Epigenetic Modifications of White Blood Cell DNA Caused by Transient Fetal Infection with Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infections cause USD 1.5-2 billion in losses annually. Maternal BVDV after 150 days of gestation causes transient fetal infection (TI) in which the fetal immune response clears the virus. The impact of fetal TI BVDV infections on postnatal growth and white blood cell (WBC) methylome as an index of epigenetic modifications was examined by inoculating pregnant heifers with noncytopathic type 2 BVDV or media (sham-inoculated controls) on Day 175 of gestation to generate TI (