Concomitant infection of Neospora caninum and Bovine Herpesvirus type 5 in spontaneous bovine abortions

MARIN, M.S.; MORRELL, E.L.; PEREZ, S; LEUNDA, M.R.; MOORE, D.M.; JONES, L; CAMPERO, C.M.; ODEÓN, A.C.

PESQUISA VETERINáRIA BRASILEIRA

REVISTA PESQUISA VETERINARIA BRASILEIRA

Año: 2013

0100-736X

Bovine Herpesvirus type 5 (BoHV-5) has not been conclusively demonstrated to cause bovine abortion. Brain lesions produced by Neospora caninum and Bovine Herpesvirustype 1 (BoHV-1) exhibit common features. Therefore, careful microscopic evaluation andadditional diagnostic procedures are required to achieve an accurate final etiological diagnosis. The aim of the present work was to investigate the occurrence of infections due toBoHV-1, BoHV-5 and N. caninum in 68 cases of spontaneous bovine abortions which showed microscopic lesions in the fetal central nervous system. This study allowed the identification of 4 (5.9%) fetuses with dual infection by BoHV-5 and N. caninum and 33 (48.5%)cases in which N. caninum was the sole pathogen identified. All cases were negative toBoHV-1. The results of this study provide evidence that dual infection by BoHV-5 and N.caninum occur during pregnancy in cattle; however, the role of BoHV-5 as a primary causeof bovine abortion needs further research. Molecular diagnosis of BoHV-5 and N. caninumconfirmed the importance of applying complementary assays to improve the sensitivity ofdiagnosing bovine abortion.