Bovine lymphotropic herpesvirus and non-responsive post-partum metritis in dairy herds in the UK

• Published in: The veterinary journal (1997) Vol. 176; no. 2; pp. 248 - 250
• Main Authors: Banks, M., Ibata, G., Murphy, A.M., Frossard, J.P., Crawshaw, T.R., Twomey, D.F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2008
• Subjects: Animals; Bovine lymphotropic herpesvirus; Bovine reproduction; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - epidemiology; Cattle Diseases - virology; DNA, Viral - chemistry; DNA, Viral - genetics; Endometritis - epidemiology; Endometritis - veterinary; Endometritis - virology; Female; Gammaherpesvirus; Herpesviridae Infections - epidemiology; Herpesviridae Infections - veterinary; Herpesviridae Infections - virology; Herpesvirus 4, Bovine - genetics; Herpesvirus 4, Bovine - isolation & purification; Infertility; Non-responsive post-partum metritis; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; Postpartum Period; Tumor Virus Infections - epidemiology; Tumor Virus Infections - veterinary; Tumor Virus Infections - virology; United Kingdom - epidemiology; Non-responsive post-partum metritis; Infertility; Bovine lymphotropic herpesvirus; Bovine reproduction; Gammaherpesvirus
• ISSN: 1090-0233; 1532-2971
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.02.005

Bovine lymphotropic herpesvirus (BLHV) was detected for the first time in the UK in December 2005 in a dairy herd suffering from chronic, non-responsive post-partum metritis (NPPM). A small-scale investigation was undertaken in order to determine whether this was an isolated case. Samples of vaginal exudates or vaginal swabs were collected from cows in 13 UK dairy herds with a history of post-partum metritis that had not responded to standard treatment regimes for this condition. Cows in 9/13 herds and 1/13 herds were positive for BLHV and bovine herpesvirus-4, respectively, by pan-herpesvirus polymerase chain reaction. No consistent pattern of infectious agents or nutritional/metabolic factors commonly associated with post-partum metritis was observed at the times of sampling. The detection of BLHV in association with NPPM indicates that further work is warranted to determine the impact this virus has on cattle health.