Bovine Herpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1) is distributed worldwide and is a major pathogen in cattle,being the causal agent of a variety of clinical syndromes.The aim of this study was to isolate and to characterize (molecular and biological characterization) BoHV- 1 from 29 immunosuppressed animals.It was possible to obtain 18 isolates,each from a different animal,such as from the respiratory and reproductive tracts.In some cases the cytopathic effect was visible 12 hours post-inoculation,and became characteristic after 36-48 hours.Biological characteristics were evaluated and compared with Iowa and Colorado-1 reference strains,and differences were found in plaque size,virus titer measured by TCID50 and PFU/mL,and one step virus curves.These results showed that some isolates had a highly virulent-like behavior in vitro,compared to the reference strains,with shorter eclipse periods,faster release of virus into the supematants,and higher burst size and viral titer.There were no differences in glycoprotein expression of BoHV-1 isolates,measured by Western blot on monolayers.Moreover,using restriction endonucleases analysis,most of the viruses were confirmed as BoHV-1.1 and just one of them was confirmed as BoHV-1.2a subtype.These findings suggest that some wild-type BoHV-1 isolates could be useful as seeds to develop new monovalent vaccines.

BACKGROUND: Human milk is considered the optimal nutritional source for infants. Due to the possibility of microbial contamination during collection and handling, milk is pasteurized to prevent transmission of pathogens. In low-income areas where pasteurization is inaccessible, the pursuit for the best alternative in rendering donor milk safe remains.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine and compare the efficacy of flash heat treatment and holder pasteurization in preserving human milk IgA while reducing bacterial contamination of donor breast milk.

METHODOLOGY: This is an experimental study which utilized pooled donor breastmilk from healthy mothers later subjected to bacterial analysis and immunoglobulin A level determination prior to and post flash heat treatment and pasteurization. Standardized scores were used to normalize population with unknown parameters. T-test comparison of means and Levene's test for equality of variances were used.

RESULTS: Twenty samples of aliquoted breastmilk were subjected to pasteurization and flash heat treatment, both yielding a statistically significant reduction in colony-forming units using Blood agar and MacConkey plates. These sample groups also underwent IgA level determination using Bindarid Kit IgATM and there was no significant decline in IgA levels.

CONCLUSIONS: Flash heat treatment may be an alternative for holder pasteurization in providing safe and effective breastmilk.

Human ; Milk, Human ; Immunoglobulin A ; Pasteurization