The potential of embryo transfer for infectious disease Icontrol in livestock

Abstract

This review of the general epidemiological aspects of embryo transfer indicates that the transfer of embryos provides the opportunity to introduce genetic material into populations of livestock while greatly reducing the risk for transmission of infectious diseases. Studies of specific diseases of livestock confirm that many pathogens are likely to be excluded when embryos are transferred. Twenty years of commercial embryo transfer under field conditions in a variety of species has not resulted in a single documented transmission of an infectious disease agent. Strategies for insuring that embryos are free of pathogens include the use of donors that are specific pathogen-free, washing of embryos, the trypsin treatment of embryos, or a combination of these methods. Although researchers continue to develop new procedures for the treatment of embryos to provide an even greater margin of safety, it is clear that existing techniques for the handling and transfer of embryos can be used to limit the spread of infectious diseases.

Impacto Do Herpesvírus Bovino 1 E Do Vírus Da Diarréia Viral Bovina Na Transferência De Embriões

“…Estratégias de controle da infecção viral em embriões transferidos: Somente três vírus, o vírus da estomatite vesicular, o BoHV-1 e o BoHV-4 foram associados com a capacidade de aderência aos embriões bovinos (STRINGFELLOW et al, 1991). A ZP possui receptores para esses vírus que só podem ser inativados ou removidos por tratamentos com soro hiperimune ou, preferencialmente, com a enzima proteolítica tripsina.…”

Interactions of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus and Foot‐and‐mouth Disease Virus with Bovine Reproductive Tissues and Embryos

“…Investigations of the potential risk of BVDV transmission after embryo transfer started at the end of the 1970s (Singh et al. 1986; Stringfellow et al. 1991).…”

“…Because BVDV has a world-wide prevalence,`BVDV±embryo' interactions have been studied extensively. Investigations of the potential risk of BVDV transmission after embryo transfer started at the end of the 1970s Stringfellow et al 1991). Whereas the majority of these studies on the susceptibility of in vivo-derived bovine embryos to BVDV were`in vitro' experiments, there was one report of an intra-uterine inoculation with CP BVDV at 7 days post-insemination in one uterine horn.…”

Possibility of elimination of pathogen from Babesia infected animals by means of embryo transfer

“…If proper procedures are followed, the risk of transmitting infectious diseases via embryo transfer is lower than with natural mating or artificial insemination (Hare et al, 1986). The general epidemiological aspects of embryo transfer indicates that transfer of embryos provides an opportunity to introduce genetic material into populations of livestock while greatly reducing the risk for transmission of infectious diseases (Stringfellow et al, 1991). Babesiosis is a disease especially of domestic and wild mammals mainly prevalent in the tropics and subtropics areas.…”