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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, December 2002, p. 4700-4704, Vol. 40, No. 12
0095-1137/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.40.12.4700-4704.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Analysis of the Pathogenetic Basis for Shedding and Transmission of Ovine Gamma Herpesvirus 2

Daniela Hüssy,1 Fredi Janett,2 Sarah Albini,1 Norbert Stäuber,1 Rico Thun,2 and Mathias Ackermann1*

Institute of Virology,1 Clinic of Reproduction, Veterinary Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland2

Received 15 May 2002/ Returned for modification 2 September 2002/ Accepted 20 September 2002

Ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2), a member of the viral subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae, shares numerous similarities with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8). Both viruses are apathogenic in their healthy original host, may cause lymphoprolipherative diseases, cannot routinely be propagated in cell culture, and may be sexually transmitted. However, the pathways of sexual transmission of these viruses, as well as the underlying pathogenetic dynamics, are not well understood. Organs from naturally OvHV-2-infected, as well as OvHV-2-free, sheep were quantitatively analyzed for OvHV-2 by the DNA amplification techniques. The dynamics of OvHV-2 multiplication and excretion were monitored after experimental infections and, most importantly, subsequent to vasectomy. The OvHV-2 DNA load in various tissues and internal organs was not merely reflecting the viral DNA load in the bloodstream, which suggested compartmentalization of OvHV-2. Moreover, OvHV-2 DNA was detected at several portals for virus shedding, i.e., the respiratory, alimentary, and urogenital tracts. Transient OvHV-2 excretion was detected in ejaculates of experimentally infected rams. Upon vasectomy, OvHV-2 DNA reappeared in the ejaculatory plasma, but the titers did not decline after reaching a peak. Spiking and fractionation experiments revealed an inhibitory activity, associated with the spermatozoa, which was able to suppress detection of viral DNA but which was no longer present in samples from vasectomized animals. Therefore, epidemiological studies on viruses that may be transmitted by the ejaculatory pathway and for whose tracing nucleic acid amplification methods are used, i.e., OvHV-2, HHV-8, and the human immunodeficiency virus, should include vasectomized males.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Institute of Virology, Veterinary Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland. Phone: 41-1-635-87-01. Fax: 41-1-635-89-11. E-mail: ma{at}vetvir.unizh.ch.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, December 2002, p. 4700-4704, Vol. 40, No. 12
0095-1137/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.40.12.4700-4704.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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