Master’s Thesis at the University of Basrah Investigates Malignant Catarrhal Fever in Water Buffalo
A master’s thesis at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Basrah, investigated “Malignant Catarrhal Fever in Water Buffalo in Basrah Province.”
The thesis, presented by researcher Ali Yousif Atshan, aimed to investigate and diagnose suspected cases of the disease in the province through clinical examination, hematological investigations, biochemical analysis, and laboratory diagnosis.
The study included 163 buffaloes suspected of infection based on characteristic clinical signs such as corneal opacity, excessive salivation, and fever, in addition to 25 clinically healthy animals as a control group.
The ELISA tests detected antibodies in 92 animals, representing a seropositivity rate of 56.44%. Molecular testing using PCR confirmed viral DNA in 88 of these animals (95.6%), identifying Ovine gammaherpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2) as the causative agent. Four confirmed viral sequences/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 showed that the local viral sequences were genetically related to international strains, suggesting the possibility of cross-border transmission or common viral origins.
Media and Government Communication Division – College of Veterinary Medicine University of Basrah