[Experimental inoculation of bovine herpesvirus 4 (strain LVR 140) in pregnant and nonpregnant cows].

Abstract

Ten cows (5 pregnant and 5 non pregnant) were inoculated with a BHV 4 (Bovine Herpes Virus 4) strain LVR 140. The infection caused metritis symptoms, but only after parturition and even if the calving occurred several weeks after the inoculation. The metritis was accompanied by leucopenia. The virus was reisolated from the lochia and the lymph nodes, in some cases several weeks after parturition. A number of unexplained mortalities was observed during the experiment. The evolution of antibodies detected by the indirect immunofluorescence test (IIF) showed two levels: the first after inoculation and the second after parturition.