DETECTION OF BOVINE VIRAL DIARRHEA VIRUS IN THE OVARIES OF CATTLE ACUTELY INFECTED WITH BOVINE VIRAL DIARRHEA VIRUS

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is recognized worldwide as a major cause of economic loss in cattle. Infection with BVDV can result in se veral clinical outcomes. However, the reproductive consequences may be the most important. Infertility, early embryonic death, abortion, and congenital anomalies have all been reported following acute infection with BVDV. The cause of infertility following acute BVDV infection is not known. BVDV has been isolated from the bovine ovary and has been associated with chronic oophoritis. The purpose of this study was to i dentify the ovarian cell types infected with BVDV following acute infe ction. Twelve heifers were acutely infected with noncytopathic BVDV, a nd ovariectomies were performed between 4 and 60 days postinfection. B VDV was isolated on days 6 and 8 postinfection. Viral antigen was dete cted in macrophage-like cells and stromal cells in the ovarian cortex and oophoritis was evident from 6 to 60 days postinfection. These find ings indicate that acute infection with BVDV may result in changes in ovarian function that could lead to reduced fertility.