First Molecular Evidence and Genetic Characterization of Ovine Herpesvirus 2 in Multiple Animal Species in India.

Ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2) is the causative agent of sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF), a highly fatal disease syndrome that predominantly affects susceptible hosts of the order . In this study, an in-depth clinico-molecular investigation of SA-MCF disease in a morbid 50-days-old cattle calf () and asymptomatic infection in the in-contact reservoir hosts, sheep (), and goat () housed on a farm located in the Southern India is reported. An OIE recommended SA-MCF type-specific PCR confirmed the etiological agent as OvHV-2.