Endometritis in postparturient cattle associated with bovine herpesvirus-4 infection: 15 cases. |
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Authors: | K Frazier M Pence M J Mauel A Liggett M E Hines L Sangster H D Lehmkuhl D Miller E Styer J West C A Baldwin |
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Affiliation: | University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory, 31973, USA. |
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Abstract: | Suppurative, ulcerative endometritis associated with bovine herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4) infection was identified in 15 postparturient dairy cows from 5 separate dairies. Characteristic eosinophilic to amphophilic intranuclear viral inclusion bodies were identified within degenerate endometrial lining epithelium and endothelial cells. Bovine herpesvirus-4 was confirmed as the etiology by a combination of fluorescent antibody assays, viral isolation, heminested PCR, ultrastructural examination of the uterus and inoculated tissue culture cells, and negative-stain electron microscopy of tissue culture supernatant. Viral particles measuring 70-95 nm were demonstrated in uterine epithelial and endothelial cells by electron microscopy. Bacteria including Arcanobacterium pyogenes, Escherichia coli, and an alpha-Streptococcus isolate were isolated from all uteri. Bovine herpesvirus-4-associated endometritis has been previously reported in sporadic cases in Europe but has not been previously reported in the United States. Endometritis associated with BHV-4 appears to be an emerging syndrome in Georgia dairy herds. |
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