4
Views
1
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Article

Neurovirulence of glycoprotein C(gC)-deleted bovine herpesvirus type-5 (BHV-5) and BHV-5 expressing BHV-1 gC in a rabbit seizure model

, , , &
Pages 284-295 | Received 09 Feb 2000, Accepted 19 Apr 2000, Published online: 10 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

Herpesvirus glycoprotein C (gC) is one of the major virus attachment proteins. Bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) causes respiratory and genital diseases in cattle, whereas BHV-5 causes acute meningoencephalitis in calves. The gC gene sequence of these two viruses are substantially different. To determine the contribution of the BHV-5 glycoprotein gC (gC5) to the neuropathogenesis of BHV-5, we have constructed two BHV-5 recombinants: gC-deleted BHV-5 (BHV-5gCA) and BHV-5 expressing BHV1 gC (BHV-5gC1). Neurovirulence properties of these viruses were analyzed using a rabbit seizure model that distinguishes BHV-1 and -5 based on their differential neuropathogeneses. Intranasal inoculations of BHV-5gCΔ and BHV-5gC1 viruses produced neurological signs in 30% and 40% of the infected rabbits, respectively. Immuno-histochemistry results showed that the number of infected neurons was 2–4-fold less with the gC-deleted BHV-5 than with the wild-type BHV-5. The gC-deleted BHV-5 did not invade the hippocampus but invaded additional sites not invaded by wild-type BHV-5. Similarly, the BHV-5gC1 virus failed to invade the hippocampus, but it did not invade the additional sites. Virus isolation results suggest that these recombinants replicate less efficiently in the brain than the wild-type and gC-revertant viruses. However, compared to the gC-deleted BHV-5, the gC-exchanged BHV-5gC1 replicated better within the CNS. These results indicate that gC regulates BHV-5 neurotropism in some areas of the olfactory pathway. Additionally, gC is important for BHV-5 neurovirulence in the olfactory pathway but it is not essential.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.