Serological survey on the prevalence of bovine type-4 herpesvirus infection in cattle in the Accra plains of Ghana]

Sera from cattle of the Accra Plains in Ghana were screened for bovine type-4 herpesvirus (BHV-4) antibodies by an indirect immunofluorescence test. Among the 176 screened serums, 14% were found positive at a 1/100 dilution. Further studies are necessary for a better understanding of the relationships between BHV-4 or some other agents and necrotic vaginitis associated with poor fertility observed in cattle in this area.     

Prevalence of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) infection in Hungarian cattle herds.

Hungarian cattle herds were surveyed for bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) infection by ELISA of milk and serum samples. In 1993, 75% of the large cattle herds (consisting of more than 50 cattle) and all small herds (small-scale producers' stocks), while in 1997 90% of the small herds were included in the survey. In the case of large herds, 79.3% of the herds and 64.1% of the samples tested were found to be positive. Of the small herds, 13.5% and 15.7% tested positive in 1993 and 1997, respectively. The majority of large herds were Holstein-Friesian dairy stocks. Small herds with an infection rate markedly exceeding the average were found in those counties where the small herds had been in close contact with the large-scale farms, or where new herds were established by using animals of uncontrolled infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) status originating from large farms. Attention is called to the importance of maintaining the IBR-free status of small herds that constitute one-third of the Hungarian cattle population.     

Effect of dexamethasone on bovine leukocyte functions and bovine herpesvirus type-1 replication.

In an attempt to elucidate the mechanism whereby dexamethasone could reactivate bovine herpesvirus type-1 the effect of dexamethasone on virus replication and leukocyte functions was assessed. No effect was detectable on either virus yield or in vitro replication kinetics. In contrast, dexamethasone influenced several leukocyte functions thought to be of importance in antiviral defense and maintenance of latency. In vitro exposure of peripheral blood polymorphonuclear neutrophilic granulocytes of normal animals to dexamethasone depressed their migratory and cytotoxic activities, but had no effect on Fc- and complement receptor expression. Dexamethasone also depressed lectin-induced lymphocyte proliferation and interleukin-2 generation in a dose-dependent manner. When cows were treated repeatedly with dexamethasone and their leukocytes assayed, suppression of phytohemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte proliferation, interleukin-2 generation, natural cytotoxicity of mononuclear cells and polymorphonuclear neutrophilic granulocyte functions were observed. In contrast, concanavalin A induced lymphocyte proliferation was increased following treatment.     

Occurrence of ovine herpesvirus type-2 infection in sheep and cattle in Samsun Province, Turkey

July 2004, a cow with clinical signs of ovine herpesvirus type-2 infection which is known as sheep associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF) was reported in Samsun Province in Turkey. Blood samples were collected from the suspected cow, 10 sheep housed with it, and from 150 healthy sheep and 29 healthy cattle randomly selected from different places in Samsun Province. Nested polymerase chain reaction (n-PCR) was used to detect ovine herpesvirus type-2 (OvHV-2) DNA in the suspected cow and competitive- ELISA (c-ELISA) kits were used to detect antibodies against OvHV-2. The suspected cow was found to be n-PCR positive and c-ELISA negative. The serological results were as follows: All 10 (100%) of sheep housed with the suspected cow and 18 of 29 (62%) of the randomly selected cattle were found seropositive. All 150 randomly selected healthy sheep were seronegative. The overall percentage of seropositivity was 14.7% (28/190). OvHV-2 DNA was detected in the peripheral blood leucocyte (PBL) samples of the cow and of the 10 sheep housed with the suspected cow.     

Antiapoptotic activity of bovine herpesvirus type-1 (BHV-1) UL14 protein

Viruses have evolved different strategies to interfere with apoptotic pathways in order to halt cellular responses to infection. One previous study showed that transient transfection of bovine herpesvirus type-1 (BHV-1) UL14 protein is efficient in protecting Madin Darby kidney (MDBK) and human chronic myelogenous leukemia (K562) cells from sorbitol-induced apoptosis. This protein corresponds to a putative protein of BHV-1, which shares aminoacid sequence with a part of the peptide-binding domain conserved in human heat shock protein (HSP70) family. The pBK-CMV-UL14 plasmid transfected MDBK cells treated with sorbitol did not show caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation with respect to non-transfected MDBK cells (UL14 negative). Furthermore, we report that the expression of the full length sequence of BHV-1 UL14 is evident after 7 h of infection of BHV-1 on MDBK cells which were then treated with sorbitol. These results indicate that UL14 gene product has important implications to enhance cell survival in response to apoptotic stimuli.     

Analysis of bovine trigeminal ganglia following infection with bovine herpesvirus 1

Following primary infection of the eye, oral cavity, and/or nasal cavity, bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) establishes latency in trigeminal ganglionic (TG) neurons. Virus reactivation and spread to other susceptible animals occur after natural or corticosteroid-induced stress. Infection of calves with BHV-1 leads to infiltration of lymphocytes in TG and expression of IFN-gamma (interferon-gamma), even in latently infected calves. During latency, virus antigen and nucleic acid positive non-neural cells were occasionally detected in TG suggesting there is a low level of spontaneous reactivation. Since we could not detect virus in ocular or nasal swabs, these rare cells do not support high levels of productive infection and virus release or they do not support virus production at all. Dexamethasone (DEX) was used to initiate reactivation in latently infected calves. Foci of mononuclear or satellite cells undergoing apoptosis were detected 6h after DEX treatment, as judged by the appearance of TUNEL+ cells (terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling). BHV-1 antigen expression was initially detected in lymphocytes and other non-neural cells in latently infected calves following DEX treatment. At 24h after DEX treatment, viral antigen expression and nucleic acid were readily detected in neurons. Our data suggest that persistent lymphocyte infiltration and cytokine expression occur during latency because a low number of cells in TG express BHV-1 proteins. Induction of apoptosis and changes in cytokine expression following DEX treatment correlates with reactivation from latency. We hypothesize that inflammatory infiltration of lymphoid cells in TG plays a role in regulating latency.     

Serological survey of bovine herpesvirus type 1 infection in China

To understand the nationwide seroprevalence of bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1) infection of cows in China, 1344 sera of dairy cows from 29 provinces and 765 sera from 6 herds in Hubei province were collected with stratified random sampling. Another 483 sera from imported cows were included. The serum antibody was tested by BoHV-1 gG ELISA. The results demonstrated that the overall nationwide seroprevalence was 35.8% (481/1344), while the prevalence for individual province ranged from 12.1% to 77.8%. Although each province had positive samples, the prevalence was clustered in areas based on the cow population size. In Hubei Province, the overall seroprevalence was 22.2% (170/765) while the prevalence for individual farms varied greatly from 0.0% to 41.5%. The sera from imported cows had a moderate prevalence of 21.7% (105/483).     

First demonstration of bovine herpesvirus 2 infection among cattle by neutralization test in Japan

Seroepidemiological surveys were performed on neutralizing antibody to bovine herpesvirus 2 (BoHV-2) among cattle in Japan. A total of 1,819 sera were collected from cattle in 27 prefectures from 1997 to 1998. Antibodies were detected in only 18 sera collected from 4 prefectures. However, the most prevalent areas of the infection were found in two islands located in the subtropical zone. Additional 353 sera were collected in three including these islands in 1999-2001.The antibody-positive rates in the farms in these islands ranged from 10% to 81.1%. It was confirmed that BoHV-2 was prevalent in these areas. However, the infection seemed to be latent, because no diseases have been noticed. This is the first report showing the presence of BoHV-2 infection among cattle in Japan.     

Effect of dietary boron on physiological responses in growing steers inoculated with bovine herpesvirus type-1

Thirty-six Angus and Angus × Simmental steers were fed one of three dietary treatments; (1) control (no supplemental B), (2) 5 mg supplemental B/kg, and (3) 15 mg supplemental B/kg for 47 days to determine the effects of dietary boron (B) on disease resistance following an inoculation with bovine herpesvirus type-1 (BHV-1). On day 34 of the study steers were inoculated intranasally with BHV-1. Rectal temperatures began to elevate at day 2, and plasma tumor necrosis factor-α concentrations increased (P < 0.05) by day 2 following BHV-1 inoculation. Plasma acute phase proteins were increased (P < 0.01) while plasma interferon-γ was decreased (P < 0.05) by day 4 post-inoculation. Supplementation of B increased (P < 0.001) plasma B concentrations in a dose-responsive manner. However, dietary B did not affect the duration and severity of clinical signs of BHV-1 and had minimal effects on plasma acute phase proteins and cytokines.     

Experimental infection of sheep with bovine herpesvirus type-5 (BHV-5): acute and latent infection

We demonstrated that sheep are susceptible to acute and latent infection by bovine herpesvirus type-5 (BHV-5). Lambs inoculated intranasally with two South American BHV-5 isolates replicated the virus with titers up to 10(7.1) TCID50/ml for up to 15 days and showed mild signs of rhinitis. Four lambs in contact with the inoculated animals acquired the infection and excreted virus for up to seven days. One lamb developed progressive signs of neurological disease and was euthanized in extremis. Clinical signs consisted of tremors of the face, bruxism, ptyalism, incoordination, lateral flexion of the neck and head, circling, walking backwards, recumbency and paddling. The virus was detected in the anterior and posterior cerebrum, dorso- and ventro-lateral cortex, cerebellum, pons, midbrain and olfactory bulb. Viral nucleic acids were demonstrated in neurons and astrocytes of the anterior and ventro-lateral cortex by in situ hybridization. Histological changes consisting of non-suppurative meningitis, perivascular mononuclear cuffing, focal gliosis, neuronal necrosis and intranuclear inclusions were observed in the anterior cerebrum, ventro-lateral cortex and midbrain. Dexamethasone treatment at Day 50 pi resulted in reactivation of the latent infection and virus shedding in 13/16 (81%) of the lambs. Together with previous reports of BHV-5 antibodies in sheep, these findings show that sheep are fully susceptible to BHV-5 suggesting that infection by BHV-5 in sheep may occur naturally.     

Fatal, generalized bovine herpesvirus type-1 infection associated with a modified-live infectious bovine rhinotracheitis parainfluenza-3 vaccine administered to neonatal calves.

Generalized bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) infection was diagnosed in six Salers calves from the same herd. The calves had received an intramuscular injection of modified-live infectious bovine rhinotracheitis parainfluenza-3 vaccine between birth and three days of age. The purpose of this study was to determine if the outbreak was associated with the vaccine strain of BHV-1. Analysis of epidemiological data and BHV-1 DNA for restriction fragment length polymorphism was undertaken. Multifocal necrosis in multiple organs was observed on pathological examination, and the presence of BHV-1 in tissues was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Forty-three calves (aged birth to thirty days) were vaccinated over an 11-day interval. The 10 deaths recorded for vaccinated calves were clustered over a subsequent 14-day interval. Mortality in calves vaccinated between birth and three days of age was significantly higher than in nonvaccinated calves (chi-square test; p < or = 0.025), and this mortality was characterized by a greater age at death and duration of illness for vaccinated calves (t test; p < or = 0.001). The patterns of the restriction fragments, generated by six restriction endonucleases, of BHV-1 isolated from a necropsied calf and from the vaccine were identical, and different from that of a laboratory strain of BHV-1 (P8-2). These findings support the conclusion that newborn calves were susceptible to an intramuscularly injected vaccine strain of BHV-1, and that administration of an intramuscular modified-live infectious bovine rhinotracheitis parainfluenza-3 vaccine to neonatal calves may not be an innocuous procedure.     

Cross-reactions of bovine herpesvirus 1 antigens with those of other cattle herpesviruses

Bovine embryonic kidney cells were infected with bovine herpesviruses (BHV1, 2, or 3), suid herpesvirus 1 (SHV1), or were sham-inoculated. When cytopathic effect was apparent, the cells were solubilized using Triton X-100 detergent. Resulting antigen preparations were tested by 2-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis using bovine fetal serum and antisera directed against BHV1, BHV2, BHV3, SHV1 or a restricted spectrum of BHV1 antigens. Interaction of BHV1 antiserum with BHV1 antigen preparations resulted in 11 precipitation arcs. The same antiserum produced 3 arcs with BHV2, none with BHV3, and 5 with SHV1. The interaction of BHV1 antigen preparations with BHV2, BHV3, or SHV1 antisera failed to produce demonstrable arcs. However, when heterologous antigen or antibody preparations were added to BHV1 homologous 2-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis tests, all 11 BVH1 arcs were modified by BHV1, 2 by BHV2, 4 by BHV3 and 4 by SHV1 preparations. Two antigens were common to the 4 herpesviruses. Antigen preparations were tested for their ability to inhibit virus neutralization by BHV1 antiserum; only the BHV1 preparation was active. Sera were tested for BHV1 neutralizing activity; only BHV1 antiserum and a serum specific for a restricted spectrum of BHV1 antigens were active. A glycoprotein antigen associated with BHV1 neutralization was identified which may be important in the protection of animals against disease.     

Defective infection of bovine herpesvirus 1 in non-permissive murine cells.

The defective growth of bovine herpesvirus I (BHV-1) was analyzed in non-permissive murine embryo fibroblast, BALB/3T3 A31-1-1 (A31) cells. BHV-1 was able to attach and penetrate into A31 cells at similar levels that were seen in semi-permissive cells. Once penetrated into A31 cells, BHV-1 was efficiently transported to nuclei, but the onset of expression of immediate early (IE) protein and viral DNA replication was not observed. These data suggest that the viral replication of BHV-1 in A31 cells is arrested at the point prior to the expression of IE proteins.     

Clinical signs and humoral immune response in horses following equine herpesvirus type-1 infection and their susceptibility to equine herpesvirus type-4 challenge.

A group of three horses was experimentally infected with equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) and showed clinical signs characterised by a biphasic febrile response, leucopenia and cell associated viraemia accompanied by virus shedding from the nasopharynx. A second exposure to the virus 18 days later resulted in the isolation of virus from the nasopharynx of one horse. This and a further group of three EHV-1 seropositive horses were subsequently infected with equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4) 147 days after the initial EHV-1 infection and virus was shed from the nasopharynx in the absence of clinical disease. Following the first EHV-1 infection, virus specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) was present by day 5 and remained high until the second exposure at day 18 at which point levels decreased. In contrast, EHV-1 specific IgG, detected at day 6 peaked at day 18, after which time levels remained high. Virus neutralising antibodies and antibodies able to mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity were present by day 10. The immune response to EHV-1 is discussed with reference to the disease.