EXPOSURE TO A PERSISTENTLY INFECTED HEIFER CAN CAUSE PERSISTENT TESTICULAR INFECTION WITH BOVINE VIRAL DIARRHEA VIRUS*

摘要

Persistent testicular infections with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) have been reported after intranasal inoculation of post pubertal bulls with a BVDV-1 strain of the virus. However, the potential for development of persistent testicular infections after natural exposure to persistently infected animals has not been examined. Thus, the objective of this research was to evaluate the potential for production of persistent testicular infections after natural exposure of naive bulls to heifers persistently infected with a BVDV-1 or BVDV-2 strain.