Identification of peripheral blood mononuclear cells targeted by Ovine herpesvirus-2 in sheep.

Sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever (MCF), caused by Ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2), is usually a fatal disease of various ruminants and swine. In contrast, natural OvHV-2 infection in sheep, which are the main OvHV-2 reservoir, proceeds without any clinical symptoms. Since the range of targeted cells may be important for pathogenesis, we wanted to analyze the natural range of peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMC) targeted by OvHV-2.

Malignant catarrhal fever of cattle is associated with low abundance of IL-2 transcript and a predominantly latent profile of ovine herpesvirus 2 gene expression.

Background: Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a lethal disease of cattle, characterized by vasculitis, necrosis, and accumulation of activated, dysregulated cytotoxic lymphocytes in various tissues. Ovine gamma herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2) is a causative agent of MCF, which may trigger the disease through immunopathogenic pathways. Lymphocytes are the main target of the virus.

Ovine herpesvirus 2 structural proteins in epithelial cells and M-cells of the appendix in rabbits with malignant catarrhal fever.

Sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever (MCF), caused by Ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2), is a usually fatal disease of various ruminants and swine. A system for propagation of OvHV-2 in vitro has not yet been identified, although persistently infected cells have been derived from diseased animals and used to establish an animal model in rabbits. OvHV-2 structural proteins have not been detected in diseased animals and the pathogenesis of OvHV-2 infection is poorly understood.