Malignant Catarrhal Fever in Indonesia and Its Control Strategy

Abstract

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is an immunoproliferative and lethal disease of many species of the order Artiodactyla (such as families Bovidae, Cervidae and Suidae) caused by a member of the MCF virus (MCFV) group belongs to the genus Macavirus in the subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae. There are two types of MCF i.e. Wildebeest-Associated MCF (WA-MCF) which is caused by Alcelaphine Herpesvirus-1 (AlHV-1) with wildebeest as reservoir animal; and Sheep-Associated MCF (SA-MCF) which is caused by Ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2) with sheep and goats as reservoir animals. AlHV-1 virus has already been isolated whereas OvHV-2 has not been isolated so that vaccines are not yet available. Both types cannot be differentiated by clinical and pathological findings. This disease was previously diagnosed based on the epidemiological information and clinicopathological findings, but now it can be diagnosed by using molecular biological tests. This paper describes the epidemiology of MCF virus, MCF cases in Indonesia and efforts to control this disease. In Indonesia, SA-MCF cases have been reported almost in all provinces as endemic as well as epidemic nature. Separation of reservoir animal with susceptible species, "producing" a SA-MCF virus free sheep and attempt to develop a recombinant vaccine against SA-MCF is the main control strategy that can be suggested.

Detection of ovine herpesvirus-2 in clinical cases of sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever in balinese cattle and apparently healthy sheep in East Nusa Tenggara

“…However, there were several differential diagnosis of MCF, namely rinderpest, septicemia epizootica (SE), bovine viral diarrhea-mucosal disease (BVD-MD), Bluetongue, Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), vesicular stomatitis and plant poisoning [2], infectious bovine rhinotracheitis [15]. Also, MCF must be differentiated from Jembrana disease [12], and in buffalo, it can be confused with Surra by Trypanosoma evansi [6] Fig. 1.…”

“…High cases rate of MCF was reported in West Nusa Tenggara, East Java, East Nusa Tenggara, and Bali [6]. Between 2006 and 2013, there were 1751 MCF cases which were reported, with 1063 cases in cattle, 480 cases in buffalo, 201 cases in goat, 6 cases in sheep, and 1 case in pig [6].…”

“…Wildebeest-associated MCF (WA-MCF) which is caused by Alcelaphine gammaherpesvirus-1 (AlHV-1) and sheep-associated MCF (SA-MCF) which is caused by Ovine gammaherpesvirus-2 (OvHV-2) [2]. Several animals have been reported to be more susceptible for SA-MCF, such as Balinese cattle (Bos javanicus) [3], water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), and Bison (Bos bonasus) [4], although it has been reported in pigs, deer, and moose [5], goat [6], and horse [1]. Wildebeest and domestic sheep are reported to be natural hosts without developing clinical signs for AlHV-1 and OvHV-2 infection, respectively [2].…”

“…In Indonesia, this disease has been reported in Kediri in 1894 by Mansjoer in 1954 [11], and since then this disease has spread in most of the provinces in Indonesia [12]. High cases rate of MCF was reported in West Nusa Tenggara, East Java, East Nusa Tenggara, and Bali [6]. Between 2006 and 2013, there were 1751 MCF cases which were reported, with 1063 cases in cattle, 480 cases in buffalo, 201 cases in goat, 6 cases in sheep, and 1 case in pig [6].…”

Phylogenetic analysis of ovine herpes virus-2 (OHV-2) in malignant catarrhal fever infected cattle in AL-Qadisiyah of Iraq

“…Classical malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is one of highly serious and fatal infectious disease of many species of the families Bovidae and Cervidae, including cattle, buffaloes, other wild living ruminants and various species of Suidae (1)(2)(3)(4). MCF caused by about ten members of the MCF viruses grouped within ruminant gammaherpesviruses of the genus Macavirus (5-7).…”