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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #214528
Title: BVDV2-induced hypomyelinogenesis in a longhorn calf

Author
item GARNEAU, DAYNO - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item PORTER, BRIAN - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item Ridpath, Julia
item PAYNE, HAROLD - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item EDWARDS, JOHN - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: American College of Veterinary Pathologists Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/10/2007
Publication Date: 11/10/2007
Citation: Garneau, D.G., Porter, B.F., Ridpath, J.F., Payne, H.R., Edwards, J.F. 2007. BVDV2-Induced Hypomyelinogenesis in a Longhorn Calf [abstract]. American College of Veterinary Pathologists. Available: http://www.ivis.org/proceedings/acvp/2007/toc.asp.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A newborn Longhorn heifer calf presented to the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital with generalized tremors, muscle fasciculations, ataxia and nystagmus. In utero infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) was suspected. The animal was euthanized and a necropsy was performed. On gross examination, no significant neurologic lesions were observed. Histopathological evaluation revealed a mild, diffuse, reactive microgliosis/astrocytosis and minimal, lymphocytic, perivascular cuffing. Luxol fast blue and Weil stains showed decreased myelin staining in the brain and spinal cord and electron microscopy was used to confirm thinning of the myelin sheaths. Immunohistochemical stains were strongly positive for BVDV. BVDV was isolated from the brain and phylogenetic analysis of the virus using 5'UTR sequence standards identified the strain as BVDV type 2. BVDV-induced hypomyelinization is rare and analogous to lesions found in neonates affected by border disease and hog cholera. This case is the first documentation of hypomyelinogenesis in a calf specifically attributed to BVDV type 2.