Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Animal Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #280029
Title: Goats are a potential reservoir for the herpesvirus (MCFV-WTD),causing malignant catarrhal fever in deer

Author
item Li, Hong
item Cunha, Cristina
item ABBITT, B - Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostics Laboratory
item DEMAAR, T - Gladys Porter Zoo
item LENZ, S - Indiana University-Purdue University
item HAYES, J - Ohio Department Of Agriculture
item Taus, Naomi

Submitted to: Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/8/2012
Publication Date: 6/1/2013
Citation: Li, H., Cunha, C.W., Abbitt, B., Demaar, T.W., Lenz, S., Hayes, J.R., Taus, N.S. 2013. Goats are a potential reservoir for the herpesvirus (MCFV-WTD),causing malignant catarrhal fever in deer. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 44(2):484-486.

Interpretive Summary: Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is an often lethal infection of certain ruminants and pigs caused by a group of MCF viruses. At least 10 members have been identified. 'MCFV-WTD' is one of the members in the group that has been associated with MCF in white-tailed deer; however, the reservoir host for the virus has not been identified. Identification of the host for MCFV-WTD is of significant value not only for understanding the disease epidemiology and transmission, but also in management control of the disease in clinically susceptible hosts. In the recent investigation of MCF in a red brocket deer from a Texas zoo, MCFV-WTD DNA was the only MCF viral DNA detected in the clinically-affected red brocket deer, and the MCFV-WTD DNA was also detected in a pygmy goat that was in close contact with the red brocket deer. The portion of herpesviral gene sequences amplified from the red brocket deer and the pygmy goat were identical, and matched the previously reported MCFV-WTD sequence. From a total of 123 DNA samples from various breeds of goats from different geographic locations in the U.S. that were tested by nested PCR specific for MCFV-WTD, three samples were positive. The study shows that MCFV-WTD is capable of causing MCF in other species of deer besides white-tailed deer, and suggests that goats are a potential reservoir for the virus.

Technical Abstract: In the recent investigation of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) in a red brocket deer (Mazama americana) from a Texas zoo, the MCF viral DNA from the newly recognized herpesvirus causing disease in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) (termed MCFV-WTD) was detected. The epidemiology information revealed that the red brocket deer had been associated with a herd of pygmy goats (Capra hircus) at the zoo. MCFV-WTD DNA was also detected in one of these 12 goats that were MCF viral antibody-positive. The amplified herpesviral sequences from the affected deer and the MCFV-WTD-positive goat were identical, and matched the sequence in Genbank. Three of 123 DNA samples from various breeds of goats from different geographic locations in the U.S. were positive for MCFV-WTD DNA. The study shows that MCFV-WTD is capable of causing MCF in other species of deer besides white-tailed deer, and suggests that goats are a potential reservoir for the virus.