Seminal shedding of bluetongue virus in experimentally infected mature bulls

Abstract

Sixteen bulls ranging in age from 2 to 11 years were experimentally inoculated with bluetongue virus to investigate the frequency and duration of seminal shedding of the virus. All bulls developed typical viremia, lasting 21 to 58 days, and they seroconverted 2 to 3 weeks after inoculation. Virus isolation was attempted from a total of 232 ejaculates, 163 (70%) of which were collected during the period of viremia. Bluetongue virus was not isolated from any of the ejaculates collected from 11 of the 16 bulls. Virus was isolated from 9 of 52 ejaculates collected from the other 5 bulls during the period of viremia. In no instance was virus isolated from semen without concurrent isolation from blood.