title: A possible case of caprine-associated malignant catarrhal fever in a domestic water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in Switzerland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a fatal herpesvirus infection, affecting various wild and domestic ruminants all over the world. Water buffaloes were reported to be particularly susceptible for the ovine herpesvirus-2 (OvHV-2) causing the sheep-associated form of MCF (SA-MCF). This report describes the first case of possibly caprine-associated malignant catarrhal fever symptoms in a domestic water buffalo in Switzerland.
  
  
  METHODS
  The buffalo cow presented with persistent fever, dyspnoea, nasal bleeding and haematuria. Despite symptomatic therapy, the buffalo died and was submitted to post mortem examination. Major findings were an abomasal ulceration, a mild haemorrhagic cystitis and multifocal haemorrhages on the epicardium and on serosal and mucosal surfaces. Eyes and oral cavity were not affected. Histopathology revealed a mild to moderate lymphohistiocytic vasculitis limited to the brain and the urinary bladder. Although these findings are typical for MCF, OvHV-2 DNA was not detected in peripheral blood lymphocytes or in paraffin-embedded brain, using an OvHV-2 specific real time PCR. With the aid of a panherpesvirus PCR, a caprine herpesvirus-2 (CpHV-2) sequence could be amplified from both samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this is the first report of malignant catarrhal fever in the subfamily Bovinae, where the presence of CpHV-2 could be demonstrated. The etiological context has yet to be evaluated.
authors: Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 268, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland. m.dettwiler@access.uzh.ch
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Dettwiler
authors: Anina
authors: A
authors: Stahel
authors: Sonka
authors: S
authors: Krüger
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Gerspach
authors: Ueli
authors: U
authors: Braun
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Engels
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Hilbe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000821:virology*; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D018142:Gammaherpesvirinae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D008304:Malignant Catarrh / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D013557:Switzerland