Serum and Colostral Antibody Levels in Cattle Convalescent from Foot-and-Mouth Disease: Tests in Calves and Fetal Tissue

Abstract

Two heifers were inoculated with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in late pregnancy. Twelve days after inoculation, one heifer calved. Both the heifer and calf died 3 days after parturition. The other heifer calved 18 days after inoculation, but the calf was stillborn. The dam was sacrificed at 12 days postpartum. Antibody levels were determined in sera and milk and attempts were made to isolate the virus from fetal membranes and calf tissue with the following results: