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Research Project: IDENTIFICATION OF DISEASE MECHANISMS AND CONTROL STRATEGIES FOR BACTERIAL RESPIRATORY PATHOGENS IN CATTLE

Location: Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Research Unit

Title: Neonatal calf infection with respiratory syncytial virus: drawing parallels to the disease in human infants

Authors

Submitted to: Viruses
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: December 10, 2012
Publication Date: December 13, 2012
Citation: Sacco, R.E., Mcgill, J.L., Palmer, M.V., Lippolis, J.D., Reinhardt, T.A., Nonnecke, B.J. 2012. Neonatal calf infection with respiratory syncytial virus: drawing parallels to the disease in human infants. Viruses. 4(12):3731-3753.

Interpretive Summary: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common viral cause of childhood acute lower respiratory tract infections. It is estimated that RSV infections result in more than 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. Bovine RSV is a cause of pneumonia in young calves. Furthermore, bovine RSV plays a role shipping fever, the most prevalent cause of morbidity and mortality among feedlot cattle. Infection of calves with bovine RSV shares features in common with RSV infection in children, such as an age-dependent susceptibility. In addition, similar lesions are observed. This invited review summarizes available data that provide parallels between bovine RSV infection in calves and human RSV in infants.

Technical Abstract: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common viral cause of childhood acute lower respiratory tract infections. It is estimated that RSV infections result in more than 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. Bovine RSV is a cause of enzootic pneumonia in young dairy calves and summer pneumonia in nursing beef calves. Furthermore, bovine RSV plays a significant role in bovine respiratory disease complex, the most prevalent cause of morbidity and mortality among feedlot cattle. Infection of calves or lambs with bovine RSV shares features in common with RSV infection in children, such as an age-dependent susceptibility. In addition, comparable microscopic lesions consisting of bronchiolar neutrophilic infiltrates, epithelial cell necrosis, and syncytial cell formation are observed. Further, our studies have shown an upregulation of pro-inflammatory mediators in RSV-infected calves and lambs, including IL-12p40 and CXCL8 (IL-8). This finding is consistent with increased levels of IL-8 observed in children with RSV bronchiolitis. Since rodents lack IL-8, neonatal calves can be useful for studies of IL-8 regulation in response to RSV infection. We have recently found that vitamin D in milk replacer diets can be manipulated to produce calves differing in circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. The results to date indicate that although the vitamin D intracrine pathway is activated during RSV infection, pro-inflammatory mediators frequently inhibited by the vitamin D intacrine pathway in vitro are, in fact, upregulated or unaffected in lungs of infected calves. This review will summarize available data that provide parallels between bovine RSV infection in neonatal calves and human RSV in infants.

   

 
Project Team
Sacco, Randy
Briggs, Robert - Bob
Nonnecke, Brian
Tatum, Fred
Casas, Eduardo
Register, Karen
 
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Related National Programs
  Animal Health (103)
 
 
Last Modified: 06/18/2013
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