A characteristic of BVDV which applies to how the virus interacts with cells in an artificial cell culture system. In cell culture, cytopathic BVDV causes characteristic visible cell damage and death. Cytopathic BVDV arises from genetic changes in noncytopathic virus. Isolation of cytopathic BVDV in association with acute infections or intrauterine infections is rare. Cytopathic BVDV has not been shown to cause persistent infections.
Cytopathic virus is most important in the pathogenesis of mucosal disease .
I and type II BVDV are based on significant differences in the genetic sequence of the 5 ' untranslated region of the genome. Correlated with this grouping are differences in the antigenic makeup of the virus and the pathology manifested by the virus. Mucosal Disease Mucosal disease is a rare, yet dramatic manifestation of BVDV infection. Both arise under similar circumstances and are invariably fatal. The cytopathic virus is most commonly derived from specific mutations that occur in the persistent noncytopathic virus.