Probable malignant catarrhal fever presented as transient generalised crusting dermatitis in a cow

Abstract

CASE HISTORY: A 2-year-old crossbred cow developed crusting ulcerative lesions that covered approximately 40% of the body. They were first observed 2 weeks after the cow calved, and were most severe over the caudal aspect of the proximal hindlegs and perineum.

CLINICAL FINDINGS AND DIAGNOSIS: Generalised variably confluent 1–2-cm diameter foci of ulceration and crusting were visible. No ocular or oral lesions were visible, and the cow did not have diarrhoea. Skin biopsies revealed lesions consistent with those previously described for malignant catarrhs fever (MCF). Additionally, prominent multinucleate cells were visible. The DNA for ovine herpesvirus type 2 (OHV-2) was amplified from the skin biopsies, using PCR. The cow spontaneously made a complete clinical recovery.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Malignant catarrhs fever should be considered in cases of ulcerative skin disease in cattle. The disease is difficult to diagnose, and a combination of skin histology as well as PCR is required. Although probably rare, it appears complete recovery from MCF is possible when the disease is confined to the skin.

KEY WORDS:

• Malignant catarrhs fever
• herpesvirus
• rhadinovirus
• bovine
• dermatology

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Hinrich Vogers at Livestock Improvement Corporation, Hamilton, New Zealand; Dennis Hocking for repeated access to his cow; and Evelyn Lupton, Mary Gaddam, Adi Sugiarto, and Dianne Knight for their excellent assistance with this project.