Mechanism of protection from primary bovine viral diarrhea virus infection. I. The effects of dexamethasone.

A series of investigations was designed to study the role of cellular immunity and passive antibody in protecting neonatal calves from primary bovine viral diarrhea virus infection. Administration of corticosteroids (dexamethasone) in doses capable of suppressing cellular immunity markedly potentiated systemic bovine viral diarrhea virus infection in calves which lacked bovine viral diarrhea passive neutralizing antibody. Immunosuppressed calves did not form neutralizing antibody to bovine viral diarrhea virus and developed a fatal viremia. Calves with high levels of passive bovine viral diarrhea neutralizing antibodies were protected from the effect of corticosteroids. The results suggest an essential role for humoral passive antibody, but not for cellular immunity, in protection from primary systemic bovine viral diarrhea virus infection in calves.     

In vitro and in vivo immune responses in neonatally thymectomized holstein-friesian calves exposed to bovine viral diarrhea virus

Neonatally thymectomized and normal Holstein-Friesian calves were exposed to bovine viral diarrhea virus and challenged 22 days later. Baseline values in non-specific mitogen induced lymphocyte blastogenesis and serologic responses to tetanus toxoid and Brucella abortus strain 19 were established in neonatally thymectomized and normal calves.Neither viral recovery nor protective antibody production followed the very low level primary exposure to bovine viral diarrhea virus. The expected clinical response to an appropriate challenge inoculum did not occur, however, suggesting an immune response to bovine viral diarrhea virus had been initiated by the primary exposure. Five of eight calves developed protective serum levels of bovine viral diarrhea antibody. This may represent an example of immunologic priming. Exposure to low levels of bovine viral diarrhea virus also has potential implications in the pathogenesis of chronic bovine viral diarrhea wherein low level exposure may interfere with the development of protective levels of bovine viral diarrhea antibody as was observed in three calves.Circulating lymphocyte concentrations and results of non-specific mitogen stimulation of lymphocytes revealed a reduced phytohemagglutinin response in conjunction with a slightly increased response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide and pokeweed mitogen in the presence of moderate lymphopenia. The capacity of lymphocytes to respond to phytohemagglutinin was unchanged but an increased total response, as occurred in control thymectomized and intact calves, did not occur.The response to tetanus toxoid, a thymus-independent antigen, was increased following exposure to bovine viral diarrhea virus, perhaps reflecting an alteration in thymic-independent regulation. The lack of a differential response to Brucella abortus strain 19 implied competence in thymus-dependent helper cells.     

Comparison of the efficacy of dermal formulations of ivermectin and levamisole for the treatment and prevention of Dictyocaulus viviparus infection in cattle

Four groups of six parasite-naive calves were infected at seven day intervals with three doses of infective larvae of Dictyocaulus viviparus. Twenty-one days after the first dose three of the groups were treated either with an injectable formulation of ivermectin at a dose rate of 200 micrograms/kg bodyweight, or with pour-on preparations of levamisole at 10 mg/kg or ivermectin at 500 micrograms/kg. On day 28 two calves from each group were slaughtered and their burdens of lungworms counted. On day 35 the remaining calves were reinfected with D viviparus infective larvae at a rate of 80 L3/kg. The levamisole preparation was 94.6 per cent effective and both ivermectin preparations were 100 per cent effective against the initial infections. The ivermectin-treated calves were protected from the reinfection which subsequently became patent in the levamisole-treated and control calves.     

Experimental primary postnatal bovine viral diarrhea viral infections in six-month-old calves

Eight clinically healthy calves were inoculated intranasally, four with either noncytopathic or four with cytopathic bovine viral diarrhea virus, and were necropsied 5 or 12 days post-inoculation. The most frequent gross lesion associated with noncytopathic or cytopathic viral infection was proximal colonic mural edema. Consistent microscopic findings were acute to subacute tracheitis, mild enterocolitis with edema, petechial hemorrhages of mesenteric lymph nodes with mild follicular lymphocytic depletion, and paracortical lymphocytic hyperplasia. At necropsy, cytopathic virus was recovered from 4/4 calves and noncytopathic virus was isolated from 2/4 calves. Neutralizing antibodies to noncytopathic bovine viral diarrhea virus were detected in the two calves from which noncytopathic virus was not recovered. Immunohistochemical analysis of lymphoid tissues demonstrated a small, randomly distributed population of mononuclear cells that contained bovine viral diarrhea viral antigen in 7/8 calves.     

Efficacy of bovine viral diarrhea vaccine used in Japan against bovine viral diarrhea virus type 2 strain 890

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) has been segregated into two genotypes, type 1 and type 2. To determine the efficacy of the commercially available bovine viral diarrhea type 1 vaccine used in Japan against BVDV type 2, calves were infected with BVDV type 2 strain 890 4 weeks after administration of the vaccine. The vaccinated calves did not develop any clinical signs and hematological changes such as observed in unvaccinated calves after the challenge. Furthermore, the challenge virus was not recovered from the vaccinated calves throughout the duration of the experiment, whereas it was recovered from all unvaccinated calves. The bovine viral diarrhea vaccine used in Japan is efficacious against infection with BVDV type 2 strain 890.     

Association of bovine viral diarrhea virus with multiple viral infections in bovine respiratory disease outbreaks

We investigated eleven outbreaks of naturally occurring bovine respiratory diseases in calves and adult animals in the St-Hyacinthe area of Quebec. Specific antibodies to bovine herpesvirus-1, bovine viral diarrhea virus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza type 3 virus, reovirus type 3, and serotypes 1 to 7 of bovine adenovirus were found in paired sera from diseased animals. Several bovine viruses with respiratory tropism were involved concomitantly in herds during an outbreak of bovine respiratory disease. In addition, concomitant fourfold rises of antibody titers were frequently observed to two or more viral agents in seroconverted calves (61%) or adult animals (38%). Bovine viral diarrhea virus was found to be the most frequent viral agent associated with multiple viral infection in calves only (92%).     

Investigation of an outbreak of mucosal disease in a beef cattle herd in southwestern Saskatchewan.

This study describes the epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of mucosal disease that occurred on a ranch in southwestern Saskatchewan. Over a six-month period during the fall and winter of 1991-1992, in a herd of 515 beef cattle and 96 bison, 20 yearling cattle from a group of 105 housed in one feedlot pen died from mucosal disease. A further eight yearlings were slaughtered for salvage because they were at risk of dying from mucosal disease. Mucosal disease mortalities were the first observed evidence of fetal infections with bovine viral diarrhea virus in this herd. Animals that died from mucosal disease exhibited signs of ill thrift prior to death. Deaths from mucosal disease were confined to the progeny of one herd of beef cows. Following an outbreak of fetal infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus during 1989-1990, at least 28 (22%) of the 128 calves born from this herd of cows in the spring of 1990 were persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus. However, only one calf born from this herd in 1991, and five calves born from all herds in 1992 were persistently infected. Of the five persistently infected calves born in 1992, three were born to persistently infected replacement heifers born in 1990. These heifers calved without assistance in 1992, but only one of their calves survived past three days of age, and it was persistently infected. In January 1992, 82% of the total herd had reciprocal antibody titers to bovine viral diarrhea virus of > or = 1024 which suggested a high level of herd immunity to bovine viral diarrhea virus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

牛病毒性腹泻弱毒活疫苗免疫持续期的研究

为检测牛病毒性腹泻病毒(BVDV)弱毒活疫苗在免疫牛体内抗体产生及其消长规律,评价弱毒疫苗的保护效力,并确定免疫持续期,本试验对免疫试验牛每头颈部肌肉接种BVDV SM株弱毒疫苗10^4.5TCID₅₀/头,监测血清抗体效价,进行免疫持续期的确定。在疫苗免疫后的6、9和12个月分别抽取5头免疫组和5头对照组牛采用BVDV-JL强毒株进行攻毒试验,每头牛攻毒剂量为6×10^7.0 TCID₅₀/mL。结果显示疫苗免疫后12个月时血清中和抗体效价仍维持在1∶1048以上,攻毒结果显示3个时间点强毒攻击后,免疫组所有动物白细胞数量都没有下降也没有分离到病毒,而对照组动物白细胞数下降均超过30%,6和9个月动物均分离到病毒,而12个月对照组动物由于年龄大,没有分离到病毒,因此暂定此疫苗的免疫持续期为9个月。     

牛病毒性腹泻病毒弱毒活疫苗免疫持续期的研究

为检测牛病毒性腹泻病毒(BVDV)弱毒活疫苗在免疫牛体内抗体产生及其消长规律,评价弱毒疫苗的保护效力,并确定免疫持续期,本试验对免疫试验牛每头颈部肌肉接种BVDV SM株弱毒疫苗104.5TCID50,监测血清抗体效价,进行免疫持续期的确定。在疫苗免疫后的6个月、9个月和12个月,分别抽取5头免疫组和5头对照组牛,采用BVDV-JL强毒株进行攻毒试验,每头牛攻毒剂量为6×107.0TCID50/mL。结果显示疫苗免疫后12个月时血清中和抗体效价仍维持在1∶1048以上。攻毒结果显示,在3个不同时间点进行强毒攻击后,免疫组所有动物白细胞数量都没有下降也没有分离到病毒,而对照组动物白细胞数下降均超过30%,6个月和9个月时动物血清中均能分离到病毒,而12个月对照组动物由于年龄大,没有分离到病毒,因此暂定此疫苗的免疫持续期为9个月。     

Incidence of diarrhea among calves after strict closure and eradication of bovine viral diarrhea virus infection in a dairy herd.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether strict closure of a dairy herd and eradication of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection would decrease incidence of diarrhea in calves during the first 31 days after birth, whether specific risk factors were associated with incidence of diarrhea in calves, and whether diarrhea was associated with weight gain of the calves. DESIGN: 2-year cohort study. ANIMALS: 448 calves. PROCEDURE: Calves were monitored from birth to 31 days of age. Fecal samples were tested for rotavirus, blood samples were tested for BVDV and antibodies to BVDV, and serum samples were tested for IgG concentration. Risk factors were evaluated by means of survival analysis. RESULTS: Incidence of diarrhea in calves decreased significantly after strict closure of the herd and eradication of BVDV infection. Risk factors for diarrhea in calves interacted in a multifactorial way. Rotavirus infection and low serum IgG concentration increased the risk that calves would develop diarrhea. Calves that developed diarrhea gained significantly less weight than calves that did not develop diarrhea. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: To control diarrhea among calves in a dairy herd, emphasis should be on maintaining a strictly closed herd free from BVDV infection. However, other measures, such as measures to prevent rotavirus infection and to ensure that calves receive an appropriate amount of colostrum after birth, should also be taken.     

牛病毒性腹泻病毒、大肠杆菌和奇异变形杆菌混合感染致犊牛腹泻的研究

为确定甘肃省临夏州某奶牛场犊牛腹泻的病因,并提供合适的治疗方案和防控措施,试验采集该牛场13头腹泻犊牛的粪便和血清,通过胶体金技术、ELISA方法、细菌分离鉴定、Kirby-Bauer法分别进行病毒病原学检测、病毒血清学抗体检测、病原菌鉴定和药物敏感性试验。病毒学检测结果显示,13份粪样中未检测出牛轮状病毒（BRV）、牛冠状病毒（BCV）的抗原,牛病毒性腹泻病毒（BVDV）抗原阳性率为23.08%（3/13）;未检出BRV和BCV的抗体,BVDV血清学抗体阳性率为38.46%（5/13）。病原菌检测结果显示,13份粪便样品中,分离出13株大肠杆菌和7株奇异变形杆菌。药敏试验表明,分离的大肠杆菌和奇异变形杆菌对20种常规药物均产生了不同程度的耐药,且无对两种细菌均有效的药物。此次犊牛腹泻是由BVDV、大肠杆菌、奇异变形杆菌混合感染引起的,且大肠杆菌和奇异变形杆菌的耐药现象严重,本试验结果为该牛场进一步治疗此次的犊牛腹泻病提供了合理有效的依据。     

Effect of infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus alone,bovine rotavirus alone,or concurrent infection with both on enteric disease in gnotobiotic neonatal calves

OBJECTIVE: To compare experimentally induced concurrent infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and bovine rotavirus (BRV) with infection of either virus alone in calves. ANIMALS: Seventeen 1-day-old gnotobiotic calves. PROCEDURE: Calves were allotted to 8 treatments as follows: group 1, mock-infected control calves (n = 2); group 2, inoculated with BVDV on day 1 (2); groups 3, 5, and 7, inoculated with BRV on days 1 (2), 4 (1), or 7 (2), respectively; and groups 4, 6, and 8, inoculated with BVDV on day 1 and with BRV on days 1 (2), 4 (2), or 7 (4), respectively. Concentrations of BVDV in serum and ileal tissues were measured, and BRV shedding in feces was determined. Histologic examination and immunohistochemical analysis were conducted to detect lesions and viral antigens. RESULTS: Neonatal calves inoculated with BVDV alone or with BVDV on day 1 and BRV on day 7 developed villus atrophy and submucosal inflammation of the intestines. Concurrent BVDV and BRV infections acted synergistically in the intestinal tract, causing more severe enteric disease than infection with either virus alone. Severe lymphoid depletion was associated with BVDV infection in calves regardlesss of concurrent BRV infection. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Infection with BVDV played direct and indirect roles in enteritis in neonatal calves, causing villus atrophy in the duodenum and submucosal inflammation of the intestines. Also, BVDV potentiated effects of BRV. Concurrent infection with BVDV and BRV resulted in more severe enteric disease in neonatal calves than infection with BRV or BVDV alone.     

Isolation of bovine coronavirus from feces and nasal swabs of calves with diarrhea.

Fecal and nasal samples were collected from 180 calves with diarrhea and 36 clinically normal co-habitants, and tested for virus using HRT-18 cell cultures derived from human rectal adenocarcinoma. A cytopathic virus was isolated from 5 fecal and 56 nasal samples obtained from diarrheic calves. All calves in which the virus was isolated from diarrheic feces were positive for virus isolation from nasal swabs. The virus was also isolated from the nasal swabs of 10 clinically normal calves that were co-habitants with diarrheic calves. Because they were morphologically similar to coronavirus, agglutinated mouse erythrocytes and serologically identical with the Nebraska calf diarrhea coronavirus, new isolates were identified as bovine coronavirus. The demonstration of viral antigens in nasal epithelial cells by a direct immunofluorescence was in close agreement with the virus isolation in HRT-18 cell cultures. This is the first report on the isolation of bovine coronavirus from newborn calves with diarrhea in Japan. The evidence that the virus was frequently isolated from nasal swabs is of great interest for understanding the pathogenesis of bovine coronavirus infection.     

Duration of active and colostrum-derived passive antibodies to bovine viral diarrhea virus in calves.

Duration of active and colostrum-derived passive antibodies to bovine viral diarrhea virus was studied in 14 calves. Five calves born with actively induced antibodies to bovine viral diarrhea virus retained high titers during the year of observation. Colostrum-derived antibodies to bovine viral diarrhea virus in nine calves declined at an expected rate for the first four to six months of age. However, titers of six of these calves increased at five to eight months of age and either remained constant or increased through one year of age. Bovine viral diarrhea virus antibody titers of the other three calves declined at a constant rate to less than 1:4 by nine to 12 months of age.     

Experimental model of type II bovine viral diarrhea virus-induced thrombocytopenia in neonatal calves.

Thrombocytopenia has been associated with type II bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection in immunocompetent cattle, but the mechanism is unknown. The purpose of the present study was to develop and characterize a model of type II BVDV-induced thrombocytopenia. Colostrum-deprived Holstein calves were obtained immediately after birth, given a BVDV-negative and BVDV antibody-negative plasma transfusion, housed in an isolation facility, and randomly assigned to either control (n = 4) or infected (n = 5) groups. Infected calves were inoculated by intranasal instillation on day 3 of age with 10(7) TCID50 of the prototype type II isolate, BVDV 890, whereas control calves were sham inoculated. Blood counts and virus isolations from serum, white blood cells, and platelets were performed daily until day 12 after infection, at which time all experimental calves were euthanatized, and pathologic, virologic, and immunohistochemical examinations were performed. On physical examination, the control calves remained normal, but the infected calves developed pyrexia and diarrhea characteristic of type II BVDV infection. The platelet count decreased in all infected calves, and a statistically significant difference in the platelet count between control and infected calves was observed on days 7-12 after infection. In addition, the mean platelet volume and white blood cell counts also decreased. Examination of the bone marrow from the infected calves revealed immunohistochemical staining for BVDV antigen in megakaryocytes and evidence of concurrent megakaryocyte necrosis and hyperplasia.     

Effect of experimentally induced type II bovine viral diarrhea virus infection on platelet function in calves

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate platelet aggregation responses in calves experimentally infected with a thrombocytopenia-inducing type II bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) isolate (BVDV 890). ANIMALS: 9 neonatal male Holstein calves. PROCEDURE: 5 calves were inoculated with BVDV 890, and 4 were used as controls. Platelet aggregation studies and attempts to isolate BVDV from platelets were performed 2 days before, the day of, and every 2 days for 12 days after inoculation. Platelet function was assessed by means of optical aggregometry, using adenosine diphosphate and platelet-activating factor as agonists. Bovine viral diarrhea virus was isolated from purified platelet preparations by use of an immunoperoxidase monolayer assay. RESULTS: Maximum percentage aggregation and slope of the aggregation curve decreased over time in calves infected with BVDV. Bovine viral diarrhea virus was not isolated from platelets from control calves, but it was isolated from infected calves from 4 through 12 days after inoculation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that platelet function may be depressed in calves infected with type II BVDV. Although the mechanism for altered platelet function was not determined, it likely involved an increase in the percentage of aged platelets in the circulation, a direct virus-platelet interaction, or an indirect virus-platelet interaction. Platelet dysfunction, in addition to thrombocytopenia, may contribute to the hemorrhagic syndrome associated with acute type II BVDV infection in calves.     

Bovine adenovirus serotype 7 infections in postweaning calves

OBJECTIVE: To detect bovine adenovirus serotype 7 (BAV-7) infections in calves by use of viral isolation and serologic testing. ANIMALS: 205 postweaning calves. PROCEDURE: 121 calves were assembled by an order buyer through auction markets in eastern Tennessee and transported to New Mexico where they were commingled with 84 healthy ranch-reared calves. Tests included viral isolation in cell culture from peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) and detection of serum BAV-7 antibodies by use of microtitration viral neutralization. RESULTS: BAV-7 was isolated from PBL of 8 calves and seroconversion to BAV-7 was detected for 38 of 199 (19.1%) calves. Concurrent bovine viral diarrhea virus infections were detected in most calves from which BAV-7 was isolated. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results of our study indicate that BAV-7 infections can be found in postweaning commingled calves and may develop more commonly in calves with concurrent infections with viruses such as bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV).     

Distribution of viral antigen and development of lesions after experimental infection with highly virulent bovine viral diarrhea virus type 2 in calves

OBJECTIVE: To correlate tissue distribution with development of lesions after experimental infection with a virulent strain of noncytopathic bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) type 2 in calves. ANIMALS: Ten 14-day-old and two 2-month-old colostrum-deprived calves. PROCEDURE: Calves were intranasally inoculated with BVDV type-2 strain 1373 from an outbreak of clinically severe bovine viral diarrhea (BVD).Two 14-day-old calves served as noninfected controls. Two calves each were euthanatized on postinoculation days 3, 6, and 12, and 1 each on days 8, 9, 13, and 14. Tissues were collected for immunohistologic and histologic examination. RESULTS: Inoculated calves developed nonspecific clinical signs characterized by high fever and decreased numbers of leukocytes and thrombocytes. Viral antigen was detected focally in lymphoid tissues on day 3. On days 6, 8, 9, 12, and 14, viral antigen became increasingly widespread throughout organs and tissues. Viral antigen in lymphoid tissues was associated with severe depletion of all compartments. Lesions in other tissues were not well correlated with distribution of viral antigen. Depletion of lymphoid tissues was observed in a calf on day 13, but viral antigen had been cleared from most tissues and was detected in vascular walls only. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Infection with a virulent BVDV strain resulted in wide dissemination of viral antigen in host tissues. Severe lymphoid depletion developed in lymphoid tissues, whereas viral antigen was generally not associated with lesions in other tissues. Findings suggest that development of lesions in acute BVD is not solely a function of viral replication and is also attributable to host reaction to infection.     

Transmission of Bovine viral diarrhea virus 1b to susceptible and vaccinated calves by exposure to persistently infected calves

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) persistently infected (PI) calves represent significant sources of infection to susceptible cattle. The objectives of this study were to determine if PI calves transmitted infection to vaccinated and unvaccinated calves, to determine if BVDV vaccine strains could be differentiated from the PI field strains by subtyping molecular techniques, and if there were different rates of recovery from peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) versus serums for acutely infected calves. Calves PI with BVDV1b were placed in pens with nonvaccinated and vaccinated calves for 35 d. Peripheral blood leukocytes, serums, and nasal swabs were collected for viral isolation and serology. In addition, transmission of Bovine herpes virus 1 (BHV-1), Parainfluenza-3 virus (PI-3V), and Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) was monitored during the 35 d observation period. Bovine viral diarrhea virus subtype 1b was transmitted to both vaccinated and nonvaccinated calves, including BVDV1b seronegative and seropositive calves, after exposure to PI calves. There was evidence of transmission by viral isolation from PBL, nasal swabs, or both, and seroconversions to BVDV1b. For the unvaccinated calves, 83.2% seroconverted to BVDV1b. The high level of transmission by PI calves is illustrated by seroconversion rates of nonvaccinated calves in individual pens: 70% to 100% seroconversion to the BVDV1b. Bovine viral diarrhea virus was isolated from 45 out of 202 calves in this study. These included BVDV1b in ranch and order buyer (OB) calves, plus BVDV strains identified as vaccinal strains that were in modified live virus (MLV) vaccines given to half the OB calves 3 d prior to the study. The BVDV1b isolates in exposed calves were detected between collection days 7 and 21 after exposure to PI calves. Bovine viral diarrhea virus was recovered more frequently from PBL than serum in acutely infected calves. Bovine viral diarrhea virus was also isolated from the lungs of 2 of 7 calves that were dying with pulmonary lesions. Two of the calves dying with pneumonic lesions in the study had been BVDV1b viremic prior to death. Bovine viral diarrhea virus 1b was isolated from both calves that received the killed or MLV vaccines. There were cytopathic (CP) strains isolated from MLV vaccinated calves during the same time frame as the BVDV1b isolations. These viruses were typed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and genetic sequencing, and most CP were confirmed as vaccinal origin. A BVDV2 NCP strain was found in only 1 OB calf, on multiple collections, and the calf seroconverted to BVDV2. This virus was not identical to the BVDV2 CP 296 vaccine strain. The use of subtyping is required to differentiate vaccinal strains from the field strains. This study detected 2 different vaccine strains, the BVDV1b in PI calves and infected contact calves, and a heterologous BVDV2 subtype brought in as an acutely infected calf. The MLV vaccination, with BVDV1a and BVDV2 components, administered 3 d prior to exposure to PI calves did not protect 100% against BVDV1b viremias or nasal shedding. There were other agents associated with the bovine respiratory disease signs and lesions in this study including Mannheimia haemolytica, Mycoplasma spp., PI-3V, BRSV, and BHV-1.     

Platelet aggregation responses and virus isolation from platelets in calves experimentally infected with type I or type II bovine viral diarrhea virus.

Altered platelet function has been reported in calves experimentally infected with type II bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). The purpose of the present study was to further evaluate the ability of BVDV isolates to alter platelet function and to examine for the presence of a virus-platelet interaction during BVDV infection. Colostrum-deprived Holstein calves were obtained immediately after birth, housed in isolation, and assigned to 1 of 4 groups (1 control and 3 treatment groups). Control calves (n = 4) were sham inoculated, while calves in the infected groups (n = 4 for each group) were inoculated by intranasal instillation with 10(7) TCID50 of either BVDV 890 (type II), BVDV 7937 (type II), or BVDV TGAN (type I). Whole blood was collected prior to inoculation (day 0) and on days 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 after inoculation for platelet function testing by optical aggregometry by using adenosine diphosphate and platelet activating factor. The maximum percentage aggregation and the slope of the aggregation curve decreased over time in BVDV-infected calves; however, statistically significant differences (Freidman repeated measures ANOVA on ranks, P < 0.05) were only observed in calves infected with the type II BVDV isolates. Bovine viral diarrhea virus was not isolated from control calves, but was isolated from all calves infected with both type II BVDV isolates from days 4 through 12 after inoculation. In calves infected with type I BVDV, virus was isolated from 1 of 4 calves on days 4 and 12 after inoculation and from all calves on days 6 and 8 after inoculation. Altered platelet function was observed in calves infected with both type II BVDV isolates, but was not observed in calves infected with type I BVDV. Altered platelet function may be important as a difference in virulence between type I and type II BVDV infection.