Chronic Shedding of Bovine Enteric Coronavirus Antigen-Antibody Complexes by Clinically Normal Cows

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Abstract
Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of virus-specific immune complexes, 10 cows were found to be shedding bovine enteric coronavirus. The shedding patterns from 5 of these animals were followed for 12 wk, and all were found to be chronicallly shedding virus. Despite the presence of fecal and serum antibody the infection was not cleared; therefore, the role of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) was investigated by immunosuppressing the chronically shedding cows with dexamethasone. No major role for CMI in maintaining the chronic infection could be determined although immunosuppression did result in a temporary reduction in the shedding of virus-specific immune complexes.