ISOLATION OF BOVINE HERPES VIRUS TYPE 1 FROM CATTLE IN CORDOBA - COLOMBIA

Objective. Bovine herpes virus type 1 (BHV-1) was isolated from beef cattle with history of infertility. Materials and methods. We chose 85 unvaccinated animals, from different rural areas of Cordoba Department that had evidence of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) by serum neutralization. Two bulls and one cow were chosen to attempt isolation of HVB-1. The three bovines were immunosupressed with glucocorticoids (dexamethasone) and samples of prepucial washing (males) vaginal washing (female), and nasal and ocular swaps were obtained. Results. Cytopathic effect was detected 3 hours post-inoculation in the MDBK cells inoculated with vaginal washing of the cow and 24 hours post-inoculation in the cells inoculated with washings from the bulls. A “racime effect” appeared after 48 hours. Successful isolation from both types of samples, suggests that viral reactivation was followed by viremia and shedding of virus in natural secretions and excretions. Conclusions. The isolation of BHV-1 from apparently normal reproductive animals confirms the presence of viral latency in these animals. Latency is an important epidemiological factor in the spread of the disease among farm animals. Studies should be initiated to identify the viral subtype circulating understand its antigenic characteristics and match the virus to a vaccine strain.