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An Oculo-Cerebellar Syndrome Caused By Congenital Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus-Infection

Et oculo-cerebellart syndrom forårsaget af kongenital infektion med bovin virus diarrhoea virus.

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 25, pages 36–49 (1984)Cite this article

Abstract

An epizootic characterized by birth of calves severly ataxic and blind were encountered in 3 herds 7–8 months after outbreaks of bovine virus diarrhoea. Serological and virological investigations indicated introduction of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) into previously virus-free herds, followed by transplacental virus infection of the fetuses of cows in the first trimester. Clinical, pathological, serological, and microbiological examinations were performed on 10 calves. Pathological findings included microcephaly and cerebellar hypoplasia, ocular malformations, and thymic hypoplasia. BVDV was isolated from tissue and blood of 7 calves, and 4 calves, 1 of which had not received colostrum, had virus-specific neutralizing antibodies.

This is the first report on natural occurrence of congenital bovine infection with BVDV among Danish cattle herds resulting in abortion and birth of calves with severe debilitating congenital anomalies. It draws attention to the importance of this virus for bovines of all age groups.

Sammendrag

En epizooti karakteriseret ved fødsel af svaert ataktiske og blinde kalve observeredes i tre bessetninger 7–8 måneder efter udbrud af bovin virus diarrhoea. Serologiske og virologiske undersøgelser indikerede introduktion of BVDV i hidtil virus-fri besaetninger, fulgt af transplacental BVDV infektion af fostrene hos køer, der på tidspunktet for klinisk sygdom var i første trimester. Ti kalve blev underkastet kliniske, patologiske, serologiske og mikrobiologiske undersøgelser. De patologiske fund omfattede microcephali og cerebellar hypoplasi, oculare misdannelser og thymus-hypoplasi. BVDV kunne isoleres fra vaev og blod fra 7 kalve. Fire kalve, af hvilke 1 ikke havde optaget kolostrum, havde virus-specifikt neutraliserende serum-antistof.

Dette er såle des den første rapport om sp on tant forekommende kongenital infektion hos dansk kvæg med BVDV, resulterende i abort og fødsel af kalve med livstruende misdannelser, hvilket foranlediger forfatteren til at henlede opmærksomheden på betydningen af dette virus for kvæg i alle aldersgrupper.

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  1. Department of Pathology, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark

    H. Bielefeldt Ohmann

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Ohmann, H.B. An Oculo-Cerebellar Syndrome Caused By Congenital Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus-Infection. Acta Vet Scand 25, 36–49 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547277

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147