An Immunohistochemical Study of Viral Antigen in Aborted Fetuses Naturally Infected by Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus

The tissue distribution and cellular localization of viral antigen in the brain of aborted fetus with bovine viral diarrhea virus(BVDV) infection was studied; BVDV antigens was detected in spleen, kidney, lung, eyelid as well as brain. In the brain, the virus was recognized in neurons and non-neuronal cells in the cerebellum and cerebrum. Many cells in the superficial layer and occasional Purkinje cells had BVDV antigens. As well, BVDV was also found in the perivascular cells, vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells in the vessels and neuroglial cells in the white matter. This finding suggests that BVD virus favors infect progenitor cells in the brain, notably in the superficial layer of cerebellum, and damage normal development of cerebellum, which leads to cerebellar hypoplasia.