Transmission studies with bovine malignant catarrhal fever

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Pathology

Background:

• Bovine malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a severe, often fatal, disease affecting cattle.
• Understanding MCF transmission is crucial for disease control and prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally induce and characterize bovine malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) in calves.
• To investigate the transmission dynamics of MCF through serial blood passages.

Main Methods:

• Intravenous administration of whole blood from a confirmed MCF field case to experimental calves.
• Serial transmission of the infectious agent through multiple calf passages.
• Clinical observation, pathological examination, and incubation period determination.

Main Results:

• MCF was successfully transmitted to calves via whole blood, with disease onset 18-28 days post-infection.
• Serial passages maintained the disease, producing identical clinical and pathological signs.
• In one passage, 6 out of 10 calves developed typical MCF with incubation periods of 20-36 days.

Conclusions:

• Whole blood is an effective vehicle for transmitting bovine malignant catarrhal fever (MCF).
• Experimental transmission successfully replicated the clinical and pathological features of field MCF.
• The study provides valuable insights into MCF pathogenesis and experimental transmission.