The malignant catarrhal fever complex.
Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is defined as a clinicopathological syndrome caused by related herpesviruses and acquired from persistently infected wildebeest and sheep. There is convincing epidemiologic and virologic evidence that Alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 (AHV1) causes the wildebeest-derived disease (WD-MCF). Present knowledge suggests that a herpesvirus related to AHV1 may be associated with some cases of the non-wildebeest-associated disease (NWA-MCF). However, this virus possibly represents a passenger virus not related with the ultimate cause of the disease. Moreover, evidence for the role played by sheep as the reservoir for the agent of NWA-MCF is not convincing and awaits confirmation.
Institute of Virology, University of Zürich, Switzerland.
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Metzler
D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000866:Antelopes; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle; D003670:Deer; D006041:Goats; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000502:physiology*; D008304:Malignant Catarrh / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012418:Ruminants; D012756:Sheep