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A Review of the Epidemiological, Clinical, and Pathological Aspects of Malignant Catarrhal Fever

Author: Neeraj Kumar, M.K. Verma*, Anand Kumar Singh, Javid Ur Rahman, Jayshree Jakhar and Sachin Patidar

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Abstract

Malignant catarrhal fever is a severe viral disease that affects a variety of domestic and wild ruminants. It is caused by group of Gammaherpes viruses. Each virus is well-adapted to its natural host, and is normally carried asymptomatically in reservoir hosts, but it can cause severe disease in other species. There is no successful treatment for MCF, and the case fatality rate is extremely high. Outbreaks are common in some areas, where cattle are seasonally exposed to the wildebeest associated virus during peak replication periods. Currently, the only effective control measures are to isolate susceptible species from carriers or to breed virus-free reservoir hosts.

Keywords

MCF, Gamma Herpesviruses, Alcelaphine herpesvirus-1, Ovine herpesvirus-2.

Conclusion

MCF is a fascinating and important disease with many unanswered questions about transmission, sporadic incidence, and pathogenesis. Since there is currently no effective treatment for MCF, disease management is solely based on prevention and control. The only effective strategy is to limit contact between MCF-susceptible species and natural hosts of the viruses, which is being made almost impossible by encroachment and settlement of wildlife areas. Vaccine production, efficient and prompt confirmatory diagnosis and genetic studies of WA-MCF may all be part of a three-pronged approach to integrated control of WA-MCF. Both wildebeest and sheep of any age should be considered possible sources of infection. Even though the mode of transmission is not well known, it is still best to avoid direct contact or indirect contact by personnel or fomites. Separation from sheep is important in the case of highly susceptible species like Bali cattle. It is necessary to conduct systematic and ongoing

References

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How to cite this article

Kumar, N., Verma, M.K., Singh, A.K., Rahman, J.U., and Jakhar, J. Patidar, S. (2021). A Review of the Epidemiological, Clinical, and Pathological Aspects of Malignant Catarrhal Fever. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 13(3a): 575-583.