Investigation of the potential transmission of Border disease virus from a persistently infected calf to cattle and sheep

• Unité de recherche: OSAV
• Numéro de projet: 1.12.19
• Titre du projet anglais: Investigation of the potential transmission of Border disease virus from a persistently infected calf to cattle and sheep

Mots-clé (Allemand)

Pestiviren, BVD-Eradikation, BD-pi-Kalb, Rind, Schaf,  Serokonversion, Virämie, Immunhistochemie

Mots-clé (Anglais)

Pestivirus, BVD eradication, persistent infection with Border disease virus, cattle, sheep, viraemia, immunohistochemistry

Description succincte (Anglais)

Pestivirus infections are common in ruminants. Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) affects cattle and Border disease virus (BDV) affects sheep. Pestiviruses can be transmitted between sheep and cattle. Recent studies have indicated that BDV can be transmitted from persistently-infected sheep to cattle sharing the same pasture. Examinations conducted as part of the BVDV eradication program in Switzerland identified several calves persistently infected with BDV. These calves tested positive for pestiviruses in ear punch biopsy samples and subsequently in blood samples, and sequencing confirmed persistent infection with BDV, rather than BVDV. Fortunately, we were able to obtain one of these calves, a bull calf in which persistent infection with BDV was confirmed; this calf is now housed in our isolation unit at the VetSuisse Faculty, University of Zurich. The goals of this project are to investigate whether BDV can be transmitted from the persistently infected calf to seronegative cattle and sheep during early pregnancy when housed in close proximity to the calf, whether viraemia and seroconversion occur in the cattle and sheep, and whether persistently infected bovine and ovine offspring are generated. The persistently infected calf will be housed with seronegative cattle and sheep in early pregnancy and serial blood samples will be collected for virus and antibody detection. The cattle and sheep will be slaughtered on day 110 and 80 of pregnancy, respectively, and fetal tissues will be examined immunohistochemically.

After the persistently infected bull calf has reached sexual maturity, semen will be collected and examined for BDV. Provided that the semen is of sufficient quality and contains BDV, a certain amount will be cryopreserved and used to artificially inseminate seronegative cattle. Analogous to the other two groups of test animals (cattle and sheep exposed to the infected calf) the inseminated cattle will be tested for viraemia and seroconversion. The cattle will be slaughtered after day 60 of pregnancy and the fetal tissues examined immunohistochemically.

Publications / Résultats (Allemand)

Frei, S. (2014) Übertragung des Border-Disease-Virus von einem persistent infizierten Rind auf seronegative Rinder durch Kontaktinfektion und virushaltiges Sperma. Dissertation, Vetsuisse-Fakultät Universität Zürich.

Documents annexés

• Diss. Frei 2014.pdf [PDF] 1'492 kB

Publications / Résultats (Anglais)

 

Frei, S. (2014): Übertragung des Border-Disease-Virus von einem persistent infizierten Rind auf seronegative Rinder durch Kontaktinfektion und virushaltiges Sperma. Dissertation, Vetsuisse-Fakultät Universität Zürich, Zürich.

Braun, U., Hilbe, M. Janett, F., Hässig, M, Zanoni, R., Frei, S. and Schweizer, M. (2015) Transmission of border disease virus from a persistently infected calf to seronegative heifers in early pregnancy. BMC Veterinary Research 11:43.

Braun, U., Frei S., Schweizer, M., Zanoni, R., Janett, F. (2015) Short communication: Transmission of border disease virus to seronegative cows inseminated with infected semen. Research in Veterinary Science 100: 297–298.

Documents annexés

• Datenblatt [PDF] 44 kB
• Border Paper I aus Dissertation Sandra Frei.pdf [PDF] 837 kB
• Border Paper II (aus Dissertation Sandra Frei).pdf [PDF] 216 kB

Adresses URL (Allemand)

1.12.19 Braun Untersuchungen mit einem Border-Disease infizierten Kalb (063-505/2/38)