Abstract
Numerous viruses, including bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), bovine herpes virus 1 (BoHV-1) and bovine herpes virus 4 (BoHV-4), and other pathogens are the most common causes of reproductive disorders and are responsible for huge economic losses in livestock production. This study investigates the aetiological role of BoHV-4 in fertility problems such as abortions, stillbirth and birth with unviable calves. Retrospective samples from 38 animals, including 17 aborting cows, 17 aborted foetuses, three stillborn calves and one unviable newborn calf were analysed. The BoHV-4 genome was detected in 25 (65.7%) animals by polymerase chain reaction. In 14 of these infected animals, we detected co-infection with BVDV, while the co-presence of BoHV-1 was also detected in one animal. In addition to the high prevalence of BoHV-4 genome in materials related to fertility problems, isolation of BoHV-4 from the brain of one stillborn calf indicated a causal link between BoHV-4 and fertility problems, such as abortion, stillbirths or birth with unviable calves.
Highlights
Previous studies have identified several viruses associated with reproductive disorders in cattle, such as abortion, neonatal death and births with congenital abnormalities
The present study investigates the presence of bovine herpes virus 4 (BoHV-4) genome in samples from aborting cows, aborted foetuses, stillborn calves and unviable calves to investigate the interaction between BoHV-4 and these fertility problems
Out of 38 animals, the BoHV-4 genome was detected in 25 (65.7%) animals, with 14 (36.8%) and one (2.6%) co-infection rates for bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) and bovine herpes virus 1 (BoHV-1), respectively
Summary
Previous studies have identified several viruses associated with reproductive disorders in cattle, such as abortion, neonatal death and births with congenital abnormalities In such cases, bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) and bovine herpes virus 1 (BoHV-1) (Czaplicki & Thiry 1998; Kirkbride 1992; McKercher & Wada 1964; Miller & Van der Maaten 1987; Murray 1990; Schiefer 1974; Wellemans, Van Opdenbosch & Mammerickx 1986) are often detected along with bovine herpes virus 4 (BoHV-4). Most BoHV-4 isolates are considered mild pathogens or completely apathogenic for cattle, BoHV-4 antibodies have higher prevalence in abortion cases than in clinically asymptomatic cattle (AltamIranda et al 2015; Naeem, Goyal & Werdin 1989)
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