Malignant Catarrhal Fever: Current insights into epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and control strategies

Abstract

Rhadinoviruses in the Herpesviridae family, mainly Ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2) and Alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 (AlHV-1), are the cause of Malignant Catarrhal Fever (MCF), a systemic viral illness of ruminants. In susceptible hosts like cattle, deer, and certain wild ruminants, the disease is sporadic and has a high death rate. Sheep and wildebeest are examples of natural reservoirs that are the main source of infection without clinical signs. Virus-containing aerosols are the main means of transmission to the end host. A pathogenic immune response to latent T lymphocyte infection, which causes systemic lymphoproliferation and non-suppurative vasculitis in multiple organs, is the primary cause of MCF. The eyes, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, and central nervous system are all affected by this illness. Clinically, the illness manifests as eye lesions, stomatitis, diarrhea, and neurological abnormalities as it advances from acute to peracute. A thorough approach that incorporates clinical symptoms, histological alterations, and the identification of the causative agent using molecular techniques like PCR is necessary for the diagnosis of MCF. Since there is currently no viable vaccine or targeted treatment, illness control relies on prevention by separating susceptible hosts from reservoirs and enforcing stringent biosecurity. As a foundation for scientific knowledge to assist disease mitigation efforts in ruminant populations, this study provides a thorough synthesis of the origin, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical symptoms, diagnosis, and control options of MCF.