Isolation of viruses from cultures of bovine endometrial cells

Endometrial cells from the uteri of pregnant and nonpregnant cattle were cultured. The presence of one or both of two viruses, noncytopathic mucosal disease virus and bovine syncytial virus, was demonstrated in seven of 19 endometria investigated. It was necessary to subculture the cells an average of four times to detect the viral infections. Difficulties were encountered in producing endometrial cell cultures from cows at term or near the end of term and also from older animals. The infections detected may be significant because both of the viruses isolated are capable of infecting the bovine fetus in utero and mucosal disease virus has been associated with bovine fetal diseases.