THE DNA OF AN IPV STRAIN OF BOVID HERPESVIRUS-1 IN SACRAL GANGLIA DURING LATENCY AFTER INTRAVAGINAL INFECTION

Two calves were inoculated intravaginally with a strain of bovid herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1, IBR/IPV) isolated from a cow with infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (IPV). The animals were killed during a latent stage of infection as characterized by seroconversion, absence of virus shedding and recrudescence of virus shedding after dexamethasone treatment. IPV-virus DNA was detected in 9 of 20 sacral ganglia of the 2 calves. Of the sections, 7.2% (250) contained 1 cell with IPV-virus DNA, which was restricted to the nucleus of neurons. In agreement with findings on herpes simplex virus infections, the viral DNA of BHV-1 is harbored in the local sensory ganglia. Virological and serological implications of the latent IPV infection are discussed.