Pc. Schultheiss et al., Epizootic malignant catarrhal fever in three bison herds: differences fromcattle and association with ovine herpesvirus-2, J VET D INV, 12(6), 2000, pp. 497-502
Three bison herds in Colorado experienced high mortality from malignant cat
arrhal fever (MCF). In comparison with cattle, the bison had a more rapidly
progressive disease, fewer clinical signs, and milder inflammatory histolo
gic lesions. There was consistent association with ovine herpesvirus-2 (OHV
-2). Contact with sheep was not consistent. Of 17 animals in herd A, 15 die
d of acute MCF; 1 was slaughtered while healthy; and 1 developed clinical s
igns of MCF, was treated with corticosteroids and antibiotics, and died of
fungal abomasitis and rhinitis after 5 months. In herds B and C, approximat
ely 300 of 900 and 18 of 20 died of MCF following brief clinical disease. T
he nearest sheep were 1 mile away from herd A, but direct contact with shee
p could be documented in herds B and C. Complete gross and histologic exami
nations were conducted on 34 animals, including all animals in herd A, and
MCF was diagnosed in 31. In addition, field necropsies were performed on al
l dead animals in herd B and most in herd C and MCF was diagnosed on the ba
sis of the gross lesions in most animals. Clinical signs of each animal in
herd A were recorded. Illness was brief, usually 8-48 hours. Clinical signs
were subtle; separation from the herd was often observed. In all 3 herds,
hemorrhagic cystitis and multifocal ulceration of the alimentary tract were
consistently found at necropsy. Mild lymphocytic vasculitis was present in
multiple organs. Ovine herpesvirus-2 was found by polymerase chain reactio
n (PCR) in 71 of 105 formalin-fixed tissue specimens from 29 of 31 animals
with MCF. In herd A, blood samples from 13 animals were collected at 5 time
points and tested by PCR for the presence of OHV-2 viral sequences in peri
pheral blood leukocytes. Nine bison with a positive PCR test and 4 with neg
ative results prior to clinical illness died of MCF.