Vol. 12, Special Issue 11 (2023)

Author(s):
Shyamsundar KA, Rathnamma D, Shrikrishna Isloor, Sharada R, Chandranaik BM, Shivashankar BP, Ranganatha S, Suresh KP and Patil SS

Abstract:
Malignant Catarrhal Fever (MCF) is a viral disease primarily affecting cloven-footed animals including cattle, bison, sheep, deer, and rarely giraffes. Even though the disease is reported scarcely, it has a significant economic impact on the livestock industry. The present study was aimed at the identification of Ovine gammaherpes virus 2 in one incidence. Samples were collected from 36 animals on the farm. Heminested PCR targeting the partial tegument gene of the virus was used. Overall, 6 animals were positive for PCR. Among them, 2 positive samples were sent for sequencing. The Phylogenetic tree revealed a close association with Indian and Egyptian isolates. Sheep were harbouring the virus and were the most probable source of infection.