Díaz Cao, José ManuelPrieto Lago, AlbertoLópez-Lorenzo, GonzaloLópez Novo, CynthiaIglesias Becerra, AntonioDíaz Fernández, PabloMoral, JavierLópez Sández, Ceferino ManuelDíez Baños, PabloMorrondo Pelayo, María PatrocinioFernández Rodríguez, GonzaloPanadero Fontán, Rosario2024-02-092024-02-092019Díaz, J. M., Prieto, A., López-Lorenzo, G., López-Novo, C., Iglesias, A., Díaz, P., ... & Fernández, G. (2019). Monitoring of the shedding and serological dynamics of Bovine gammaherpesvirus type 4 in a dairy cattle herd. Veterinary microbiology, 239, 1084950378-1135http://hdl.handle.net/10347/32669Bovine gammaherpesvirus type 4 (BoHV-4) is increasingly related with reproductive disease in cattle, but its epidemiology is not fully understood. We monitored the serological response and shedding of BoHV-4 in a positive dairy cattle farm with metritis. First, we performed an ELISA to detect BoHV-4 antibodies in all the animals (n = 104). Afterwards, ten seronegative heifers introduced in the production lot and sera samples were monthly taken for four months and then 6-10 months after introduction to detect BoHV-4 antibodies by ELISA. Moreover, a vaginal swab was taken after calving to detect BoHV-4 by PCR. Concurrently, a weekly collection of vaginal and nasal swabs and milk was performed during the first month post-partum in multiparous cows with metritis (n = 14), heifers with metritis (n = 4), heifers without metritis but positive to BoHV-4 (ELISA or PCR) (n = 2) and multiparous cows without metritis (n = 3). Seropositivity was higher in older animals and in the production lot. Three heifers which shed BoHV-4 after parturition resulted seronegative at first but eventually seroconverted. In the same vein, most heifers seroconverted after 6-10 months in the production lot (8/10). Multiparous cows shed virus by various routes: 13/14 (93 %) in vaginal secretions, 7/14 (50 %) in nasal exudates and 7/14 (50 %) in milk. However, in the other groups, shedding was only detected in vaginal swabs from the first week post-partum. Our study describes BoHV-4 shedding in field conditions. Seronegative animals may become horizontally infected when moved to a contaminated environmentengCC BY-NC-ND 4.0BoHV-4CattleHeifersPCRSerologyjournal article10.1016/j.vetmic.2019.1084951873-2542open access