Evidence for a Novel Gammaherpesvirus as the Putative Agent of Malignant Catarrhal Fever Disease in Roan Antelopes ( Hippotragus equinus ).

Upon the sudden death of two captive roan antelopes () that had suffered from clinical signs reminiscent of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) in a German zoo, next generation sequencing of organ samples provided evidence of the presence of a novel gammaherpesvirus species. It shares 82.40% nucleotide identity with its so far closest relative (AlHV-1) at the polymerase gene level. The main histopathological finding consisted of lympho-histiocytic vasculitis of the pituitary rete mirabile. The MCF-like clinical presentation and pathology, combined with the detection of a nucleotide sequence related to that of AlHV-1, indicates a spillover event of a novel member of the genus of the Gammaherpesvirinae, probably from a contact species within the zoo. We propose the name (AlHV-3) for this newly identified virus.