TY - JOUR T1 - Failure to Remove Bluetongue Serotype 8 Virus (BTV-8) From Produced and Derived Bovine Embryos and Subsequent Transmission of BTV-8 to Recipient Cows After Embryo Transfer. JF - Front Vet Sci Y1 - 2019 A1 - Andy Haegeman A1 - Vandaele, Leen A1 - Ilse De Leeuw A1 - André P Oliveira A1 - Nauwynck, Hans A1 - Van Soom, Ann A1 - Kris De Clercq KW - Bluetongue virus KW - bovine embryo KW - BTV-8 KW - IETS guidelines KW - Transmission AB -

The behavior of BTV-8 in cattle is different from most other serotypes not only with regards to clinical signs but certainly with respect to virus transmission (transplacental, contact). Therefore, the possibility of virus transmission by means of embryo transfer was examined by exposure of produced and derived bovine blastocysts to BTV-8 followed by different washing protocols, including longer exposure times (up to 120 s) to 0.25% trypsin at room temperature or at 37°C. None of the washing protocols used was successful in removing the viral genome completely from the produced and derived embryos as was demonstrated by real-time PCR. Moreover, BTV-8 virus was transmitted to recipient cows after embryo transfer of derived BTV8-exposed embryos, which had been subjected to routine decontamination as recommended by IETS, consisting of 5 washes in PBS followed by a double treatment of 0.25% trypsin for 45s at 37°C, and an additional 5 washes in PBS with 2% FCS. This study clearly demonstrates the necessity of vigorous application of the directives for screening of potential donors and the collected embryos, especially in regions with BTV-8, to prevent transmission of the disease.

VL - 6 M3 - 10.3389/fvets.2019.00432 ER -