Endometritis in postparturient cattle associated with bovine herpesvirus-4infection: 15 cases

Suppurative, ulcerative endometritis associated with bovine herpesvirus-4 ( BHV-4) infection was identified in 15 postparturient dairy cows from 5 sepa rate dairies. Characteristic eosinophilic to amphophilic intranuclear viral inclusion bodies were identified within degenerate endometrial lining epit helium and endothelial cells. Bovine herpesvirus-4 was confirmed as the eti ology by a combination of fluorescent antibody assays, viral isolation, hem inested PCR, ultrastructural examination of the uterus and inoculated tissu e culture cells, and negative-stain electron microscopy of tissue culture s upernatant. Viral particles measuring 70-95 nm were demonstrated in uterine epithelial and endothelial cells by electron microscopy. Bacteria includin g Arcanobacterium pyogenes, Escherichia coli, and an alpha -Streptococcus i solate were isolated from all uteri. Bovine herposvirus-4-associated endome tritis has been previously reported in sporadic cases in Europe but has not been previously reported in the United States. Endometritis associated wit h BHV-4 appears to be an emerging syndrome in Georgia dairy herds.