Fetal and adult bovine interferon production during bovine viral diarrhea virus infection

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Abstract
Levels of interferon in adult bovine serum and in fetal bovine serum and tissues were examined during the course of transplacental bovine viral diarrhea virus infection. The cows produced circulating interferon 2-9 days after viral inoculation, with mean peak levels in the serum on day 4. Interferon could be routinely detected in fetal tissues (e.g., thymus, spleen and kidney) 4-21 days after viral inoculation of the cows at 149-150 days of gestation (mid 2nd trimester) and in fetal serum from day 13-21. Interferon was also detectable in the serum and tissues of fetuses from dams infected at day 95 of gestation (the beginning of the 2nd trimester). In general, no differences were found between the ability of the adult and fetus to produce interferon. Fetal lamb kidney cells were more sensitive to the antiviral effects of bovine interferon than were fetal bovine kidney cells. The antiviral substance from the fetal and adult animals was characterized as interferon by standard criteria.