VIROLOGIC, SEROLOGIC AND PATHOLOGIC STUDIES INTO BORDER DISEASE VIRUS (BDV) INFECTION IN A GOAT HERD IN SAUDIA ARABIA

S S A Sharawi ,M R Yousef ,Kh.z Dokhan ,A.n Al-Hofufy

doi:10.21608/avmj.2010.174238

Abstract

In this study, border disease virus (BDV) infection was suspected in a goat herd in Riyadh province, KSA. The outbreak was unusual in that the typical clinical signs of border disease, i.e., tremor and/or fleece changes were not present; manifestations of disease were restricted to abortion and the birth of small weak kids. The diagnosis was confirmed by virus detection from dead-born fetuses, seroprevalence and pathology. Impression smears from internal organs of aborted feti with suspected border disease (BD) were stained with the direct fluorescent antibody technique and examined by fluorescent microscopy, as well as prepared samples were assessed by antigen ELISA, where the two assays indicated the existence of BDV antigen. In addition; the serological investigation performed to determine the prevalence of (BDV) antibodies using ELISA revealed concurrent infection of BDV among this goat herd. Histopathological changes were confined to the brain, spinal cord and liver. Lesions were especially pronounced in the white matter of the cerebrum and the cerebellum. This is the first study that shows the presence of BDV and serologically positive animals to BDV in KSA. Further studies are needed in order to determine the prevalence of the disease in the other goat and sheep populations and the strains of the virus may be present in KSA.

Highlights

Border disease virus (BDV) is a Pestivirus within the family Flaviviridae and is closely related to classical swine fever virus (CSFV) and bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV)
Taxonomy of Pestivirus is quite problematic at present; there are four recognised species, namely: CSFV, BVDV types 1 and 2 and BDV (Horzinek, 1991 and Theil, et al, 2005)
All of the examined feti have central nervous system (CNS) lesions ranging from mild to moderate in severity

Summary

Introduction

Border disease virus (BDV) is a Pestivirus within the family Flaviviridae and is closely related to classical swine fever virus (CSFV) and bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV). Border disease (BD) was first described and reported as a clinicopathological entity in sheep in Great Britain in 1959 (Hughes and Kershaw, 1959). Few reports described BD infection and histopathological lesions in naturally or experimentally infected goat and sheep (Krametter-Froetscher et al, 2009). The post mortem examination and histopathological changes in aborted feti are of great importance in diagnosis of caprine border disease (Pratelli et al, 1999 and Liebler-Tenorio et al, 2000).

Results

Discussion

Conclusion