Short Communication: Malignant Catarrhal Fever Associated with Caprine Herpesvirus-2 Infection in Captive Formosan Sika Deer (Cervus Nippon Taiouanus) in Taiwan

Caprine herpesvirus-2 (CpHV-2) infection in Formosan sika deer (Cervus nippon toiouanus) with clinical signs and pathological changes of chronic malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing in Taiwan is reported here. During the period of September 2002 and January 2003, 12 Formosan sika deer died with progressive weight loss; while 2 other deer in the same captive herd were subclinically infected. At necropsy, gross lesions were characterized by marked arteriosclerosis in the heart, mesentery, and kidneys were noted. Microscopically, all 12 animals had severe lymphocytic vasculitis with intimal hyperplasia that were consistent with the lesions of chronic MCF. Antibody to MCF virus was detected in sera collected from all deer and goats housing in the same barn. Clinically normal goats, but not cattle, in the same barn were also PCR positive for CpHV-2. Subclinically CpHV-2-infected goats were considered to be the source of infection in this incidence.