Bluetongue virus serotype 20: experimental infection of pregnant heifers

Three groups of 4 cows at 84 to 95 days, 100 to 160 days, and 170 to 180 days pregnant were inoculated both intradermally and subcutaneously with bluetongue virus serotype 20 (BTV20). Clinical observations and the viraemic and serological responses of the cows were followed for 9 to 17 weeks after inoculation. Viraemia developed in 9 of the 12 cows and was first detected 4 to 9 days after inoculation. Viraemia was detected for 4 to 21 days and in some animals only intermittently. The titre of the viraemia was obtained in 4 cows and ranged from detectable only, to 10(1) to 10(2.8) 50% tissue culture infecting doses per ml. Both serum neutralising and precipitating antibodies were detected in 11 of the 12 cows within 2 to 8 weeks after inoculation. No clinical responses were seen and one cow (516) did not develop a viraemia or produce detectable antibodies to the virus. The cows, calves and foetuses were necropsied following either parturition or slaughter between 200 and 270 days of pregnancy. No virus isolations were made from a wide range of tissues from the cows, calves or foetuses and no immunoglobulins or serum neutralising antibodies were detected in the serums of precolostral calves or foetuses at necropsy. No gross or histopathological lesions were seen in the cows, calves or foetuses, and there was no evidence that BTV20 crossed the bovine placenta or infected the foetus.