Malignant Catarrhal Fever

Question 1

Which species are the reservoir hosts for MCF?

Answer 1

Ovine herpesvirus 2 - reservoir host is the sheep

Alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 - reservoir host is wildebeest

Question 2

Which species are extremely susceptible to ovine herpesvirus 2?

Answer 2

bison (they are 1000x more susceptible) and cervids

Question 3

What is considered the hallmark histopathologic sign for ovine herpesvirus 2 (MCF) infection in bison?

Answer 3

GI mucosal necrosis (rapidly progressive disease)

Question 4

What are the classical distinctive features of MCF? (3)

Answer 4

(1) lymphocyte proliferation in tissues and lymph node para-cortices (T-cell zones)
(2) widespread mucosal necrosis
(3) systemic necrotizing vasculitis with perivascular and intramural infiltration of large lymphocytes

Question 5

What general family of viruses is MCF in?

Answer 5

gamma herpesvirus

Question 6

After infection with MCF, what target cells spread the virus?

Answer 6

CD8+ T lymphocytes
NK cells
(considered a lymphoproliferative disease)

Question 7

A bongo antelope presents to you with oral ulcers and vesicles, profuse nasal discharge, enlarged lymph nodes, and a fever. You discover it recently was exposed to other nondomestic bovids including wildebeest. What disease are you most concerned for? How would you test for this?

Answer 7

(1) Most concerned for MCF (alcelaphine herpesvirus 1, wildebeest are the reservoir host)

(2) ELISA and PCR are considered the most specific (only PCR can discriminate the viruses)