Pathologic effects of intrauterine deposition of pseudorabies virus on the reproductive tract of swine in early pregnancy

SUMMARY Pseudorabies virus was inoculated into the uterus of 15 gilts within 6 hours after natural breeding, and gilts were necropsied at postbreeding days (pbd) 3, 6, 10, 14, and 28; 3 control gilts were treated similarly, except for inoculation with pseudorabies virus and were necropsied at pbd 6, 10, and 14. Tissues were collected for virus isolation, fluorescent antibody staining, and histopathologic examination. Pseudorabies virus was isolated from the reproductive tract up to day 14. Lesions in the reproductive tract consisted of multifocal to diffuse lymphohistiocytic vaginitis and endometritis, and lymphoplasmacytic aggregates in the corpora lutea. Multiple ulcers were seen in the vagina or endometrium of several gilts at pbd 3, 6, and 10. Corpora lutea of 1 gilt were necrotic at pbd 14 and contained large numbers of inflammatory cells. Focal aggregates of lymphocytes and plasma cells were seen in vagina and endometrium of 3 gilts and in the ovary of 1 gilt at day 28.