Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to test six different nonbovine ruminant species for five bovine herpesviruses including infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (BoHV-1), bovine herpes mammillitis virus (BoHV-2), Movar-type herpesvirus (BoHV-4), bovine herpesvirus type 5 (BoHV-5), and alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 (AlHV-1). Species tested included 56 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), 66 red deer (Cervus elaphus), 20 fallow deer (Dama dama), 16 mouflon (Ovis musimon), 34 domestic sheep, and 44 domestic goats, which were sampled in Hungary in 2003. Tracheal and popliteal lymph nodes collected from these animals were tested for the presence of the five bovine herpesviruses using three nested (two of which were duplex) PCR assays. Three bovine herpesviruses (BoHV-1, -2, and -4) were detected, whereas no evidence of AlHV-1 or BoHV-5 was observed. Prevalence of BoHV-1 ranged from 12% to 47%, and PCR-positive results were observed in all species tested. BoHV-2 was detected from roe deer, red deer, fallow deer, mouflon, and domestic sheep, and the prevalence in these species ranged from 3% to 50%. BoHV-4 was detected in all species, with prevalence ranging from 12% to 69%. Sequenced PCR products were 99-100% identical to bovine herpesviral sequences deposited in the GenBank.

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