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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Virus and Prion Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #86831
Title: ISOLATION OF BOVINE VIRAL DIARRHEA VIRUS TYPE 1 FROM AN EQUINE ABORTION CASE

Author
item SOCKETT, D - WI ANIM HLTH LAB-MADISON
item MODDERMAN, E - WI ANIM HLTH LAB-MADISON
item Ridpath, Julia
item Bolin, Steven - Steve

Submitted to: American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/21/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is an important cause of abortion in cattle. In 1996, the Wisconsin Animal Health Laboratories-Madison (WAHL-Madison) isolated BVDV from 237 different Wisconsin dairy herds making it the most important viral disease of adult cattle in the state. BVDV has also been reported as cause of abortion in other ruminants most notably sheep and goats. There have been no reports of BVDV associated with disease in horses. Recently, WAHL-Madison received tissue samples from 4 aborted equine fetuses (6 to 8 months of gestation). All four fetuses had a complete histopathological and diagnostic work up for known equine infectious abortifacient agents. The histopathology was unremarkable. Serum collected from the aborting mares was negative for Leptospira (microagglutination test), equine viral arteritis virus (EVA), and equine herpes virus type 1 (EHV-1). EVA and EHV-1 virus isolation was negative. The fetal stomach contents were negative for Leptospira by direct fluorescent antibody testing. Two of the equine fetuses examined tested positive for a noncytopathic pestivirus by viral isolation. This was repeated 3 times including reisolation from the original unprocessed tissue samples to rule out the possibility of laboratory error. In addition, 1 of the 2 fetuses was positive by immunohistochemistry using the 15C5 monoclonal antibody for BVDV. Phylogenetic analysis segregated these two viral isolates into the BVDV 1 genotype. Despite isolation of virus from aborted fetuses, all 37 horses including the 4 mares that aborted were serologically negative to BVDV type 1 (Singer strain) and BVDV type 2 (125 strain).