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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, December 2004, p. 5558-5564, Vol. 42, No. 12
0095-1137/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.42.12.5558-5564.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Shedding of Ovine Herpesvirus 2 in Sheep Nasal Secretions: the Predominant Mode for Transmission

Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service,¹ Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington,³ U.S. Sheep Experiment Station, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Dubois, Idaho²

Received 29 April 2004/ Returned for modification 17 July 2004/ Accepted 27 July 2004

Ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2), the major causative agent of malignant catarrhal fever in ruminant species worldwide, has never been propagated in vitro. Using real-time PCR, a striking, short-lived, peak of viral DNA, ranging from 10⁵ to over 10⁸ copies/2 µg of DNA, was detected in nasal secretions from over 60.7% of adolescent sheep (n = 56) at some point during the period from 6 to 9 months of age. In contrast, only about 18% of adult sheep (n = 33) experienced a shedding episode during the study period. The general pattern of the appearance of viral DNA in nasal secretions was a dramatic rise and subsequent fall within 24 to 36 h, implying a single cycle of viral replication. These episodes occurred sporadically and infrequently, but over the 3-month period most of the 56 lambs (33, or 60.7%) experienced at least one episode. No corresponding fluctuations in DNA levels were found in either peripheral blood leukocytes or plasma. In a DNase protection assay, complete, enveloped OvHV-2 virions were demonstrated in the nasal secretions of all sheep examined during the time when they were experiencing an intense shedding episode. OvHV-2 infectivity in nasal secretions was also demonstrated by aerosolization of the secretions into OvHV-2-negative sheep. The data herein show that nasal shedding is the major mode of OvHV-2 transmission among domestic sheep and that adolescents represent the highest risk group for transmission.

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