Congenital Cataracts and Microphakia with Retinal Dysplasia and Optic Nerve Hypoplasia in a Calf

Kelsey A. Hart,Kathleen M. Bedard,Christopher L. Siepker,Sarah L. Czerwinski,Franco Mutinelli,Jennifer L. Zimmer,K. Paige Carmichael

doi:10.1155/2021/2064103

Kelsey A. Hart, Kathleen M. Bedard

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/2064103

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Abstract

Case Description. A two-month-old, female, Aberdeen-Angus calf was presented for congenital cataracts and blindness in both eyes (OU). The dam had a reported history of visual defects (not specified) and had produced other affected calves (per owner history). Ophthalmic examination revealed mature bilateral cataracts, attenuation of the iridic granules, persistent pupillary membranes, and dyscoric pupils. Additionally, the calf had a poor body condition, prognathism, dome-shaped head, excessive nasal drainage, limb contracture, and fever. Histopathology of both eyes revealed lenticular degeneration (congenital cataracts), retinal dysplasia, and optic nerve hypoplasia. BVDV IHC detected antigen within only the left eye (OS), consisting of intrahistiocytic and endothelial immunoreactivity within the ciliary body, iris, and choroid. No BVDV immunoreactivity could be detected in the right eye (OD). This case highlights the unique ocular changes present in in utero BVDV infection of cattle with a different immunohistochemical staining profile than previously described.

Highlights

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is an important viral disease in cattle worldwide belonging to the genus Pestivirus of the family Flaviviridae similar to viruses which cause Border disease and classical swine fever [1, 2]
20 μm (a) medicine, and the pathology outlining the potentially severe ophthalmic changes is poorly understood. This case represents a calf infected with BVDV which resulted in microphthalmia, cataracts, microphakia, and retinal dysplasia, resulting in loss of vision, clinically
Gross and histologic findings correlate with previously reported ocular changes in calves infected with BVDV in utero [13, 20]

Summary

Introduction

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is an important viral disease in cattle worldwide belonging to the genus Pestivirus of the family Flaviviridae similar to viruses which cause Border disease and classical swine fever [1, 2]. The disease, first described in upper New York in 1946 causes significant pathology in cattle ranging from birth defects, immunosuppression, to immunotolerant, persistently infected (PI) animals [3]. Infections may occur acutely, in utero, as persistent infection (PI) or as a mucosal disease [6, 7]. Immunotolerance in calves infected in utero, during the first trimester with a ncp strain of BVDV will result in a persistently infected (PI) calf [15]. Many mechanisms of immune evasion occur in PI cattle; one important method described includes failure of type I interferon secretion within ncp BVDV-infected macrophages [17]. Few case reports have been published discussing the ocular changes in cattle infected in utero with BVDV; ocular manifestations of disease may occur in up to 10% of calves infected with BVD [18]. BVDV antigen has previously been detected in retinal blood vessels and with multifocal staining in the outer plexiform layer of the [20]

Case Presentation

Findings

Discussion