Bilateral perirenal hemorrhage in two Stone's sheep (Ovis dalli stonei): a possible manifestation of malignant catarrhal fever.

Abstract

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF)-like disease was diagnosed at postmortem in 2 Stone's sheep (Ovis dalli stonei). On gross examination, the predominant abnormality in both sheep was severe perirenal hemorrhage and multiple renal infarcts. Microscopically, there was severe, multisystemic lymphocytic arteritis. Both sheep were positive for Ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2) on polymerase chain reaction, and partial sequencing of the viral DNA polymerase genes from the 2 sheep revealed >99% homology, with 96% similarity to the reference GenBank OvHV-2 viral sequence. Based on the histological lesions, polymerase chain reaction results, and viral DNA polymerase gene sequencing, a diagnosis of OvHV-2-mediated MCF was made. Massive perirenal hemorrhage has not been described previously as a manifestation of MCF.