Bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BHV1) is an agent associated with reproductive disease in cattle. Viral pathogenicity is related to disorders such as temporary infertility, embryonic death, and abortions in affected animals. Considering that natural infections in genital organs of males are understudied, this investigation evaluated the presence of BHV1 in both testicular and epididymal tissues obtained from naturally infected bulls by the evaluation of the presence of the BHV1 genome and antigens. Sixty samples of blood and genital organs of 60 bulls that were not vaccinated against BHV1 were assayed. Fragments from testes and head, body, and tail of epididymides were processed and analyzed by nested PCR and immunofluorescence with confocal laser scanning microscopy. Also, the BHV1 gB glycoprotein gene of 14 positive samples was partially sequenced. The percentage of BHV1 presence obtained by the immunolocalization assay corresponded to 95.9% of the testes, 100% of the epidydimal tissue in the head and tail portions, and 98% of the epididymal body. The nested PCR assay detected the viral nucleic acid in 59.2% of the testicular tissue and in 65.3, 75.5, and 83.7% of epididymis head, body, and tail samples, respectively. The partial sequences analyzed presented 100% of identity with other BHV1 strains. Accordingly, BHV1 detection in testes and epididymides of naturally infected bulls suggests that these organs may be sources of viral infection for semen.

中文翻译：

---

来自屠宰场公牛的睾丸和附睾中的牛 α 疱疹病毒 1 (BHV1) 感染

牛 α 疱疹病毒 1 (BHV1) 是一种与牛的生殖疾病相关的病原体。病毒致病性与受影响动物的暂时性不育、胚胎死亡和流产等疾病有关。考虑到对雄性生殖器官的自然感染研究不足，本研究通过评估 BHV1 基因组和抗原的存在，评估了从自然感染的公牛获得的睾丸和附睾组织中 BHV1 的存在。对未接种 BHV1 疫苗的 60 头公牛的 60 份血液和生殖器官样本进行了分析。来自睾丸和附睾头、体和尾的片段通过巢式 PCR 和免疫荧光共聚焦激光扫描显微镜进行处理和分析。此外，对14个阳性样本的BHV1 gB糖蛋白基因进行了部分测序。通过免疫定位测定获得的 BHV1 存在百分比对应于 95.9% 的睾丸、100% 的头尾部分的附睾组织和 98% 的附睾体。巢式 PCR 检测分别在 59.2% 的睾丸组织和 65.3%、75.5% 和 83.7% 的附睾头、体和尾样本中检测到病毒核酸。分析的部分序列与其他 BHV1 菌株具有 100% 的同一性。因此，在自然感染公牛的睾丸和附睾中检测到 BHV1 表明这些器官可能是精液病毒感染的来源。巢式 PCR 检测分别在 59.2% 的睾丸组织和 65.3%、75.5% 和 83.7% 的附睾头、体和尾样本中检测到病毒核酸。分析的部分序列与其他 BHV1 菌株具有 100% 的同一性。因此，在自然感染公牛的睾丸和附睾中检测到 BHV1 表明这些器官可能是精液病毒感染的来源。巢式 PCR 检测分别在 59.2% 的睾丸组织和 65.3%、75.5% 和 83.7% 的附睾头、体和尾样本中检测到病毒核酸。分析的部分序列与其他 BHV1 菌株具有 100% 的同一性。因此，在自然感染公牛的睾丸和附睾中检测到 BHV1 表明这些器官可能是精液病毒感染的来源。