Bovine malignant catarrhal fever

Bovine malignant catarrhal fever (BMCF) is a fatal lymphoproliferative disease caused by a group of ruminant gamma herpes viruses including Alcelaphine Herpes Virus 1 (AlHV-1) and Ovine Herpes Virus 2 (OvHV-2) These viruses cause inapparent infection in their reservoir hosts, (sheep with OvHV-2 and wildebeest with AlHV-1) but are usually fatal in cattle and other ungulates such as deer, antelope, and buffalo.