title: Sheep-Associated Malignant Catarrhal Fever-Like Skin Disease in a Free-Ranging Bighorn Sheep ( Ovis canadensis ), Alberta, Canada.
abstract: Malignant catarrhal fever-like clinical disease was diagnosed in a free-ranging bighorn sheep ( Ovis canadensis ) from Alberta, Canada, in June 2015. Antemortem and gross pathology findings included muscle atrophy, marked weight loss, and bilaterally symmetric alopecia with hyperpigmentation and crusting over the face, medial surfaces of the pinnae, dorsal trunk, distal limbs, perineal area, and tail. Histologically, the skin lesions were characterized by granulomatous mural folliculitis with numerous multinucleated giant cells and fewer lymphocytes and eosinophils consistent with previous reports of chronic ovine herpesvirus-2 (OvHV-2) infection. Multiple skin samples were positive for OvHV-2 DNA on PCR, and on partial sequencing of the viral DNA, there was 94% homology with reference GenBank OvHV-2. Quantitative PCR confirmed an increased level of OvHV-2 DNA in the lesional skin tissues. Based on exclusion of other disease processes, gross and histological lesions, PCR, and viral DNA sequencing results, a diagnosis of OvHV-2-mediated malignant catarrhal fever-like dermatitis was made.
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6.|3 Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6.
authors.forename: Owen M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Slater
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, 602 Tower Rd., Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Jeanine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peters-Kennedy
authors.affiliation: 3 Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6.
authors.forename: Manigandan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lejeune
authors.affiliation: 4 Parks Canada, Banff National Park, Box 900, Banff, Alberta, Canada T1L 1K2.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gummer
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6.|4 Parks Canada, Banff National Park, Box 900, Banff, Alberta, Canada T1L 1K2.
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Macbeth
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.affiliation: 5 Animal Health Centre, BC Ministry of Agriculture, 1767 Angus Campbell Rd., Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, V3G 2M3.
authors.forename: Tomy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: 6 Animal Disease Research Unit, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 3003 Animal Disease Biotechnology Facility, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA.|7 Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, PO Box 647040, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 6 Animal Disease Research Unit, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 3003 Animal Disease Biotechnology Facility, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA.
authors.forename: Cristina W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6.|3 Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6.
authors.forename: Pádraig J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Duignan
mesh_terms: D000416:Alberta; D000818:Animals; D008304:Malignant Catarrh; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D034581:Sheep, Bighorn / Q000821:virology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Alberta; Canada; Ovis canadensis; bighorn sheep; dermatitis; malignant catarrhal fever; ovine herpesvirus-2; skin