Combined effects of fasting and diet on interferon production and virus replication in calves infected with a vaccine strain of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus.

A study was undertaken to investigate the combined effects of fasting and different diets on interferon (IFN) production and virus replication measured in nasal secretions of calves inoculated with a vaccine strain of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus. Four groups of calves were inoculated intranasally with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus. Two groups were inoculated 24 hours after onset of a 3-day fast; upon refeeding, 1 group was fed a maintenance diet (M diet) of hay, and the other was fed a higher energy diet (HE diet) of hay and concentrate. Nonfasted control groups were fed the M diet or the HE diet. Overall IFN production was highest (P less than 0.01) in nonfasted calves fed the M diet throughout the study and lowest in nonfasted calves fed the HE diet. Fasted calves refed the HE diet produced consistently and significantly more IFN than did nonfasted calves fed this diet. Fasted calves refed the M diet, however, produced significantly less IFN, compared with control calves fed the M diet throughout the study. Overall mean virus excretion was similar in all groups; therefore, the amount of virus replication per se did not account for the differences in IFN production, nor did greater IFN production result in less virus excretion. Serum cortisol concentrations and immune responses were not significantly affected by fasting or diet.