Key result
Bovine viral diarrhoea virus RNA was detected in the semen of 5 bulls for 3 to 8 months and in 1 bull for over 5 years after infection, highlighting the need for real-time PCR screening.
Why the study?
Infection with BVDV can result in persistent virus excretion in the semen of bulls despite a normal immune response, presenting a biosecurity risk.
Case Report (n=6)
BVDV can persist in the semen of infected bulls for prolonged periods (up to >5 years), highlighting the need for real-time PCR screening of semen batches to mitigate biosecurity risks.
Semen from BVDV-seropositive bulls may remain infectious; leaves open optimal reproductive-tract screening for AI centers.
Infection of bulls with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) can result in the development of virus persistence, confined to the reproductive tract. These bulls develop a normal immune response with high neutralizing antibody titres. However, BVDV can be excreted in the semen for a prolonged period. Although relatively rare, in this study we describe six separate cases in bulls being prepared for admission to artificial breeding centres. Semen samples were tested in a pan-Pestivirus-reactive real-time PCR assay and viral RNA was detected in semen from five of the bulls for three to eight months after infection. In one bull, virus was detected at low levels for more than five years. This bull was found to have one small testis. When slaughtered, virus was only detected in the abnormal testis. The low levels of BVDV in the semen of these bulls were only intermittently detected by virus isolation in cell culture. This virus-contaminated semen presents a biosecurity risk and confirms the need to screen all batches of semen from bulls that have been previously infected with BVDV. The use of real-time PCR is recommended as the preferred laboratory assay for this purpose.
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Read et al. (2020) conducted a case report in Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) infection (n=6). Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) infection was evaluated on Detection of viral RNA in semen. Bovine viral diarrhoea virus RNA was detected in the semen of 5 bulls for 3 to 8 months and in 1 bull for over 5 years after infection, highlighting the need for real-time PCR screening.
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