What is mcf sheep?

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is an infectious systemic disease that presents as a variable complex of lesions affecting mainly ruminants and rarely swine.

What is MCF virus?

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a serious viral disease that can affect many species in the order Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates) including cattle, bison, water buffalo, exotic ruminants, deer and other cervids, and pigs.

Is Mcf contagious?

MCF is transmitted only between carriers and clinically susceptible animals. Affected animals do not transmit MCF to their cohorts.

What is Mcf blood test?

MCF-cELISA: The assay is broadly used for detection of antibodies to all viruses in the MCF-group, since it is based on an epitope present on all members of the MCF virus group. Currently ten viruses have been identified within this group, and it is likely that most ungulates have similar viruses.

How is MCF disease transmitted from sheep to sheep?

The virus is shed primarily in the sheep’s nasal and eye secretions, and transmitted through either direct or indirect contact. The significance of mechanical transmission (spread of the virus on boots, clothing, vehicles, etc) is unknown. When OHV-2 is spread from sheep to a susceptible ruminant species, MCF disease occurs.

What kind of animals are affected by MCF?

These viruses exist in nature as inapparent infections in well-adapted ruminants that act as reservoir hosts. MCF is increasingly being recognized as the cause of significant economic losses in several major ruminant species, including cattle, bison and deer, as well as a threat to certain threatened species held in mixed-species confinement.

Can a malignant catarrhal fever virus affect sheep?

It is likely there are other undiscovered members of the malignant catarrhal fever virus group in ruminant populations that may or may not cause disease and/or interfere with diagnostic tests. All sheep should be presumed to be carriers of the OHV-2 virus. It does not cause any disease in sheep.

What causes bovine malignant catarrhal fever ( BMCF )?

Bovine malignant catarrhal fever ( BMCF) is a fatal lymphoproliferative disease caused by a group of ruminant gamma herpes viruses including Alcelaphine gammaherpesvirus 1 ( AlHV-1) and Ovine gammaherpesvirus 2 ( OvHV-2) These viruses cause unapparent infection in their reservoir hosts…