Molecular characterization of the first bovine herpesvirus type 4 (BoHV-4) isolates from in vitro bovine produced-embryos in Argentina

GONZALEZ ALTAMIRANDA, E; MANREQUI, J; PEREZ, S. E; RÍOS, G; ODEÓN, A; VERNA, A

PLOS ONE

PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE

Lugar: San Francisco; Año: 2015 vol. 10 p. 1 - 10

1932-6203

Bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) is increasingly considered as responsible for variousproblems of the reproductive tract. The virus infects mainly blood mononuclear cells anddisplays specific tropism for vascular endothelia, reproductive and fetal tissues. Epidemiologicalstudies suggest its impact on reproductive performance, and its presence in varioussites in the reproductive tract highlights its potential transmission in transfer-stage embryos.This work describes the biological and genetic characterization of BoHV-4 strains isolatedfrom an in vitro bovine embryo production system. BoHV-4 strains were isolated in 2011and 2013 from granulosa cells and bovine oocytes from ovary batches collected at a localabattoir, used as ?starting material? for in vitro production of bovine embryos. CompatibleBoHV-4-CPE was observed in the co-culture of granulosa cells and oocytes with MDBKcells. The identity of the isolates was confirmed by PCR assays targeting three ORFs of theviral genome. The phylogenetic analyses of the strains suggest that they were evolutionaryunlinked. Therefore it is possible that BoHV-4 ovary infections occurred regularly along theevolution of the virus, at least in Argentina, which can have implications in the systems of invitro embryo production. Thus, although BoHV-4 does not appear to be a frequent risk factorfor in vitro embryo production, data are still limited. This study reveals the potential ofBoHV-4 transmission via embryo transfer. Moreover, the high variability among the BoHV-4strains isolated from aborted cows in Argentina highlights the importance of further researchon the role of this virus as an agent with the potential to cause reproductive disease in cattle.The genetic characterization of the isolated strains provides data to better understand thepathogenesis of BoHV-4 infections. Furthermore, it will lead to fundamental insights into themolecular aspects of the virus and the means by which these strains circulate in the herds.