View source for Biology:Alcelaphine gammaherpesvirus 2

{{Short description|Species of virus}}
{{Virusbox
| image = Ah2 nih.PNG
| image_alt = 3D NIH Image of typical structure of "Alcelaphine gammaherpesvirus 2"
| image_caption = 3D NIH Image of typical structure of ''Alcelaphine gammaherpesvirus''
| parent = Macavirus
| species = Alcelaphine gammaherpesvirus 2
| synonyms = 
| synonyms_ref = 
}}

'''''Alcelaphine gammaherpesvirus 2''''' (AlHV-2) is a species of ''[[Biology:Macavirus|Macavirus]]'' that is believed to be responsible for causing [[Biology:Hartebeest|hartebeest]] infections of malignant catarrhal fever.<ref>{{cite book | last = Fauquet | first = C | first2 = J. |last2=Maniloff |first3=U. |last3=Desselberger |first4=L.A. |last4=Ball | title = Virus Taxonomy: Classification and Nomenclature of Viruses : Eighth Report of the International Committee on the Taxonomy of Viruses | publisher = Academic Press | year = 2005 | isbn = 978-0-12-249951-7 }}</ref>

==Clinical definition==
Distantly related to human [[Medicine:Herpes|herpes]], a virus of this type is composed of a series of double strand sequences of up to 100 [[Biology:Gene|gene]] segments, aligned along a long [[Biology:Chromosome|chromosome]] surrounded by terminal [[Biology:DNA|DNA]] segments. The effect of the virus is to cause nasal discharge, a high fever, filmed over eyes, failures of the [[Biology:Lymphatic system|lymphatic system]], inflammation of various [[Biology:Mucous membrane|mucous membrane]]s, and occasionally [[Biology:Necrosis|necrosis]] of the upper digestive system. Very advanced cases show signs of decay of the [[Biology:Nervous system|nervous system]]. Occasionally, lesions, [[Medicine:Arthritis|arthritis]], and digestive problems such as diarrhea have been observed.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Adams | first1 = S.W. | last2 = Mutt | first2 = LM. | year = 1990 | title = Characterization of envelope proteins of alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 & 2 | journal = Journal of Virology | volume = 64 | issue = 7 | pages = 3382–3390 |pmc=249586 |pmid=2352327 }}</ref>

== Cause  ==
The agent of MCF in hartebeests, it is related to other variants that strike down antelopes. It was isolated in 1960 and is believed to be carried as reservoirs by goats, [[Biology:Sheep|sheep]], and other domestic animals. There are variants that have affected [[Biology:Deer|deer]], gnu, and other captive species in zoos around the world.

==Range ==
All species of African [[Biology:Wildebeest|wildebeest]] and hartbeest can be infected or at least carry this virus.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Katz |first=Jonathan |first2=Bruce |last2=Seal |first3=Julia |last3=Ridpath |display-authors=1 |year=1991 |title=Molecular diagnosis of alcelaphine herpesvirus (malignant catarrhal fever) infections by nested amplification of viral DNA in bovine blood buffy coat specimens |journal=Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=193–198 |doi=10.1177/104063879100300301 |pmid=1911989 |doi-access=free }}</ref> There is no [[Social:Direct evidence|direct evidence]] that other African wild variants like [[Biology:Addax|addax]] can be hosts, but research is ongoing.<ref>{{cite journal|author=T. Vikoren |author2=H. Li |author3=A. Lillehaug |author4=C. M. Jonassen |author5=I. Bockerman |author6=K. Handeland|title=Malignant catarrhal fever in free-ranging cervids associated with OVHV-2 and CPHV-2 DNA. |journal=J. Wildl. Dis. |date=October 1, 2006 |volume=42 |issue=4 |pages=797–807 |doi=10.7589/0090-3558-42.4.797|pmid=17255446 |doi-access=free }}</ref> The [[Biology:Alcelaphinae|alcelaphine antelope]] affecting form is primarily found in Africa, in the natural habitat of wildebeest, hartebeest, and [[Biology:Topi|topi]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=Malignant Catarrhal Fever-Like Disease in Barbary Red Deer (Cervus elaphus barbarus) Naturally Infected with a Virus Resembling Alcelaphine Herpesvirus 2 |journal=Journal of Clinical Microbiology|date=September 2002|first=Robert|last=Klieforth|first2=Gabriel |last2=Maalouf |first3=Ilse |last3=Stalis |first4=Karen |last4=Terio|volume=40|issue=9|pages=3381–3390|url= |doi=10.1128/jcm.40.9.3381-3390.2002|pmid=12202582|pmc=130662}}</ref> It has also occurred in zoos and wild animal parks that also kept wildebeest. The increasing popularity in North America of wild animal parks may spread its range further.

== Transmission, clinical effects, and morbidity ==
Alcelaphine herpesvirus 2 is primarily transmitted by nasal emissions, by contact with water, flood, feces, or close contact. It can be destroyed by prolonged exposure to sunlight, but has a very long [[Medicine:Incubation period|incubation period]] and thus may have a long period of time to infect other animals. There are three forms usually seen. The first a nasal form with fever, nasal inflammation and digestive problems that is very mild and only lasts a few days. The second is a more severe form that involves fever, diarrhea, heavy nasal discharge, and lymph system failure, with a morbidity of 28 percent. The so-called "head and eye" form is the most lethal and serious form, which results in all known effects and [[Biology:Central nervous system|central nervous system]] damage, predated by nervous shakes and eventually muscular failure. Morbidity in some cases is as high as 90 percent.

== Vaccination ==
As the primary infected strains of animals are wild and free range animals, [[Biology:Vaccination|vaccination]] programs have been largely ineffective.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Herpesvirales}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q24808764|from2=Q4712990}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alcelaphine Herpesvirus 2}}
[[Category:Gammaherpesvirinae]]

{{Sourceattribution|Alcelaphine gammaherpesvirus 2}}