University of Basrah Master’s Thesis Examines Malignant Catarrhal Fever in Water Buffaloes
A master’s thesis at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Basrah, examined Malignant Catarrhal Fever in Water Buffaloes in Basrah Governorate.
The thesis, submitted by researcher Ali Yousif Atshan, aimed to investigate and diagnose suspected cases of the disease in the governorate through clinical examination, hematological investigations, biochemical analysis, and laboratory diagnosis.
The study examined 163 buffaloes suspected of infection based on characteristic clinical signs, including corneal opacity, excessive salivation, and fever, in addition to 25 healthy animals serving as a control group.
Serological testing using ELISA detected antibodies in 92 animals, representing an infection rate of 56.44%. Molecular testing by PCR confirmed the presence of viral DNA in 88 of these animals, accounting for 95.6%, and identified Ovine gammaherpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2) as the causative agent. Four confirmed viral isolates were also registered in the international GenBank database.
The thesis concluded that malignant catarrhal fever represents a serious disease problem among buffaloes in Basrah. Phylogenetic analysis further revealed a genetic relationship between the local isolates and international strains, suggesting the possibility of cross-border transmission or shared viral origins.
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