Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 31, 2025
15:43
Long Term Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa Airway Infection in Mice
Published on: March 17, 2014
22.9K
Malignant Catarrhal Fever in Sardinia (Italy): A Case Report
Elisabetta Coradduzza1, Rosario Scivoli1, Davide Pintus1
1Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
Veterinary Sciences
|August 25, 2022
Summary
Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) in a calf was linked to Ovine herpesvirus type 2 (OvHV-2). High OvHV-2 prevalence in Sardinian sheep contrasts with sporadic bovine cases, necessitating further research into risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Virology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a severe disease affecting cattle.
- Ovine herpesvirus type 2 (OvHV-2) is the primary causative agent in many regions.
- Sheep are considered the main reservoir for OvHV-2.
Observation:
- A clinical case of MCF in a calf co-grazing with sheep in Sardinia, Italy, was documented.
- Clinico-histopathological features and OvHV-2 DNA were confirmed in the affected calf.
- Phylogenetic analysis showed the Sardinian OvHV-2 strain is similar to other Italian strains.
Findings:
- Real-Time PCR revealed an OvHV-2 prevalence of 20-30% in the Sardinian sheep population.
- Despite high OvHV-2 carrier rates in sheep, clinical MCF in cattle remains infrequent.
- The study identified a genetic similarity among Italian OvHV-2 strains.
Implications:
- This research highlights the epidemiological dynamics of OvHV-2 in Sardinia.
- Understanding the factors limiting disease transmission from sheep to cattle is crucial.
- Further investigation is required to elucidate the risk factors for sporadic MCF outbreaks in cattle.
