Dexamethasone inhibits virus production and the secretory IgA response in oesophageal-pharyngeal fluid in cattle persistently infected with foot-and-mouth disease virus

Cattle persistently infected with foot-and-mouth disease virus were treated with dexamethasone to suppress the immune system in an attempt to influence the level of virus recovery from oesophageal-pharyngeal (probang) samples. Twelve carrier cattle were assigned to one of three groups: control; 0.1 mg/kg dexamethasone; and 0.5 mg/kg dexamethasone. Groups 2 and 3 were injected intramuscularly three times weekly for 3 weeks with dexamethasone between days 33 and 56 post-infection with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). Cattle in both groups developed a leucocytosis, neutrophilia and lymphopenia. The secretory IgA response to FMDV infection was inhibited following, but not during, dexamethasone treatment between days 70 and 98 post-infection (P < 0.05). FMDV recovery from probang samples was reduced between days 40 and 64 post-infection (P < 0.05) during treatment with either 0.1 or 0.5 mg/kg dexamethasone. Following cessation of dosing with dexamethasone virus recovery returned to control levels. These observations suggest dexamethasone inhibits shedding of FMDV in a reversible manner which may be related to its immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory or physiological actions.