Seroepidemiology of bovine herpes virus-1 infection in water buffaloes from Mexico

Authors: ROMERO-SALAS, DORA - University Of Veracruz; CRUZ-ROMERO, ANABEL - University Of Veracruz; AGUILAR-DOMINGUEZ, MARIEL - University Of Veracruz; IBARRA-PRIEGO, NELLY - University Of Veracruz; BARRADAS-PINA, FRANCISCO - Instituto Nacional De Investigaciones Forestales Y Agropecuarias (INIFAP); NOGUEIRA-DOMINGUES, LOUISA - Orise Fellow; CASTRO-ARELLANO, IVAN - Texas State University; Lohmeyer, Kimberly - Kim; Perez De Leon, Adalberto - Beto

Submitted to: Tropical Biomedicine
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/22/2018
Publication Date: 6/1/2018
Citation: Romero-Salas, D., Cruz-Romero, A., Aguilar-Dominguez, M., Ibarra-Priego, N., Barradas-Pina, F.T., Nogueira-Domingues, L., Castro-Arellano, I., Lohmeyer, K.H., Perez De Leon, A.A. 2018. Seroepidemiology of bovine herpes virus-1 infection in water buffaloes from Mexico. Tropical Biomedicine. 35(2):541-552.

Interpretive Summary: Water buffaloes were introduced to Mexico at the end of the last century. Buffaloes are commonly pastured together with cattle, however, few studies have been done on buffalo herd health in Mexico. We hypothesized that a better understanding of the infections shared between cattle and buffaloes may improve herd profitability and promote buffalo production in areas unsuitable to cattle farming. This study aimed to assess the risk for infection with bovine herpes virus-1 (BoHV-1) in buffalo herds that share the agroecosystem with cattle at farms in the state of Veracruz, Mexico, by looking at antibody levels against BoHV-1, a condition also known as seropositivity. Of 368 buffaloes tested, 59% were positive for BoHV-1 antibodies. Animals older than 7 years had the highest occurrence, and age was identified as a risk factor for BoHV-1 infection with buffaloes older than 5 years being the most likely to be infected. Females and males had a similar occurrence of BoHV-1 antibodies. Females with a history of calf loss had a higher occurrence of BoHV-1 antibodies than those with no record of calf loss. This study documented the seroepidemiology of BoHV-1, which indicates that infection is prevalent among buffalo herds in the state of Veracruz. Buffaloes appear to be involved in the transmission of BoHV-1 in parts of Mexico where they coexist with cattle. Animal health programs established to lessen the burden caused by bovine herpes virus-1 should take buffaloes into consideration when they are a part of the agricultural landscape.

Technical Abstract: Water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) were introduced to Mexico at the end of the last century. Buffaloes are commonly pastured together with cattle. However, few studies have been done on buffalo herd health in Mexico. We hypothesized that a better knowledge of the epidemiology of infections shared between cattle and buffaloes may improve herd profitability and promote buffalo production in areas unsuitable to cattle farming. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of antibodies against bovine herpes virus – 1 (BoHV-1) in water buffaloes from the state of Veracruz, Mexico. Of 368 buffaloes sampled, 217 (59%) were seropositive for anti-BoHV-1. Animals older than 7 years had the highest prevalence (86.0%), and age was identified as a risk factor for BoHV-1 infection with buffaloes older than 5 years being the most likely to be infected. Females and males had similar seroprevalence rates. Females with history of abortion had higher prevalence of anti-BoHV-1 antibodies than those with no record of abortion. This study showed that BoHV-1 is prevalent among buffalo herds in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. Buffaloes appear to play an important role in the epidemiology of BoHV-1 infection in parts of Mexico where they coexist with cattle. Animal health programs established to mitigate the burden caused by BoHV-1 must take buffaloes into consideration when this bovid species is part of the agroecosystem shared with cattle.