Exposure to Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Disrupts Intestinal Barrier Function via NLRP3/Caspase-1-Mediated Pyroptosis and Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a major global pathogen that causes severe economic losses in dairy herds due to diarrhea, reproductive disorders, and reduced milk yield. Despite its well-documented systemic effects, the mechanism of BVDV-induced intestinal damage remains unclear. In our study, BVDV triggered cytopathic effects in intestinal epithelial cells, including cell death, goblet cell depletion, and disruption of barrier proteins. Although BVDV alters gut microbiota by activating the NLRP3/caspase-1 inflammasome pathway and thereby causing pyroptosis and intestinal injury, fecal microbiota transplantation mitigated those effects by suppressing NLRP3/caspase-1's activation. Those findings reveal key pathways in BVDV's pathogenesis and suggest novel therapeutic strategies to combat livestock infections.