ABSTRACT
A herpesvirus isolated from neonatal Angora kids (Capra hircus) with a relatively severe generalized infection was shown to be infective for adult goats as well as for kids. However, the virus lacked pathogenicity for either lambs or calves. Although a nonreciprocating serologic overlap exists between the caprine virus and the antibody to bovine herpesvirus (BHV-1), results of cross immunity tests in calves indicated that the 2 viruses are immunologically distinct. On the basis of these findings, the caprine virus seems to be a specific pathogen of goats. Accordingly, the designation of Herpesvirus caprae or caprine herpesvirus 1 seems taxonomically appropriate.
Subject(s)
Goats , Herpesviridae Infections/veterinary , Herpesviridae/pathogenicity , Abortion, Veterinary/etiology , Administration, Intranasal , Administration, Oral , Animals , Cattle , Cattle Diseases/etiology , Cattle Diseases/immunology , Cross Reactions , Female , Fever/veterinary , Herpesviridae/immunology , Herpesviridae Infections/etiology , Herpesviridae Infections/immunology , Injections, Intravenous , Male , Pregnancy , Sheep , Sheep Diseases/etiology , Sheep Diseases/immunologyABSTRACT
A virus, which was isolated from kids (Capra hircus) affected with a relatively severe generalized infection, was found to contain DNA and to have a buoyant density of 1.2820 g/cm3. The virus was sensitive to the action of lipid solvents and trypsin and was rapidly inactivated at pH 3.0 and at temperatures of 50 and 56 C. The virion, an icosahedron consisting of a nucleoid surrounded by a double membrane, measured approximately 135 nm in diameter. On the basis of its chemical and physical properties, the virus is considered a herpesvirus.
