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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Virus and Prion Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #154577
Title: ISOLATION OF BOVINE VIRAL DIARRHEA VIRUS FROM FREE-RANGING BIGHORN SHEEP

Author
item VAN CAMPEN, H - COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
item HOLT, T - VET CLINIC, GUNNISON, CO
item Ridpath, Julia
item MASDEN, D - COLORADO DIV WILDLIFE
item SPICER, L - COLORADO
item SPRAKER, T - COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
item NORRDIN, R - COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/9/2003
Publication Date: 10/9/2003
Citation: Van Campen, H., Holt, T., Ridpath, J.F., Masden, D., Spicer, L., Spraker, T., Norrdin, R. 2003. Isolation of bovine viral diarrhea virus from free-ranging bighorn sheep. American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians. p. 152.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Bovine viral diarrhea viruses (BVDV) were isolated from free-ranging bighorn sheep afflicted with pneumonia in late fall and winter of 2002. One of three bighorn ewes found dead was examined for gross lesions and samples were submitted for histopathology, aerobic bacterial culture, FA and virus isolation. Grossly, the ewe had a body condition score of VII/X with large amounts of perirenal fat. Petechial hemorrhages were noted on the myocardium, the lungs were consolidated and there was hemorrhage in the trachea. Mannheimia hemolytica was isolated from lung tissue. The primary histologic findings were congestion and hemorrhage in the adventitia and mucosa of large airways, and focal areas of inflammation in the lung. The FA test for BRSV antigen was negative and a noncytopathic type 1 BVDV was isolated from a sample of lung. Sequence comparison of the 5'UTR segregated this virus to the type 1b genotype of BVDV. A second ewe was observed to become recumbent and died without signs of illness. Histologic lesions were confined to the lung and consisted of a focal, minimal pneumonia. A non-cytopathic pestivirus was isolated but was not amenable to sequencing. To our knowledge, this is the first isolation and sequence characterization of BVDV isolated from free-ranging bighorn sheep. A number of etiologies have been associated with pneumonia and mortality in bighorn sheep including Pasteurella sp., lungworms (Dictyocaulus ), and respiratory syncytial virus. The results of this case suggest that pestiviruses including BVDV should be considered in the differential for pneumonias of free-ranging bighorn sheep.