Rd. Woods et al., Bovine viral diarrhea virus isolated from fetal calf serum enhances pathogenicity of attenuated transmissible gastroenteritis virus in neonatal pigs, J VET D INV, 11(5), 1999, pp. 400-407
A bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV-C) was isolated from swine tissue cultu
re cells used to attenuate the transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) a
fter 68 passes. Piglets given a pure culture of BVDV-C developed clinical s
igns similar to those of a mild TGEV infection and recovered by 10 days pos
texposure. Villous blunting and fusion was observed in the small intestine,
and a lymphocyte depletion was observed in Peyer's patches in the ileum. P
iglets given a combination of BVDV-C and attenuated TGEV developed clinical
signs similar to those of a virulent TGEV infection and were euthanized. T
he combined infection induced a generalized lymphocyte depletion throughout
the lymphatic system and villous atrophy in the intestinal tract. Piglets
exposed to a another type I strain of BVDV (NY-1) either alone or in combin
ation with the attenuated TGEV had mild clinical signs similar to those of
a TGEV infection. Moderate villous atrophy in the ileum and a lymphocyte de
pletion in the mesenteric lymph node were observed in these piglets postmor
tem. The data indicate a potential problem for diagnostic laboratories in r
elation to a diagnosis of virulent TGEV infections and in the field for you
ng piglets exposed to a BVDV-contaminated TGEV vaccine.