First detection and impact of bovine herpesvirus type 4 on dairy cattle reproduction in Thailand

Vet World Vol.17 October-2024 Article - 8

Research Article

Veterinary World, 17(10): 2259-2266

https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2024.2259-2266

Ruchikon Jongsuwanwattana^1,2, Piyathip Setthawong³, Siriwat Suadsong¹, Sudson Sirivaidyapong¹, and Theerawat Swangchan-Uthai^1,2

1. Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
2. CU Animal Fertility Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
3. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.

Background and Aim: Postpartum reproductive tract infections pose significant challenges to dairy farms, leading to economic losses due to reduced fertility associated with uterine inflammation. In veterinary practice, numerous research groups have explored the underlying causes of subfertility in cows, including surveying endemic viral infections related to endometritis in local areas. This study investigated bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) infection in Thai dairy herds and assessed its impact on endometritis and subsequent reproductive outcomes.

Materials and Methods: The present study analyzed BoHV-4 DNA in various samples, including milk, blood, and endometrial tissue, from 44 Holstein-Friesian cows 21–47 days postpartum across five dairy herds in Central Thailand. BoHV-4 glycoprotein B and thymidine kinase DNA sequences were detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR, with sequence comparisons made to GenBank data for phylogenetic analysis. The endometritis status was diagnosed through vaginal mucus examination and endometrial cytology, with reproductive performance monitored up to the subsequent calving.

Results: BoHV-4 DNA was identified in blood and endometrial tissues (15.91%) but not in milk samples. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the local BoHV-4 strains are similar to those identified in Brazil and Japan. Notably, the presence of BoHV-4 was correlated with reduced postpartum reproductive performance, particularly extending the interval from calving to the first service.

Conclusion: Our findings underscore the importance of integrating BoHV-4 genomic surveys and uterine health assessments to refine reproductive management strategies within the dairy industry.

Keywords: bovine herpesvirus-4, dairy cattle, endometritis, phylogenetic analysis, reproductive performance, Thailand.

How to cite this article: Jongsuwanwattana R, Setthawong P, Suadsong S, Sirivaidyapong S, and Swangchan-Uthai T (2024) First detection and impact of bovine herpesvirus type 4 on dairy cattle reproduction in Thailand, Veterinary World, 17(10): 2259-2266.

Received: 2024-06-14 Accepted: 2024-09-06 Published online: 2024-10-07

Corresponding author: Theerawat Swangchan-Uthai E-mail: theerawat.s@chula.ac.th

DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2024.2259-2266

Copyright: Jongsuwanwattana, et al. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http:// creativecommons.org/ publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.