et al, , 1994Kommisrud et al, 1996). Use of BVDVinfected semen may lead to acute infection in cows and acute or persistent infection in Veterinary Microbiology 64 (1999) 253±257 their progeny.…”

Prevention of transplacental transmission of moderatevirulent classical swine fever virus after single or double vaccination with an e2subunit vaccine

“…The most likely explanation for this finding is that replication of the challenge virus was reduced by anti-E2 immunoglobulin or local cellular immunity to such an extent that the amount of Ems and NS3 viral protein produced was not sufficient to induce a detectable immune response. Other viral agents, among which other members of the pestivirus genus (9,12,15,23,26,29,35), parvovirus (16), the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (13), and rubella virus (10,21,28,31,34), can also produce congenital persistent infections which are of importance for the epidemiology of these viruses in livestock and humans.…”

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

“…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.…”