Journal Article

MOOSE (ALCES ALCES) MORTALITY ASSOCIATED WITH CAPRINE HERPESVIRUS 2 (CPHV-2) IN A ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTION

Li, Hong, Cunha, Cristina W., Junge, Randall E., Jennings, Ryan N., Seeley, Kathryn E.

2018

Overview

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) can affect both domestic and wild artiodactyls. In a zoological setting, in which subclinical carriers and susceptible species are often housed in close proximity, the disease can prove fatal. This report describes a case of goat-associated MCF in a captive moose (Alces alces). The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology, which showed lymphocytic vasculitis in the brain and panuveitis, and by detection of caprine herpesvirus 2 DNA in tissues. Identical viral DNA sequences amplified from the clinically affected moose and from domestic, petting goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) housed in the zoo suggest that the goats were the source for the virus transmutation. This is the first report, to our knowledge, of confirmed goat-associated MCF in any moose in North America and of the surveillance measures and procedures put in place to prevent additional spread of the disease.

• Publisher: American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
• Subject: Alces alces / brain / BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS / Capra hircus aegarus / Caprine gammaherpesvirus 2 / caprine-herpesvirus 2 (CpHV-2) / disease transmission / DNA / goats / histopathology / malignant catarrhal fever / malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) / monitoring / moose / mortality / North America / nucleotide sequences / tissues / vasculitis / viruses / zoos