Experimental Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Calves and Lambs

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a pneumovirus of the family Paramyxoviridae, is a respiratory tract pathogen of both humans and cattle. Human RSV (HRSV) is the most important respiratory virus affecting young children, with most children becoming infected during their first 2 years of life. Bovine RSV (BRSV) is an important cause of respiratory tract disease in beef and dairy calves and feedlot steers. Similarities in antigenic epitopes, epidemiology, and disease pathogenesis allow for overlap of research between the 2 viruses. Because of the significant economic importance of BRSV to the cattle industry and the long-term effects suffered by human infants with HRSV, many experimental studies have been undertaken to identify an appropriate animal model to study this disease. Numerous animal species have been experimentally infected, including cattle, sheep, cebus monkeys, chimpanzees, squirrel monkeys, rhesus monkeys, owl monkeys, marmosets, mink, chinchilla, African rats, guinea pigs, mice, ferrets, hamsters, and cotton rats. Of these, calves are the only naturally infected species and are considered the most relevant mode1. The following review addresses in chronological order experimental RSV infections conducted in 3 groups of ruminant models: calves, gnotobiotic calves, and sheep.