Clinical, serologic, and cross-challenge response and virus isolation in cattle infected with three bovine dermatotropic herpesviruses.

The relationship of 3 dermatotropic bovine herpes-viruses (bovine mamillitis herpesvirus, dermatotropic bovine herpesvirus, and Allerton virus) was investigated; special emphasis was on the clinical response and the development of complement-fixation and precipitating antibodies in cattle. The immune respnse in steers was determined throughout the disease and after challenge exposure of the steers with 1 of the other 2 herpesviruses. Blood samples and sections of skin were collected intermittently from infected animals and examined for presence of virus.