BOVINE ADENOVIRUS SEROTYPE 7 INFECTIONS IN POSTWEANING CALVES

Authors: FENT, GENNY - OK STATE UNIV., OKLAHOMA; FULTON, ROBERT - OK STATE UNIV., OKLAHOMA; SLAIKI, JEREMIAH - OK STATE UNIV., OKLAHOMA; CASELTINE, SHANNON - OK STATE UNIV., OKLAHOMA; Lehmkuhl, Howard; CONFER, ANTHONY - OK STATE UNIV., OKLAHOMA; Purdy, Charles; Briggs, Robert; LOAN, RAYMOND - TEXAS A&M UNIV., TX; DUFF, GLENN - NEW MX STATE UNIV., NM

Submitted to: American Journal of Veterinary Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/9/2002
Publication Date: 7/2/2002
Citation: FENT, G.M., FULTON, R.W., SLAIKI, J.T., CASELTINE, S.L., LEHMKUHL, H.D., CONFER, A.W., PURDY, C.W., BRIGGS, R.E., LOAN, R.W., DUFF, G.C. BOVINE ADENOVIRUS SEROTYPE 7 INFECTIONS IN POSTWEANING CALVES. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY RESEARCH. 2002. V. 63(7); p. 976-978.

Interpretive Summary: Respiratory tract disease is a leading cause of economic loss to the cattle industry. Adenoviruses are known to produce both respiratory and enteric disease in cattle. The bovine adenoviruses (BAdVs) have been isolated from healthy cattle but more frequently the isolations are associated with some form of clinical disease. Little is known about the distribution of BAdVs in the cattle population in the United States. The objective was to detect bovine adenovirus serotype 7 (BAdV-7) infections in calves by use of viral isolation and serologic testing. BAdV-7 was isolated from the blood cells of 8 calves, and antibodies BAdV-7 were detected in 38 of 199 (19.1%) calves studied. Results of our study indicate that BAdV-7 infections can be found in postweaning commingled calves and may be potentially a systemic infection and disease rather than a respiratory mucosal infection alone.

Technical Abstract: The objective was to detect bovine adenovirus serotype 7 (BAV-7) infections in calves by use of viral isolation and serologic testing. One hundred twenty one 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. 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 (BVDV) infections were detected in most calves from which BAV-7 was isolated. 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 BVDV.