Activities in 2009
Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/
Infectious pustular vulvovagenitis
Dr Martin Beer
Institute of Diagnostic Virology, FRIEDRICH-LOEFFLER-INSTITUT
Südufer 10, D-17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
Tel.: (+49-38351) 7-223, Fax: (+49-38351) 7-275
Martin.Beer@fli.bund.de; www.fli.bund.de
Summary of general activities related to the disease
1.
2.
Test(s) in use/or available for the specified disease at your laboratory
Test
For
Specificity
Total
Indirect ELISA
BoHV-1-antibody (serum,
plasma, milk)
BoHV-1
520
gB-blocking-ELISA
BoHV-1-gB-antibody (serum,
plasma)
BoHV-1
1193
gE-blocking-ELISA
BoHV-1-gE-antibody, marker
test (serum, plasma)
wild type BoHV-1
2047
Neutralisation test (NT)
BoHV-1-antibody (serum)
BoHV-1
118
Cell culture (MDBK,
KOP-R)
virus isolation (semen, swabs,
organ samples, vaccines)
replication competent virus
44
IFAT
BoHV-1 antigen (cell culture)
BoHV-1
25
PCR
genome of BoHV-1 (semen,
swabs, organ samples, vaccines)
BoHV-1
46
PCR
genome of herpesviruses
HV
40
REFLP
genome differentiation of bovine
herpesviruses (virus isolates)
HV
7
Production and distribution of diagnostic reagents
Approximately 20 additional reference sera were collected from marker vaccinated cattle. In total, more than
150 reference samples (serum and milk) are now available.
169 reference sera and 55 reference milk samples were supplied nationally to the regional laboratories, and 490
reference samples (serum: 455; milk: 35) were supplied to other OIE member countries.
Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2009
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Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis
Activities specifically related to the mandate
of OIE Reference Laboratories
3.
International harmonisation and standardisation of methods for diagnostic testing or the
production and testing of vaccines
44 commercial BoHV-1-ELISAs were tested for batch release by the OIE reference laboratory.
30 pairs of trigeminal ganglia from cattle and additional diagnostic samples were tested for the presence of
genome sequences of BoHV-1 or of other ruminant herpesviruses by a BoHV-1 specific, newly designed real-time
PCR (gD, gE), and a pan-herpes PCR which detects conserved sequences of the herpesviral DNA-dependent
DNA-polymerase. The tests are currently applied to elucidate potential introduction of ruminant
alphaherpesviruses into cattle herds.
The OIE reference laboratory participated in a BoHV-1 proficiency test organised by the COORDINATION
CENTRE FOR VETERINARY DIAGNOSTICS (CCVD, Brussels, Belgium). 100% of the serum samples were
correctly characterised for the presence of BoHV-1 gE- and gB-specific antibodies.
4.
Preparation and supply of international reference standards for diagnostic tests or vaccines
The German BoHV-1 reference sera R1 (positive), R2 (weak positive), R3 (very weak positive), R31 (negative)
and R32 (negative) were supplied to laboratories in Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Belgium, Serbia, Switzerland,
and Latvia.
5.
Research and development of new procedures for diagnosis and control
Introduction of various ruminant alphaherpesviruses into cattle herds is under discussion to evolve as a threat to
advanced BoHV-1 eradication programs. High graded serological cross reactivity with BoHV-1 is observed in
numerous ELISA tests and even in serum neutralisation assays. A highly sensitive plaque reduction assay was
introduced and will be further validated for BoHV-1, BuHV-1, CpHV-1, CvHV-1, CvHV-2, EHV-1 and BHV-2
with field sera as well as with defined mono-specific cattle sera.
6.
Collection, analysis and dissemination of epizootiological data relevant to international disease
control
Data concerning the progress of the German BoHV-1 eradication program were collected and analysed using a
detailed questionnaire. In summary, more than 85.1% of the cattle holdings in Germany were BoHV-1-antibody or
BoHV-1-gE-antibody free at the end of 2008.
7.
Provision of consultant expertise to OIE or to OIE Members
Protocols, e.g. for BoHV-1-neutralization assays and BoHV-1 PCRs, were transferred to several international
laboratories. Expert advices concerning BoHV-1 diagnostics and BoHV-1 eradication have been required by
colleagues from Spain, India, Italy and USA.
8.
Provision of scientific and technical training to personnel from other OIE Members
Technicians from a regional veterinary laboratory were invited for a diagnostic training with focus on serum
neutralisation test and PCR techniques.
9.
Provision of diagnostic testing facilities to other OIE Members
BoHV-1 isolates from India and Buffalo swab samples from Italy were transferred to the FLI for virological
examinations and differentiation of BoHV-1 and other ruminant herpesviruses (BuHV-1).
Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2009
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Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis
10. Organisation of international scientific meetings on behalf of OIE or other international bodies
The FLI organised the 3. ESVV Veterinary Herpesvirus Symposium in Greifswald. The meeting focused on the
current state of herpesvirus research and gave a broad overview of new aspects of veterinary diagnostics, basic
research and applied science.
11. Participation in international scientific collaborative studies
Not applicable
12. Publication and dissemination of information relevant to the work of OIE (including list of
scientific publications, internet publishing activities, presentations at international conferences)

Presentations at international conferences and meetings
Koenig, P., Goerl B., and Beer, M. 2009. Report from the OIE and national reference laboratory: evaluation of the
BoHV-1 ring trial 2008/2009. 7. International Symposium on infectious diseases of cattle, Stendal, Germany
Koenig, P., Teuffert, J., and Beer, M. 2009. The German BHV-1 eradication program: a review and perspectives
for the future. 3. ESVV Veterinary Herpesvirus Symposium in Greifswald, Germany.
Kalthoff, D., Koenig, P., Trapp, S., and Beer, M. 2009. Immunization and challenge experiments with a new
modified live BoHV-1 marker vaccine prototype adjuvanted with a co-polymer. 3. ESVV Veterinary Herpesvirus
Symposium in Greifswald. Germany.

Other communications
M. Beer revised and updated the chapter on IBR/IPV in the OIE Manual.
Beer, M, Koenig, P., and Höreth-Böntgen, D. 2008. BHV-1. Tiergesundheitsjahrbuch 2008, Friedrich-LoefflerInstitut, Germany.
13. Inscription of diagnostic kits on the OIE Register
i)
Did you participate in expert panels for the validation of candidate kits for inscription on the
OIE Register? If yes, for which kits?
No
ii)
Did you submit to the OIE candidate kits for inscription on the OIE Register? If yes, for
which kits?
No
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Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2009
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