Prevalence of Bovine Herpesvirus-4 Infection in Cats in Central Michigan

Abstract

The gammaherpesvirus bovine herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4) has been isolated from a wide variety of animals, including lions and domestic cats. Although BHV-4 antibodies have been detected in normal cats and cats with urinary disorders, the epidemiology and pathogenic role of BHV-4 in cats is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of BHV-4 antibodies and viral nucleic acid in a population of free-roaming cats. Plasma and peripheral blood leukocyte samples were collected from 52 male and 52 female free-roaming cats impounded at a regional animal control facility in Central Michigan. Plasma concentrations of BHV-4 antibodies were measured with an indirect fluorescent antibody test. Peripheral blood leukocyte DNA was isolated, and a 2-stage polymerase chain reaction with heminested primers delineating a conserved portion of the BHV-4 glycoprotein B gene homologue was used to amplify BHV-4-specific DNA sequences. BHV-4 antibodies were detected in 38 (73%) male and 23 (44%) female cats. Seropositive cats were significantly more likely to be male than female (odds ratio ϭ 3.22; P ϭ .007). Cell-associated viremia was detected in 17 (33%) male and 11 (21%) female cats. Of the 61 seropositive cats, 23 (38%) had a detectable viremia; only 5 (12%) seronegative cats had detectable viremia. Seropositive cats were significantly more likely to be viremic than seronegative cats (OR ϭ 4.30; P ϭ .009). Our results suggest that BHV-4 infection may be more widespread in certain cat populations than previously reported. Furthermore, many cats seropositive for BHV-4 antibodies have a concurrent cell-associated viremia.Key words: Feline, Gammaherpesvirus, Indirect fluorescent antibody test, 2-stage heminested polymerase chain reaction. Bovine herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4) is a ubiquitous herpesvirus found in healthy cattle and cattle with diverse clinical signs.1 Genomic analyses indicate that BHV-4 is a member of the Gammaherpesvirinae subfamily of lymphotropic herpesviruses and is most closely related to members of the gamma-2 herpesvirus subgroup. and domestic cats. 10-13 BHV-4 also replicates in a number of primary cell cultures and established cell lines originating from cattle, sheep, goats, horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, pigs, chickens, turkeys, mink, ferrets, monkeys, and humans. 10,[14][15][16][17] In 1969, BHV-4 (strain FCAHV) was isolated from a litter of normal kittens and from a cat with cystitis and concurrent upper respiratory disease.10 Induced BHV-4 infections in conventionally reared or specific-pathogen-free cats resulted in clinical signs of conjunctivitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, hemorrhagic cystitis, and urethral obstruction.7,11-13 Detection of serum BHV-4 antibodies in 44 of 141 cats evaluated at a veterinary teaching hospital for lower urinary tract disease and in 6 of 26 clinically normal control cats further supported the concept that BHV- Sciences, Room D-208, Veterinary Clinical Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1314; e-mail: kruger@cvm.msu.edu. Submitted Jan...

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