Abstract
Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a frequently fatal viral disease of cattle and other ruminants. Sheep-associated MCF is caused by ovine herpesvirus type 2 (OvHV-2). Over 95% of domestic sheep are asymptomatic carriers of OvHV-2 and serve as a source of infection for cattle. Previous studies demonstrated a significant high prevalence of asymptomatic OvHV-2 infection in adult dairy cattle from a herd housed in close proximity to sheep. While sheep are considered to be the primary source of infection in cattle, there are reports of MCF in cattle that are not in direct contact with sheep. The hypothesis for this study is that cattle infected with OvHV-2 can remain asymptomatic for extended periods of time and may transmit the virus to offspring through placenta and/or colostrum. The study's objectives were to monitor a group of adult cattle for evidence of OvHV-2 persistent infection and evaluate possible transmission of OvHV-2 to calves.
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