Apoptosis in bovine herpesvirus-1 infected bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Apoptosis is a process whereby cells die in a controlled manner in response to various stimuli like cytotoxins, viral antigens and normal physiological signals during differentiation and development. Virus induced immunosuppression has been reported for various viral diseases including Bovine Herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1). In the present study, BHV-1 was found to cause apoptosis in ConA stimulated bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Apoptotic index quantified by fluorescent dyes revealed a significant (P < 0.001) increase in percent apoptotic cells at 2, 24 and 48 hr post infection as compared to their respective non-infected controls. Apoptosis specific internucleosomal laddering in DNA from BHV-1 infected PBMCs was seen in agarose gel electrophoresis. No DNA fragmentation was observed in control non-infected PBMCs.