Malignant Catarrhal Fever in Bison, Acute and Chronic Cases

Acute malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) was diagnosed in 10 bison from 6 herds and ranging from 1 to 6 years of age. The pattern of clinical signs and morphologic lesions differed among bison. Combinations of corneal opacity, lacrimation, nasal discharge, depression, excess salivation, anorexia, diarrhea, melena, and hematuria were observed. Vasculitis characterized by lymphoid infiltrates in the adventia with variable extension into media and intima was found in multiple tissues in each animal. Fibrinoid vascular necrosis was rare. Ulceration in the alimentary tract was found in 9/10 bison, and ulceration or hemorrhage in the urinary bladder was found in 8/10 bison. Lymphoid infiltrates were present in 7 of 9 livers and 9 of 9 kidneys examined histologically. Hyperplasia of lymph nodes was observed in 5 bison. Chronic MCF was diagnosed in 1 bison with an 80-day course of illness that began with lacrimation, corneal opacity, mucoid nasal discharge, depression, and anorexia. These signs ceased after 15 days but circling and blindness developed on day 76. Chronic vascular lesions characterized by endothelial cell hypertrophy, intimal thickening, fragmentation of the internal elastic membrane, smooth muscle hypertrophy, and adventitial infiltrates of lymphocytes and plasma cells were found in many organs. The retinal arteries had chronic inflammation and acute transmural fibrinoid necrosis. The retinas were infarcted. Polymerase chain reaction technique for amplification of ovine herpesvirus 2 sequences was performed on formalin-fixed tissues, and viral sequences were detected in 1–7 tissues from each animal. These viral sequences were not found in tissues of 4 bison not affected by MCF.

Download Full-text

Field Observations and Genetic Characterization of Sheep-Associated Malignant Catarrhal Fever in Egypt, 2018

Veterinary Sciences ◽

10.3390/vetsci7040201 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 201

Author(s):

Sahar Abd El Rahman ◽

Ahmed Ateya ◽

Mohamed El-Beskawy ◽

Kerstin Wernike ◽

Bernd Hoffmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Characterization ◽

Buccal Cavity ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Case Fatality ◽

Corneal Opacity ◽

Lymphoid Tissues ◽

Nasal Discharge ◽

Malignant Catarrhal Fever ◽

Field Observations

Ovine gammaherpesvirus-2 (OvHV-2) causes a lethal disease in cattle and some wild ruminants called malignant catarrhal fever (MCF), which affects the epithelial and lymphoid tissues of the respiratory and digestive tracts and has an important impact on the livestock industry. In this study, MCF was diagnosed in 18 of 427 cattle from different sites in Egypt by its typical clinical signs, found in all 18 animals: corneal opacity, fever, erosions in the buccal cavity, lymphadenitis, and purulent nasal discharge. All affected cattle had been reared in contact with clinically inconspicuous sheep. Of the 18 clinically ill cattle, 13 succumbed to the disease, resulting in estimated morbidity and case fatality rates of 4.2% and 72.2%, respectively. Five samples collected from the affected cattle were positive for OvHV-2 by real-time PCR and were used for sequencing of an 832-bp fragment of the ORF27/gp48 gene. The ORF27 nucleotide sequence of all Egyptian samples was identical, but distinct from viruses found in other parts of Africa and the Mediterranean.

Download Full-text

Molecular confirmation of ovine herpesvirus 2-induced malignant catarrhal fever lesions in cattle from Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-736x2012001200001 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 32 (12) ◽

pp. 1213-1218 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Selwyn A. Headley ◽

Isadora K.F. Sousa ◽

Antonio H.H. Minervino ◽

Isabella O. Barros ◽

Raimundo A. Barrêto Júnior ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lymph Node ◽

Mesenteric Lymph Node ◽

Protein Gene ◽

Rio Grande ◽

Corneal Opacity ◽

Tegument Protein ◽

Nasal Discharge ◽

Malignant Catarrhal Fever ◽

Base Pairs ◽

Mesenteric Lymph

Molecular findings that confirmed the participation of ovine herpesvirus 2 (OVH-2) in the lesions that were consistent with those observed in malignant catarrhal fever of cattle are described. Three mixed-breed cattle from Rio Grande do Norte state demonstrated clinical manifestations that included mucopurulent nasal discharge, corneal opacity and motor incoordination. Routine necropsy examination demonstrated ulcerations and hemorrhage of the oral cavity, corneal opacity, and lymph node enlargement. Significant histopathological findings included widespread necrotizing vasculitis, non-suppurative meningoencephalitis, lymphocytic interstitial nephritis and hepatitis, and thrombosis. PCR assay performed on DNA extracted from kidney and mesenteric lymph node of one animal amplified a product of 423 base pairs corresponding to a target sequence within the ovine herpesvirus 2 (OVH-2) tegument protein gene. Direct sequencing of the PCR products, from extracted DNA of the kidney and mesenteric lymph node of one cow, amplified the partial nucleotide sequences (423 base pairs) of OVH-2 tegument protein gene. Blast analysis confirmed that these sequences have 98-100% identity with similar OVH-2 sequences deposited in GenBank. Phylogenetic analyses, based on the deduced amino acid sequences, demonstrated that the strain of OVH-2 circulating in ruminants from the Brazilian states of Rio Grande do Norte and Minas Gerais are similar to that identified in other geographical locations. These findings confirmed the active participation of OVH-2 in the classical manifestations of sheep associated malignant catarrhal fever.

Download Full-text

Clinical and Morpho-Molecular epidemiology of bovine theileriosis in Kashmir, India

Indian Journal of Animal Research ◽

10.18805/ijar.b-3512 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

U. Farooq ◽

N. A. Tufani ◽

H. U. Malik ◽

M. S. Mir

Keyword(s):

Clinical Signs ◽

Corneal Opacity ◽

Lymph Node Biopsy ◽

Nasal Discharge ◽

Diagnostic Efficacy ◽

Infected Female ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

Mucous Membranes ◽

Bovine Theileriosis ◽

Peripheral Blood Smears

Total 1683 cattle were screened for Theileria infections for one calendar year. The overall incidence was 4.34%. It was highest in summer (7.57%), followed by autumn (3.51%). Cattle above 2 years of age (6.19%) particularly Holstein Friesian Cross (5.81%), followed by Jersey Cross (2.77%) were highly infected. Female (4.49%) were mostly affected as compared to male (3.14%). Affected animals showed persistent high fever, tachycardia, tachypnea and reduced ruminal motility. Other important clinical signs were emaciation, swelling of pre-scapular lymph nodes, inappetence, pale mucous membranes or congested mucous membranes, occulo-nasal discharge, corneal opacity, presence of ticks, salivation, coughing and decreased milk production. The diagnostic efficacy of PCR was highest (100%, 73/73), followed by peripheral blood smears examination (93.15%, 68/73) and lymph node biopsy (49.31%, 36/73). There is a consistent increase in the incidence of bovine theileriosis which may be due climate change and import of carrier animals from the neighbouring states.

Download Full-text

Outbreak of infectious laryngotracheitis in large multi-age egg layer chicken flocks in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-736x2013000500007 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 33 (5) ◽

pp. 591-596 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Ingred S. Preis ◽

Juliana F.V. Braga ◽

Rodrigo M. Couto ◽

Bruno S.A.F. Brasil ◽

Nelson R.S. Martins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vaccine Strain ◽

Plasma Cells ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Small Region ◽

Minas Gerais ◽

Nasal Discharge ◽

Gallid Herpesvirus ◽

Ffpe Samples ◽

Infectious Laryngotracheitis ◽

Herpesvirus 1

A recent (November 2010) outbreak of infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) in a multi-age laying hen facility in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, is described. Previous ILT outbreak in laying hens was only notified in São Paulo state, Brazil, in 2002. In the outbreak described here, the affected population was approximately eight million hens, with flock sizes ranging from 100,000 to 2,900,000 chickens. The average mortality ranged from 1 to 6%, and morbidity was around 90% (most of the twenty seven farms of the area were positive for ILT virus). Three multi-age laying farms from one company were selected for this report. Clinical signs included prostration, dyspnea, conjunctivitis, occasional swelling of the paranasal sinuses and bloody mucous nasal discharge. Severely affected chickens presented with dyspnea, gasping and became cyanotic before death. At necropsy, these chickens had fibrinous exudate blocking the larynx and the lumen of cranial part of the trachea. In addition, conjunctivitis with intense hyperemia, edema and sinuses with caseous exudate were present. On histopathology, there were marked necrosis and desquamation of respiratory ephitelium and conjunctiva with numerous syncytial cells formation and fibrinous exudate. Moderate to marked non suppurative (especially lymphocytes and plasma cells) infiltration in the lamina propria also was observed. Sixteen out of 20 examined chickens, eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies were observed in the syncytial cells. The DNA extracted from larynx and trachea produced positive PCR results for ILT virus (ILTV) DNA using formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) samples. Amplicons from a small region of ICP4 gene were submitted to sequencing and showed 100% identity with ILTV EU104910.1 (USA strain), 99% with ILTV JN596963.1 (Australian strain) and 91% with ILTV JN580316.1 (Gallid herpesvirus 1 CEO vaccine strain) and JN580315.1 (Gallid herpesvirus 1 TCO vaccine strain).

Download Full-text

Malignant Catarrhal Fever-like Disease in Sheep after Intranasal Inoculation with Ovine Herpesvirus-2

Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation ◽

10.1177/104063870501700212 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 171-175 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Hong Li ◽

Donal O'Toole ◽

Okjin Kim ◽

J. Lindsay Oaks ◽

Timothy B. Crawford

Keyword(s):

Clinical Signs ◽

High Dose ◽

Nasal Discharge ◽

Malignant Catarrhal Fever ◽

Peripheral Blood Leukocytes ◽

Blood Leukocytes ◽

Viral Shedding ◽

Nasal Secretions ◽

Bronchiolar Epithelium ◽

Polymerase Chain

A malignant catarrhal fever (MCF)–like disease was induced experimentally in 3 sheep after aerosol inoculation with ovine herpesvirus-2 (OvHV-2). Each of 3 OvHV-2–negative sheep was nebulized with 2 ml of nasal secretions containing approximately 3.07 − 109 OvHV-2 DNA copies from a sheep experiencing an intensive viral-shedding episode. Ovine herpesvirus-2 DNA became detectable by polymerase chain reaction in the peripheral blood leukocytes of all 3 sheep within 3 days, and all 3 seroconverted between 6 and 8 days postinfection (PI). The sheep developed clinical signs, with copious mucopurulent nasal discharge and fever around 14 days PI. One of the 3 clinically affected sheep was euthanized at 18 days PI. Major lesions at necropsy were multifocal linear erosions and ulcers in mucosa of the cheeks, tongue, pharynx, and proximal esophagus and mild disseminated pneumonia. Microscopically, there was extensive moderate superficial histiocytic–lymphocytic rhinitis with epithelial dissociation and degeneration. Moderate multifocal histiocytic bronchointerstitial pneumonia was associated with loss of terminal bronchiolar epithelium. Lymphocytic vasculitis was present only in the lung. The remaining 2 sheep recovered clinically, approximately 25 days PI. The study revealed that clinical signs and lesions resembling MCF can develop when uninfected sheep are exposed to a high dose of aerosolized OvHV-2.

Download Full-text

Lead poisoning in cattle and chickens in the state of Pará, Brazil

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-736x2014001100007 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 34 (11) ◽

pp. 1077-1080 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

José Diomedes Barbosa ◽

Henrique dos Anjos Bomjardim ◽

Karinny Ferreira Campos ◽

Marcos Dutra Duarte ◽

Pedro Soares Bezerra Júnior ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lead Poisoning ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Dairy Herd ◽

Corneal Opacity ◽

Nasal Discharge ◽

Solar Panels ◽

Excessive Salivation ◽

Tubular Necrosis ◽

The Mean ◽

Mean Concentration

The present study describes the occurrence of lead poisoning in cattle and chickens in Pará, Brazil. In a lot composed of 80 calves from a dairy herd, 10 animals became sick and nine died, but one animal recovered after being removed from the paddock. Upon inspection of this paddock, the presence of truck batteries used to store energy captured by solar panels was found. The clinical signs observed in calves included difficult breathing, nasal discharge, excessive salivation, corneal opacity, pushing of the head against objects and recumbency. The chickens had decreased oviposition and produced eggs with thin or malformed shells. The necropsy findings of the cattle, as well as the histopathological changes observed, were of little significance except for one animal that showed mild astrocytosis histopathology in the cerebral cortex. In one of the chickens, renal histopathology showed mild multifocal acute tubular necrosis. The mean lead concentrations in the livers and kidneys of the cattle were 93.91mg/kg and 209.76mg/kg, respectively, and the mean concentration detected in chicken livers was 105.02mg/kg. It was concluded that the source of lead poisoning in these calves and chickens were the truck battery plates, which were within reach of the animals.

Download Full-text

The Pathomorphology of Malignant Catarrhal Fever

Veterinary Pathology ◽

10.1177/030098588001700107 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 58-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

H. D. Liggitt ◽

J. C. DeMartini

Keyword(s):

Mononuclear Cell ◽

Arterial Wall ◽

Plasma Cells ◽

Fluorescent Antibody ◽

Inflammatory Cells ◽

Clinical Disease ◽

Vascular Lesions ◽

Malignant Catarrhal Fever ◽

Rete Mirabile ◽

Mononuclear Infiltrate

A histologic, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study of the vasculitis in the rete mirabile of 18 calves with experimental and two calves with spontaneous malignant catarrhal fever showed lesions similar to those reported in graft rejection and some other lymphocyte-associated vasculopathies. The calves were examined at early, mid and late stages of clinical disease. Vascular lesions in the carotid rete were representative of those in other tissues examined. The magnitude of the arterial wall mononuclear cell infiltrate and the degree of arterial wall necrosis and degeneration increased with progression of the clinical disease. The predominant site of mononuclear cell accumulation was the adventitia. There was less medial and intimal involvement. The mononuclear infiltrate was composed of lymphocytes and macrophages with neutrophils and plasma cells rarely present. Endothelial hyperplasia, fibrinoid change and thrombosis were uncommon. Many changes contrasted with those recognized in an active Arthus reaction where adventitial change was minimal and most inflammatory cells were neutrophils or plasma cells. IgG and C3 rarely were detected in vessel walls with fluorescent antibody techniques. Serum immunoglobulins as measured by radial immunodiffusion were not elevated. Viral structures were not seen in tissues examined ultrastructurally.

Download Full-text

Retrospective Study of Pneumony by Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in Cats

Acta Scientiae Veterinariae ◽

10.22456/1679-9216.79386 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 45 (1) ◽

pp. 8

Author(s):

Paula Reis Pereira ◽

Fernando Froner Argenta ◽

Veronica Machado Rolim ◽

Eduardo Conceição de Oliveira ◽

Luciana Sonne ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smooth Muscle ◽

Cause Of Death ◽

Inflammatory Infiltrate ◽

Plasma Cells ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Nasal Discharge ◽

Age Group ◽

Study Region ◽

Aelurostrongylus Abstrusus ◽

Worldwide Distribution

Background: Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is a lungworm of cats with worldwide distribution. The adult forms of this parasite live in terminal bronchioles and alveoli, and can cause an asymptomatic disease or predominantly respiratory clinical signs, which can be occasionally cause of death. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiological and pathological findings of infection by A. abstrusus through a necropsy retrospective study.Materials, Methods & Results: the necropsy records from the Department of Veterinary Pathology of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul were recovered and cats diagnosed with lungworm by Aelurostrongylus abstrusus were selected since January 1998 until December 2015. General data, such as age, sex, breed, clinical signs, and macroscopic lesions, were analyzed and compiled. The histological slides were reviewed by optical microscopy and detailed the microscopic aspects. In this study, were identified 22 cats with varying degrees of lungworm by A. abstrusus, and in 45.5% of the cases, this was the cause of death. Most part of the cats were mixed breed (19/22), and there were no sex predisposition. The age of the cats ranged from four months to 11 years old, and the most frequent age group was three to six years, with nine cases reported. In 37.5% of the cases were reported respiratory clinical signs, such as dyspnea and nasal discharge, and in 62.5%, clinical signs were not specific. The gross findings of the lungs ranged from reddish, or yellowish or white areas, and presence of multiples small, firm, and whitish nodules, measuring more than two centimeters in diameter, with multifocal distribution in the lung surface. Histologically, there was varied amount of parasites in different stages in the alveolar spaces, associated with the inflammatory infiltrate composed of lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages, neutrophils and occasional multinucleated giant cells, and hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the pulmonary smooth muscle and the wall of the arteries.Discussion: Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is the principal parasite of lung of cats, with worldwide distribution. In this study, we observed that 40.9% of cases were reported as of 2012, and may be due to a larger propagation of definitive intermediate and paratenic hosts, climate changes and/or the increase of rearing cats, and the consequent increase of hospital routine. Agreeing with the others authors, there is no sex predilection, but differ in the age group, in to the present study, the most frequent age group was between “3 to 6 years” of age (52.9%). The gross findings observed were similar to those described by other authors. Histologically was observed varied amount of parasites, and the degree of inflammatory infiltrate were very similar, but with a slight difference in discrete infiltration (36.4%). Others researchers have identified predominantly severe inflammatory infiltrate (57.9%). Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of pulmonary smooth muscle and the wall of the arteries was moderate (50%), however, in previous studies were severe. The diagnosis of aelurostrongilosis through parasitological tests have proven the occurence this lung parasite in the study region, highlighting the importance of this study by adding epidemiological and pathological data on the disease.

Download Full-text

Malignant catarrhal fever infection in a heifer in Jordan

Veterinary Science Development ◽

10.4081/vsd.2016.6203 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sameeh M. Abutarbush

Keyword(s):

Lymph Nodes ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Corneal Opacity ◽

Malignant Catarrhal Fever ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

Ocular Discharge

A 14-month-old Holstein Friesian heifer was presented for decreased appetite, ocular discharge, and diarrhea. The heifer was raised at the farm since she was 3 days old. On presentation, the heifer had bilateral mucopurulent ocular discharge and corneal opacity, ulcerative and necrotic skin, and enlarged superficial lymph nodes. Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) infection was diagnosed based on clinical signs and PCR. MCF infection has never been reported in Jordan.

Download Full-text

Newly Recognized Herpesvirus Causing Malignant Catarrhal Fever in White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Journal of Clinical Microbiology ◽

10.1128/jcm.38.4.1313-1318.2000 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 38 (4) ◽

pp. 1313-1318 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

Hong Li ◽

Neil Dyer ◽

Janice Keller ◽

Timothy B. Crawford

Keyword(s):

Odocoileus Virginianus ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Malignant Catarrhal Fever ◽

Polymerase Gene ◽

Peripheral Blood Leukocytes ◽

Degenerate Primers ◽

Blood Leukocytes ◽

Dna Fragment ◽

Herpesvirus 1 ◽

Viral Sequences

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) was diagnosed by clinical signs and lesions in five out of six white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in a North American zoo. The clinical signs and histopathological lesions in these deer were typical of MCF. Antibody to an epitope conserved among the MCF viruses was detected in the sera collected from the deer. PCR failed to amplify viral sequences from DNA extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) and/or spleens of the deer with primers specific for ovine herpesvirus 2 (OHV-2) or specific for alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 (AHV-1). By using degenerate primers targeting a conserved region of a herpesviral DNA polymerase gene, a DNA fragment was amplified from the PBL or spleens of all six deer and sequenced. Alignment of the sequences demonstrated that the virus in the deer belongs to the Gammaherpesvirinae subfamily, exhibiting 82% identity to OHV-2, 71% to AHV-1, and 60% to a newly identified bovine lymphotropic herpesvirus. This virus, which causes classical MCF in white-tailed deer, is a newly recognized agent belonging to the MCF group of gammaherpesviruses. It is the third reported pathogenic MCF virus, genetically distinct but closely related to OHV-2 and AHV-1. The reservoir for the virus has not been identified.

Download Full-text