Malignant catarrhal fever

Pathogen

·    Ovine herpes virus 2 (sheep carry with no CS)

Transmission

·    Aerosol, direct contact, contaminated feed/water/bedding from sheep ® cow (cannot pass cow ® cow)

·    Incr. shedding from sheep if stressed, e.g. shearing, lambing

Clinical signs

·    Pyrexia

·    Enlarged LNs

·    Mucopurulent nasal d/c

·    Sloughing of oral/nasal mucosa, crusting on muzzle

·    NO COUGH

·    Exudative dermatitis on inner thigh and udder/tears

·    Affects individual animals

Diagnosis

·    Clinical signs

·    PCR (antigen) or ELISA (antibodies)

Treatment

·    No tx – euthanasia