Comparative pathology of the African form of malignant catarrhal fever in captive Indian gaur and domestic cattle.

The African strain of malignant catarrhal fever virus was isolated and identified in a herd of captive Indian gaur (Bos gaurus). Gross lesions included oral ulcerations, corneal opacity, and multifocal myocarditis. Microscopic lesions were characterized by lymphocytic vasculitis/perivasculitis in all tissues examined. Blood was serially passed from a gaur to a domestic heifer (Bos taurus), and then to a domestic calf. Clinical signs and gross and microscopic lesions similar to those of the gaur were seen in both inoculated animals.