Transmission studies with bovine malignant catarrhal fever
Selman, I.E.; Wiseman, A.; Wright, N.G.; Murray, M.
Veterinary Record 102(12): 252-257
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 644823 Document Number: 134215
The i/v administration of whole blood from a pathologically confirmed field case of bovine malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) resulted in the appearance of the disease in three of five experimental calves 18 to 28 days later. Infection was maintained by serial calf transmissions, and produced clinical and pathological changes identical to those of the field disease for a total of 10 passages. The sixth passage involved the simultaneous infection of 10 calves from a single donor animal; six of the 10 recipients developed the typical disease after incubation periods ranging from 20 to 36 days and in each of these MCF was confirmed by PM examination. In addition, clinical and pathological changes in the four other calves which were slaughtered 7 or 14 days after infection suggested that they too would have developed typical clinical signs had they been allowed to survive for the necessary length of time. The results of a detailed study of the onset, progress and duration of the clinical signs of experimentally induced MCF are presented. The transmission of MCF under experimental conditions and in the field is reviewed.