Experimental superinfection of a Lesser Malayan mousedeer (Tragulus javanicus) persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus.

A Lesser Malayan mousedeer (Tragulus javanicus), persistently infected with noncytopathogenic bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) type 1f, was experimentally superinfected with a cytopathogenic isolate of BVDV type 1c, which antigenically partially matched the endogenous strain. Within the observational period of 125 days after superinfection, the animal did not demonstrate any clinical signs of the disease and/or significant changes in blood values. Neutralizing antibodies were detected at 35 and 42 days postinfection. The isolate causing the superinfection was found in feces, nasal swabs, and saliva starting from day 29 and at various times postchallenge. Macroscopic or histologic examination did not reveal mucosal disease-like lesions, despite the detection of the cytopathogenic isolate in the salivary gland, rumen, abomasum, kidney, and superficial prescapular lymph node. Results indicate that the cytopathogenic BVDV strain, which was used in the superinfection, persisted in the viremic animal without causing disease within the observation period.