Subclinical endometritis in dairy heifers experimentally infected with bovine gammaherpesvirus 4.

BoGHV-4 induces subclinical endometrial inflammation without systemic signs in dairy heifers.

This experimental study investigated the pathogenic role of bovine gammaherpesvirus 4 (BoGHV-4) in subclinical endometritis (SE) in dairy heifers. Seven heifers received intrauterine inoculation with a local BoGHV-4 strain (07/435), while three served as controls. Over 28 days, clinical examinations, serology, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry were performed at days 0, 7, and 21. No clinical signs or systemic viral dissemination occurred. Uterine biopsies revealed acute, self-limiting, localized inflammation with periglandular infiltration of CD68+ macrophages, CD3+ T lymphocytes, and CD79+ B lymphocytes, peaking at day 7 and resolving by day 21. Only two infected heifers seroconverted by day 21, while controls remained seronegative. Transient cervico-vaginal viral shedding occurred in infected animals. These findings demonstrate that BoGHV-4 induces localized endometrial immune responses without clinical manifestations, functioning as a subclinical modulator of the uterine microenvironment. Results emphasize the importance of considering subclinical viral infections in dairy herd reproductive management and diagnostic strategies.

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