Serological response of the bovine fetus to bovine viral diarrhea virus.

Susceptible pregnant heifers were inoculated with bovine viral diarrhea virus at 150 days of gestation and earlier. Fetuses were surgically collected at selected times after inoculation. Serum immunoglobulins were quantitated, and the presence of specific antibodies was determined. In fetuses from heifers inoculated at 150 days, immunoglobulin M (IgM) appeared approximately 2 weeks after inoculation and was followed in 7 days by IgG1. Later IgG2 was detected in the sera of three fetuses. Serum-neutralizing and complement-fixing antibodies were first detected in a fetus taken at 206 days of gestation. Fetuses taken at later times also had specific serum antibodies. Possible explanations for the appearance of serum immunoglobulin substantially before specific bovine viral diarrhea antibodies include the viral alteration of host tissues rendering them antigenic viral activation of polyclonal B cells, and viral modulation of virus-specific lymphocytes causing specific interference with the appearance of antiviral antibodies. In one of the fetuses having IgG2, the serum also contained IgA. Placental leakage of material immunoglobulins was thought to be responsible for the presence of IgA and IgG2 in this fetus. Small quantities of IgM were found in the serum of two fetuses taken from heifers inoculated between 65 and 95 days of gestation, but specific antibodies were found in none.