Abstract from Fourth National Congress of Virology with International Participation /Days of Virology in Bulgaria Sofia, May 18th - 20th, 2016

Raiko Peshev, Martin Hristov

National Diagnostic and Research Veterinary Medical Institute

Wild and domestic animals inhabited Sofia and Varna zoos showing clinical symptoms of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) were investigated. Clinical and pathological studies were carried out with 16 wild and 8 domestic ruminants. Typical clinical symptoms for MCF were confirmed. From dead animals were obtained samples for the virus isolation and molecular biological investigations. Ten percent suspensions from lymph nodes, spleens, lungs, brain samples and buffy coats in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) were used for viral isolation. Primary and permanent cell cultures – rabbit kidney, Madin Darby bovine kidney (MDBK), embryonic bovine trachea (EBTR). Bovine trachea (TTr) and VERO cells were used. Viruses with peculiarities of herpesviruses were isolated from bisons, yak, camel, Cameroon goats and hippopotamus on MDBK cell culture. The isolated strains were confirmed as MCF viruses by classical and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The amplicons after classical PCR were with of 422 bp size and 238 bp size after nested PCR.

Serologically 37 serum samples originated from 17 sheep, 13 Cameroon goats, 5 muflons and two bisons were investigated by competitive inhi- XVII bition ELISA for spreading of MCF. In 21,4% of sheep sera, 30,7% of Cameroon goats sera, and 50% of bison sera the antibodies against MCF were found . The total distribution of MCF antibodies in wild and domestic ruminants was 27%.