Detection of sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever from clinical cases in Ethiopian cattle

Abstract

Mucoid nasal discharge, loss of weight, decreased milk production, diarrhoea, salivation, dyspnoea, fever, lacrimation, bilateral corneal opacity and bloody urine were observed in cattle located in the Arbe Gona district of southern Ethiopia. The disease was associated with a high case fatality rate: diseased cattle died within four to five days after showing clinical signs. The clinical presentation, gross pathological observations, histopathological findings and epidemiological data strongly suggested malignant catarrhal fever. Subsequently, the ovine herpesvirus type 2 (OvHV-2) DNA polymerase (UL30) gene was detected in pathological tissue samples using pan-herpesvirus nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR. As far as the authors are aware, this is the first report of a diagnostic investigation resulting in the detection of ovine OvHV-2 in cattle and confirming the existence of sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever in Ethiopia.

Case Reports: Clinical features and postmorteum findings of sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever in a 2-years old bull

“…The present case of MCF was diagnosed based on clinical findings, post-mortem, and a PCR result, as described by Horner (2003). Similar to the current case, MCF is characterized by clinical signs of appetite loss, self-isolation from the stock, lethargy, emaciation, fever, lymph node enlargement, bilateral corneal opacity, nasal and ocular discharge, and hyperesthesia (Zamila et al, 2011;Gelaye et al, 2013;OIE, 2020). The gross pathological findings obtained in the present case report are similar to those described in previous reports by Horner (2003) and Pesca et al (2019), which revealed erotic lesions in the mouth and nasal cavities, diphtheritic mucus membranes, hemorrhage on the serosal surface, an infarct, white foci in the renal cortex, and enlarged superficial lymph nodes.…”

“…Alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 (AlHV-1) and ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2) are the major causative agents responsible for wildebeest-associated MCF (WA-MCF) and sheep-associated MCF (SA-MCF), respectively, in cattle and other ruminant species. Wildebeest-associated MCF (WA-MCF) is an economically important disease of cattle in Africa, where wildebeest are present, and SA-MCF is prevalent worldwide where sheep husbandry is practiced (Gelaye et al, 2013).…”

Investigation of OvHV-2 virus in small ruminants in Western Turkey

“…OvHV-2 is reported to be sporadic in cattle and other species, it may cause outbreaks when cattle are husbandried with other species susceptible to MCF or somehow in contact (Li et al 2000;Schultheiss et al 2000;Brenner et al 2002;Otter et al 2002;Twomey et al 2002;Li et al 2008;Neimanis et al 2009;Vinod Kumar et al 2014). MCF cases caused by SA-MCF have been reported in several regions in Europe, Canada, North and South Africa, Asia, and Middle East (Brenner et al 2002;Benazzi et al 2004;Neimanis et al 2009;Gelaye et al 2013;Vinod Kumar et al 2014).…”