BVD-virus infection in goats-experimental studies on transplacental transmissibility of the virus and its effect on reproduction.

Abstract

Eight groups of altogether 25 goats without neutralizing antibodies against BVD virus, were inoculated either intranasally or intranasally and subcutaneously with two different BVD virus isolates during different stages of gestation. In all 18 goats inoculated within the first 78 days of gestation an abortion and foetal death rate of approximately 100% occurred. Only one goat gave birth to a clinically healthy kid. The other seven goats which were inoculated after the 78th day of gestation showed also a high foetal death rate. Only two of them gave birth to clinically healthy kids. Neutralizing antibodies against BVD virus could be detected in blood samples drawn from 14 kids born at normal term including stillborn and non-viable offsprings. BVD virus was reisolated from different organs taken from seven foetuses. It was not possible to isolate BVD virus from any of the normal offsprings.