Fetal protection against bovine viral diarrhoea type 1 virus infection after one administration of a live-attenuated vaccine

A modified-live vaccine has been shown previously to prevent fetal infection with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV)-2 and, to some extent BVDV-1, when used in association with an inactivated vaccine in a two-step vaccination protocol. In this challenge study, the modified-live vaccine used alone was able to protect 13 heifers between 49 and 96 days of gestation at challenge from leucopenia and virus replication and, for a 4-month period, to prevent fetal infection. The efficacy of the BVDV-1f 22146/Han81 challenge was demonstrated by virus isolation from the fetuses of all nine non-vaccinated, control heifers. However, the small number of heifers tested meant that the vaccination failure rate could be as high as 10% in the field.     

Evaluation of long-term antibody responses to two inactivated bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) vaccines

The aim of the present study was to determine the serological response of heifers after vaccination with two inactivated bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) vaccines by means of various ELISA tests. Three dairy farms were selected from the Galicia region of Spain. In each herd, a batch of heifers to be vaccinated for the first time was selected and followed for 15 months. Heifers from farm 1 (n = 25) were vaccinated with Vaccine A, whereas heifers from farm 2 (n = 16) were vaccinated with Vaccine B. Heifers from farm 3 (n = 17), where no BVDV vaccines were used, acted as controls. Blood samples were analyzed periodically for BVDV antibodies, using five commercial ELISAs, based on BVDV p80 antigen or whole virus.At the end of the study, none of the animals vaccinated with Vaccine A seroconverted according to p80 antibody status, whereas up to 80% tested positive by ELISA against whole virus antigen. For the animals vaccinated with Vaccine B, 2/16 animals seroconverted according to p80 antibody ELISAs, whereas all had seroconverted according to the ELISA against whole virus antigen. In most cases, based on the use of ELISAs to detect specific antibodies against the p80 protein, at 15 months post-vaccination with inactivated BVDV vaccines the responses did not seem to interfere with detection of antibody to BVDV infection. However, the finding of a small proportion of vaccinated animals seropositive against BVDV p80 antigen suggests that antibodies that interfere with diagnosis of BVDV infection within the herd could exist, even when using p80 ELISAs.     

Enhancement of the immune response and virological protection of calves against bovine herpesvirus type 1 with an inactivated gE-deleted vaccine

Four immunisation protocols based on inactivated and attenuated commercially available marker vaccines for bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) were compared. The first group of calves were vaccinated with an attenuated vaccine administered intranasally and an inactivated vaccine injected subcutaneously, four weeks apart; the second group were vaccinated twice with the attenuated vaccine, first intranasally and then intramuscularly; the third group were vaccinated twice subcutaneously with the inactivated vaccine; and the fourth group were vaccinated twice intramuscularly with the attenuated vaccine. A control group of calves were not vaccinated. The cellular and humoral immune responses were highest in the two groups which received at least one injection of the inactivated vaccine. Virological protection was observed in all the vaccinated groups after a challenge infection and reactivation by treatment with dexamethasone, but the calves which received one dose of the inactivated vaccine as a booster or two doses of the inactivated vaccine excreted significantly less of the challenge virus than the calves which were vaccinated only with the attenuated preparation.     

Evaluation of the efficacy of a modified-live combination vaccine against bovine viral diarrhea virus types 1 and 2 challenge exposures in a one-year duration-of-immunity fetal protection study

This study demonstrated that the modified-live bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) type 1 and 2 fractions of a multivalent vaccine protected pregnant heifers and their fetuses against virulent BVDV types 1 and 2 challenge exposures at 370 days after vaccination. All BVDV vaccinated heifers inoculated with either BVDV type 1 or 2 at approximately 62 to 94 days of gestation delivered fetuses or calves that were negative for BVDV by ear-notch immunohistochemistry and virus isolation and serum neutralization on a prenursing serum sample. In comparison, eight of nine and 10 of 10 fetuses or calves from non-BVDV-vaccinated heifers were considered persistently infected following exposure to BVDV type 1 and type 2, respectively.     

Antibody responses against non-structural protein 3 of bovine viral diarrhoea virus in milk and serum samples from animals immunised with an inactivated vaccine

Antibodies against non-structural protein 3 (NS3, p80) of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) were determined in milk from cows vaccinated with an inactivated BVDV vaccine and compared to serum antibody levels. Animals in one herd were vaccinated with an inactivated BVDV vaccine according to the standard protocol and animals from a second herd with an intensive schedule. Serum and milk samples were tested for BVDV NS3 antibodies using five commercial ELISAs. With a few exceptions, vaccination according to the standard schedule did not induce BVDV NS3-specific antibodies in serum or milk. However, after vaccination according to the intensive schedule, anti-NS3 antibodies were detected for a short time in serum and, to a lesser extent, in milk. Bulk milk was a suitable substrate for BVDV monitoring of herds vaccinated with the inactivated BVD vaccine.     

An experimental inactivated virus vaccine against bovine ephemeral fever 1. Studies of the virus

Studies were carried out to find methods for obtaining optimum yields of bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) virus and for concentrating the virus in order to develop inactivated virus vaccines. Cells from the SVP cell line, which was derived from the pig kidney PS cell line, were most satisfactory for growing and assaying BEF virus. BHK 21 and Vero cells also gave similar yields of virus but were not as useful for virus assay. A plaque assay in SVP cells, in which there was 0.1 μg of actinomycin D per ml of overlay, produced reproducible clear plaques and was slightly more sensitive than assays in BHK 21 cell roller tubes. High multiplicities of infection (MOI), around 1 PFU/cell, produced low yields of infectious virus, whereas decreasing the MOI approximately 100-fold led to an increase in virus yield of up to four logs. BEF virus could be concentrated using zinc acetate or ammonium sulphate but not polyethylene glycol 6000. Ammonium sulphate proved most suitable and produced an easily handled precipitate with up to 100% recovery of virus infectively, and 100-fold concentration was possible. This concentrated virus could be rapidly desalted by gel filtration through Sephadex G-75. The virus could be further purified by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation provided the gradient contained a protein stabilizer of 0.1% bovine serum albumin. Inactivation kinetics with 0.025% β-propiolactone was similar to that reported for other rhabdoviruses.     

Epitopic characterisation of Turkish bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) isolates using monoclonal antibodies

In this study, 15 bovine viral diarrhoea viruses (BVDV) isolated from the field in Turkey were characterised for their biotype, cloned and eventually analysed for their epitopic composition in terms of glycoprotein E2. Immunoplaque assay, plaque assay, limiting dilution and streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase techniques were used for biotype characterisation, cloning of cytopathic (cp) and noncytopathic (ncp) biotypes and epitope analysis, respectively. While 14 out of 15 BVDV isolates were distinguished as ncp biotype, 1 isolate was found to be containing both biotypes (cp + ncp). According to the reactivity patterns of isolates with 15 monoclonal antibodies, 4 different antigenic groups could be formed. There were no antigenic differences between the isolates derived from the same animal with various time intervals. On the other hand, biotype clones isolated from the same animal exhibited difference in one epitope. This is the first study describing antigenic characterisation of BVDV field isolates in Turkey.     

The vaccination and challenge with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) of calves previously infected with a non-cytopathic BVDV.

Four calves were infected with noncytopathic (NCP) New York-1 strain of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). During the observation period of one month the calves remained clinically normal but the virus was repeatedly recovered from their pharyngeal swabbings and blood. Thirty days following infection the four calves were vaccinated, together with two uninfected calves, with a modified-live vaccine containing cytopathic (CP) BVDV, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus and parainfluenza-3 virus. No detrimental effects were observed after vaccination. Forty-three days after vaccination the calves were challenged by exposure either with the CP TVM-2 strain or the NCP New York-1 strain of BVDV. The vaccinated calves remained healthy throughout the 60-day observation period.     

Fatal congenital anaplasmosis associated with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) infection in a crossbred calf

Clinical disease resulting from the vertical transmission of Anaplasma marginale has only been reported on 5 occasions despite studies demonstrating successful in utero transmission. During the reported experimental induction of congenital anaplasmosis in calves, the outcome was variable but mostly led to inapparent or mild infection. There are previous case reports of fatal congenital anaplasmosis following natural infection. The clinical findings in a 2-day-old calf presented to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital with clinical signs of congenital anaplasmosis, which was unresponsive to treatment, are described. Subsequent post mortem diagnostic tests revealed that this calf was co-infected with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV). It is postulated that immunosuppression resulting from BVDV infection predisposed to severe, fatal anaplasmosis in this calf.     

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) subgenotypes in diagnostic laboratory accessions: distribution of BVDV1a, 1b, and 2a subgenotypes

The prevalence of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) biotypes and subgenotypes was determined from 131 BVDV positive samples from a diagnostic laboratory. The majority of the isolates were from Oklahoma; however, other states including Kansas, Texas, and Arkansas were represented. These BVDV samples were from submissions of 76 live animals and 55 necropsy samples. There were 131 BVDV samples represented by 117 noncytopathic (NCP), 11 cytopathic (CP) and 3 cases with mixed NCP and CP biotypes. The NCP isolates were more common (P < 0.05) than the CP and NCP/CP combination. The BVDV samples were segregated into three subgenotypes by differential PCR and sequencing of a viral genomic region, 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR). There were more BVDV1b subgenotypes 60/131 (45.8%) than BVDV1a, 37/131 (28.2%) or BVDV2a, 34/131 (26.0%) (P < 0.05). The organ system involvement included the major categories such as respiratory, digestive, mixed/multiple organs, abortions, and persistent infections (PI). All three BVDV subgenotypes were found in persistently infected (PI) cattle and respiratory diseases, both major requests for BVDV diagnosis. Only one of the 131 viruses was genetically similar to the strains present in U.S. vaccines.     

Genetic diversity of international bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) isolates: identification of a new BVDV-1 genetic group

In the last decade, several studies were performed to characterise bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) isolates and define genetic groups by genotyping. Much data is now available from GenBank, predominantly sequences from the 5' untranslated region (5'-UTR). In order to find out whether genetic grouping of isolates from different countries could be harmonised, 22 new isolates from five countries were analysed in combination with published sequences. Eighteen of these isolates were typed as BVDV genotype 1 (BVDV-1), and one isolate from Argentina and three isolates from Brazil were typed as BVDV-2. BVDV-1 isolates were clustered into five previously defined genetic groups: BVDV-1a, b, d, e and f. Two isolates from Finland and one from Egypt formed a group which was tentatively labelled as BVDV-1j, since statistical support was low. By using a fragment of the Npro gene for typing, we found that these isolates fall into the same group as a deer strain, and are statistically significant. Some Swiss BVDV strains taken from GenBank were found in a new genetic group which was designated as BVDV-1k. The BVDV-2 isolates included in this study seemed to fall into two genetic groups.     

Cellular insertions in the NS2-3 genome region of cytopathic bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) isolates

When compared to noncytopathic (ncp) bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), some cytopathic (cp) BVDV contain additional sequences in the NS2-3 genomic region. One of these insertions, which is 270 nucleotides long and of host origin (cINS), was first described for strain NADL. To find out how frequently this type of insertion occurs in other cp BVDV, 32 cp BVDV field isolates and the BVDV reference cp strain Indiana were screened using RT-PCR which detected cINS in NADL. For most cp viruses an RT-PCR product of 402bp indicated the presence of NS2-3 genes without insertions. In addition, one or two DNA fragments, around 600-850bp in size, were amplified from the genomes of 13 cp viruses indicating the presence of insertions. Sequencing of the PCR products, i.e. 402bp DNA fragment (with no insertion) and longer fragments (with insertion) revealed the location of the insertions in the NS2-3 coding region of eight cp BVDV genomes. All of the insertions were confirmed to be of the cINS type and were located in a very similar position to that found previously in the NADL genome. They were in the same reading frame as the viral polypeptide and they encoded 90-140 amino acids. The 5' and 3' ends of the insertions were different in most of the cp isolates studied. Interestingly, a 14-amino-acid stretch at the 5'-end of the insertion in the cp 5569 isolate as well as 15 amino acids at the 3'-end of the insertion in the cp 5.19516 isolate were not homologous to the cINS sequence. No significant matches for these stretches were found in the EMBL and Swissprot databases.     

Humoral immune response and assessment of vaccine virus shedding in calves receiving modified live virus vaccines containing bovine herpesvirus-1 and bovine viral diarrhoea virus 1a

Susceptible calves were administered modified live virus (MLV) vaccines containing bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV1) and bovine viral diarrhoea type 1 (BVDV1a) strains intramuscularly, with one vaccine containing both MLV and inactivated BHV-1 and inactivated BVDV1a. There was no evidence of transmission of vaccine (BHV-1 and BVDV1a) strains to susceptible non-vaccinated controls commingled with vaccinates. No vaccinates had detectable BHV-1 in peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL) after vaccination. Each of three vaccines containing an MLV BVDV1a strain caused a transient BVDV vaccine induced viremia in PBL after vaccination, which was cleared as the calves developed serum BVDV1 antibodies. The vaccine containing both MLV and inactivated BHV-1 induced serum BHV-1 antibodies more rapid than MLV BHV-1 vaccine. Two doses of MLV BHV-1 (days 0 and 28) in some cases induced serum BHV-1 antibodies to higher levels and greater duration than one dose.     

The live attenuated bovine viral diarrhea virus components of a multi-valent vaccine confer protection against fetal infection

Fetal infection with bovine virus diarrhea virus (BVDV) causes severe economic loss and virus spread in cattle. This study investigated the ability of modified live BVDV I and II components of a commercially available modified live virus (MLV) vaccine (Breed-Back FP 10, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc.) to prevent fetal infection and abortion, and therefore the birth of persistently infected animals. Heifers immunized with vaccine 4-8 weeks before insemination showed no adverse effects. All vaccinated animals had seroconverted to BVDV 4 weeks after immunization. Pregnant heifers were divided into two vaccination and two control groups and challenged with type I or II BVDV on days 60-90 of gestation. Seroconversion, clinical signs, immunosuppression, viremia, mortality, abortion rate, and fetal infection were studied. Post-challenge, 6/11 (type I challenged) and 8/11 (type II challenged) vaccinated heifers were free from clinical signs of BVD. Post-challenge clinical signs noted in the vaccinated groups were mild to moderate, while all unvaccinated controls had clinical signs ranging from moderate to severe. Viremia was not detected post-challenge in any of the vaccinated heifers. However, 100% of the controls were BVDV viremic on at least 1 day post-challenge. One of 22 vaccinated heifers had transient leukopenia, whereas 2/8 and 6/7 unvaccinated heifers in control groups I and II, respectively, had transient leukopenia. Type II BVDV infection led to abortion or death in 86% of unvaccinated heifers. The corresponding vaccinated group showed no deaths or abortions. All control group fetuses were infected with BVDV. The test vaccine gave 91% (type I BVDV challenged) and 100% (type II BVDV challenged) protection from fetal infection. This vaccine is safe and effective against fetal infection, abortion (type II BVDV) and the birth of persistently infected animals.     

Genetic heterogeneity of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) isolates from Turkey: identification of a new subgroup in BVDV-1

Genetic heterogeneity of Turkish ruminant pestiviruses was investigated by phylogenetic analysis of complete N(pro) encoding nucleotide sequences. A total of 30 virus isolates obtained from 15 provinces around the country between 1997 and 2005 were included in the phylogenetic analysis. Virus isolates mostly originated from cattle with one isolate from sheep. The bovine isolates all belonged to BVDV-1, the sheep isolate to BVDV-2. Fifteen isolates formed a new subgroup within BVDV-1, tentatively named BVDV-1l. The remaining bovine isolates were typed as BVDV-1a (n=4), BVDV-1b (n=4), BVDV-1d (n=3), BVDV-1f (n=2) and BVDV-1h (n=1). The isolates allocated to BVDV-1l originated from various geographical regions in different years. There was no correlation between genetic grouping and locations where isolates were obtained. Viruses originating from one farm in most cases belonged to the same subgroup (n=5). This study indicates that the newly detected subgroup BVDV-1l is predominant and widespread in Turkey. Moreover, an ovine virus isolate was identified as the first member of BVDV-2 reported in Turkey. A serological survey using samples from western Turkey indicated that BVDV-2 is also present in cattle.     

Evaluation of fetal protection against experimental infection with type 1 and type 2 bovine viral diarrhea virus after vaccination of the dam with a bivalent modified-live virus vaccine

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a modified-live virus (MLV) combination vaccine containing type 1 and type 2 bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in providing fetal protection against challenge with heterologous type 1 and type 2 BVDV. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 55 heifers. PROCEDURE: Heifers were vaccinated with a commercial MLV combination vaccine or given a sham vaccine (sterile water) and bred 47 to 53 days later. Heifers were challenged with type 1 or type 2 BVDV on days 75 to 79 of gestation. Clinical signs of BVDV infection, presence of viremia, and WBC count were assessed for 14 days after challenge. Fetuses were collected on days 152 to 156 of gestation, and virus isolation was attempted from fetal tissues. RESULTS: Type 1 BVDV was not isolated in any fetuses from vaccinated heifers and was isolated in all fetuses from nonvaccinated heifers challenged with type 1 BVDV. Type 2 BVDV was isolated in 1 fetus from a vaccinated heifer and all fetuses from nonvaccinated heifers challenged with type 2 BVDV. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A commercial MLV combination vaccine containing type 1 and type 2 BVDV given to the dam prior to breeding protected 100% of fetuses against type 1 BVDV infection and 95% of fetuses against type 2 BVDV infection. Use of a bivalent MLV vaccine in combination with a comprehensive BVDV control program should result in decreased incidence of persistent infection in calves and therefore minimize the risk of BVDV infection in the herd.